Central Government Employees & Employment Corner

Year-End- Review-2021- Department of Personnel & Training 1.  National Recruitment Agency:   Marking a paradigm shift in government recruitment, a multi-agency body called the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) was set up to conduct a Tier-I Common Eligibility Test (CET) to screen/shortlist candidates for the Group B and C (non-technical) posts which were otherwise shortlisted through separate exams conducted by SSC, RRB and IBPS. It aims to provide a common eligibility test to all candidates at the nearest District Headquarter, particularly those in rural areas / aspirational districts and will contribute to equity and inclusiveness in recruitments as well as Ease of Living by eliminating multiple exams.  Appointments of Secretary-cum-Controller of Examination and other officers including secretariat staff have been done and National Recruitment Agency is functional/ operational since July, 2021. 2. Lateral Recruitment at the Levels of Joint Secretary, Director and De...

  Year-End- Review-2021- Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Posted On: 30 DEC 2021 3:47PM by PIB Delhi   JEEVAN PRAMAAN (Digital Life Certificate) related reforms In November 2014, an online system for submission of life certificate “Jeevan Pramaan” was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister. Through Jeevan Pramaan, a pensioner can give an online Life Certificate, anytime and from anywhere, by attaching a biometric device to his PC/Mobile or using services of a Common Service Centre (CSC) or any nearest bank branch. DoPPW roped in the India Posts and Payment Bank (IPPB) under the Department of Posts for Digital Life Certificate. The IPPB is now fulfilling the major initiative of DoPPW, viz. DLC from Home by roping in 1,89,000 Postmen & Gramin Dak Sevaks .   Approximately 2,99,816 Central Government Pensioners have already availed this facility till now. DoPPW also roped in an Alliance comprising 12 Public Sector Banks which does “Doorstep Banking”...

Is the government planning to continue the LTC cash voucher scheme?  Reports indicate that the Finance Minister is considering the Cash Voucher scheme in the upcoming Union Budget 2022.  Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has urged the finance ministry to review the decision to introduce Leave Travel Concession cash voucher in place of LTC fare to central government employees in the forthcoming Budget. FHRAI submitted the recommendation a week after sharing its views in the pre-budget meeting called by the Ministry of Finance on December 17. In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, FHRAI Vice President Gurbaxish Singh Kohli urged to "review the decision to introduce LTC cash vouchers in lieu of LTC fare to the Central Government employees". The government -- on October 12, 2020 -- announced the LTC cash voucher scheme, under which employees can purchase any goods or services with a GST rate of 12 per cent or above to avail of the ben...

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has allowed one-time relaxation for verification of e-filed Income Tax Return (ITR) for the Assessment Year (AY) of 2020-21, the Income Tax Department stated. In respect of an Income-tax Return (ITR), which is filed electronically without a digital signature, the taxpayer is required to verify it using any one of the following modes within the time limit of 120 days from date of uploading the ITR: i. Through Aadhaar OTP ii. By logging into e-filing account through net banking iii. EVC through Bank Account Number iv. EVC through Demat Account Number v. EVC through Bank ATM vi. By sending a duly signed physical copy of ITR-V through post to the CPC, Bengaluru The Central Board of Direct Taxes mentioned that the large number of electronically filed ITRs for the Assessment Year 2020-21 still remain pending with the Income-tax Department for want of receipt of a valid ITR-V Form at CPC, Bengaluru or pending e-Verification from the taxpayers concerned...

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will soon allow subscribers to the National Pension System (NPS) scheme to change their investment pattern as many as four times during a financial year, its chairman Supratim Bandyopadhyay announced on Tuesday. There has been a demand to increase the limit, he added. Subscribers to the National Pension System (NPS) are currently permitted to change their investment pattern twice every financial year. “It is possible to change one’s investment choice twice a year. Assocham organised a webinar on the NPS programme, which he spoke at. “Now, in a very short period of time, we are going to extend it to four times because there have been suggestions that you enable more number of times (to change the investing pattern),” he stated. It is simply important to remember that this is a long-term investment (product) that is used to establish a pension corpus, and that it should not be treated in the same way as a mutual fund scheme, a...

The Narendra Modi government is expected to announce some good news for central government employees and pensioners soon. According to media reports, government employees who have not yet received their Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears may do so soon. The Union Cabinet may take up this matter at its next meeting. The DA and DR of Central government employees and pensioners were restored to 31 per cent in October 2021, up from 17 per cent previously. However, they have yet to receive the arrears. It is worth noting that the Cabinet Council has proposed a one-time settlement amount for DA arrears, which has been put on hold for 18 months. The Centre gives DA and DR twice a year to compensate employees, pensioners for inflation or a general increase in the price level. But due to the pandemic, the government had put the DA increase on hold in May 2020. On June 30, 2021, the government again started increasing DA. But no decision was taken on the arrear amount at that time. According to med...

As the Modi government prepares to implement the New-Wage Code, there have been reports that the government is also planning to implement a 4-day work week system for government offices. The Centre, on the other hand, has stated its position unequivocally. In the Lok Sabha, Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar denied any such move by the government. This means that central government offices will only be open four days a week, giving employees more flexibility. According to reports, the government may include this work system in the New Wage Code. Earlier in February, Apurva Chandra, a senior IAS officer and Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that the government is considering trade unions' objections to a 12-hour daily work shift. Chandra stated. "As you can see, there will be a maximum of 48 hours of work per week. If someone works 8 hours a day, there are 6 working days in a week. If a company chooses 12-hour workdays for its employees, it means four ...

  It is being told that talks were held between the National Council of JCM, Department of Personnel and Training, and Ministry of Finance regarding arrears. However, no final decision has been taken about this yet. Still, the worker's unions are demanding pending arrears. There is now a ray of hope for the govt. employees as they might receive the pending DA arrears for the last 18 months now!  According to media reports, the council has put forth a demand in front of the government that while restoring DA, a one-time settlement of DA arrears was froozen for 18 months. It is also expected that in December this issue can be discussed with the cabinet secretary to make a one-time settlement of 18 months DA arrears. According to the Pay Commission report, there are a total of 33 lakh central employees in the country.  If PM Modi gives a green signal on this, then a huge amount will come into the bank account of the employees. Earlier, the Modi government had increased the D...

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING) RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2217 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2021) AGE RELAXATION FOR EXPERIENCED ASPIRANTS 2217 # SHRI BRIJLAL: Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that in most of the Government institutions, the upper age limit for job is 35 years for general category and 40 years for the reserved category; (b) whether any scheme related to Government jobs for the experienced youth above the upper age limit is under consideration of Government so that the experienced youth above the upper age limit also get adequate opportunities in Government sector; and (c) it so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) to (c): Upper age limits for appointment on direct recruitment basis to various civil pos...