Thursday, February 28, 2013

AICPIN for the month of January 2013

AICPIN for the month of January 2013

No. 5/1/2013-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR  BUREAU


‘CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004
DATED: the 28th February, 2013

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – January, 2013

The All-India CPI-IW for January, 2013 rose by 2 points and pegged at 221 (two hundred and twenty one). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 0.91 per cent between December and January compared with 0.51 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

The largest upward contribution to the change in current index came from Housing Group which increased by 3.53 per cent, contributing 1.28 percentage points to the total change. This was followed by Miscellaneous and Food groups with 0.74 and 0.26 per cent increase respectively contributing 0.32 and 0.28 percentage points to the change. At item level, largest upward pressure came from Rice, Wheat & Wheat Atta, Groundnut Oil, Eggs (Hen), Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Poultry (Chicken), Onion, Tea (Readymade), Firewood, Auto Rickshaw Charges, Bus Fare, Rail Fare, etc. However, this was compensated by Arhar Dal, Potato, Tomato, Other Green Vegetables, Sugar, Electricity Charges and Flower/Flower Garlands by putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 11.62 per cent for January, 2013 as compated to 11.17 per cent for the previous month and 5.32 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 14.08 per cent against 13.53 per cent of the previous month and 0.49 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Durgapur recorded the largest increase of 18 points followed by Jharia (10 points), Godavarikhani (9 points), Goa and Surat (8 points each), and Chandigarh (6 points). Among others, 5 point rise was registered in 3 centres, 4 points in 6 centre, 3 points in 12 centres, 2 points in 13 centres and 1 point in 11 centres. On the contrary. Labac-Silchar and Mariani-Jorhat centres reported a decline of 2 points each. The indices of Jalandhar, Rourkela, Sholapur and Kolkata were also declined by 1 point each. Rest of the 21 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 39 centres are above All-India Index and other 38 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Mysore centre was at par with all-India index.

The next index of CPI-IW for the month of February, 2013 will be released on Thursday, 28 March, 2013. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.nic.in.

(S.S. NEGI)
DIRECTOR
source-www.labourbureau.nic.in.

Additional Deduction of Interest upto Rs.1 Lakh on Home Loan for First Home Buyer

Additional Deduction of Interest upto Rs.1 Lakh on Home Loan for First Home Buyer

The Finance Bill 2013-14 proposes additional tax benefit to the first – home buyer who takes a loan for an amount not exceeding Rs.25 lakh. Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha today, the Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram proposed that a person taking a loan for his first home from a bank or a housing finance corporation upto Rs.25 lakh during the period 1.4.2013 to 31.3.2014 will be entitled to an additional deduction of interest of Rs.1 lakh.

The Finance Minister hoped that this will promote home-ownership and give a filip to a number of industries like steel, cement, brick, wood, glass etc besides jobs to thousands of construction workers.

This deduction will be over and above the deduction of Rs.1.50 lakh allowed for self-occupied properties under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act. If the limit is not exhausted, the balance may be claimed in AY 2015-16.

source-pib

Benefit under Section 80-D of the Income Tax Act for CGHS Extended to Similar Schemes of the Central Government and State Governments

Benefit under Section 80-D of the Income Tax Act for CGHS Extended to Similar Schemes of the Central Government and State Governments


The Finance Bill 2013 proposes extension of benefits under Section 80-D of the Income Tax Act to such schemes of the Central Govt and State Govts that are similar to Central Govt. Health Scheme(CGHS). Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha today, the Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram said that contributions made to CGHS are eligible for deduction under Section 80-D of the Income Tax Act and he is proposing to extend the same benefit to similar schemes of the Central Govt and State Govt. The Finance Minister also announced that deductions made to the National Children’s Fund will now be eligible for 100% deduction.

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DSM/RC/nb/39
(Release ID :92759)

Relief for Taxpayers in the Bracket of Rs.2 Lakh to 5 Lakh Tax Credit of Rs.2000 to Every Person with Total Income upto 5 Lakh



Relief for Taxpayers in the Bracket of Rs.2 Lakh to 5 Lakh Tax Credit of Rs.2000 to Every Person with Total Income upto 5 Lakh

The Finance Bill 2013-14 proposes a relief of Rs.2000 to every person who has a total income upto Rs.5 lakh in a financial year. Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha today, the Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram said that 1.80 crore taxpayers are expected to benefit to the value of Rs.3600 crore on account of this proposal of tax credit of Rs.2000. He further said that the current slabs were introduced only last year. Hence, there is no case to revise either the slabs or the rates. However, he proposed to give some relief to the taxpayers in the first bracket of Rs.2 lakh to Rs.5 lakh.

Highlights of the Budget 2013

Highlights of the Budget 2013

Ministry of Finance

The Union Budget for 2013-14 aims at higher growth rate leading to inclusive and sustainable development as ‘mool mantra’.

 
  • Finance Minister makes three promises: to women, youth and the poor.
  • Nirbhaya Fund to empower women and to keep them safe and secure.
  • Proposal to set up India’s first Women’s Bank as a public sector bank.
  • Rs. 1,000 crore for skill development of ten lakh youth to enhance their employability and productivity.
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme to be rolled out throughout the country during the term of UPA Government.
  • Fiscal Deficit for 2013-14 is pegged at 4.8 percent of GDP. The Revenue Deficit will be 3.3 percent for the same period.
  • Plan Expenditure placed at Rs. 5,55,322 crore. It is 33.3 percent of the total expenditure while Non Plan Expenditure is estimated at Rs. 11,09,975 crore. The plan expenditure in 2013-14 will be 29.4 percent more than the RE of the current year i.e. 2012-13.
  • Substantial rise in allocation to the social sector.  Allocation for Rural Development Ministry raised by 46 percent to Rs. 80,194 crore.
  • The target for farm credit for 2013-14 has been set at Rs. 7,00,000 crore against Rs. 5,75,000 crore during the current year.
  • Rs. 10,000 crore earmarked for National Food Security towards the incremental cost.
  • Education gets Rs. 65,867 crore, an increase of 17 percent over RE for 2012-13.
  • ICDS gets Rs. 17,700 crore. This is 11.7 percent more than the current year.
  • Drinking water and sanitation will receive Rs. 15,260 crore. Rs. 1,400 crore is being provided for setting up water purification plants to cover arsenic and fluoride affected rural areas.
  • Health and Family Welfare Ministry has been allotted Rs. 37,330 crore. National Health Mission will get Rs. 21,239 crore which represents 24.3 percent over the RE.
  • The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission  (JNNURM) will receive Rs. 14,873 crore as against RE of Rs. 7,383 crore in the current year.
  • Defence has been allocated Rs. 2,03,672 crore.  
  • Rs. 3,511 crore have been earmarked to Minority Affairs Ministry, 60 percent higher than RE for 2012-13.
  • The Government will encourage Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF) and allow some institutions to raise tax free bonds upto Rs. 50,000 crore which is 100 percent more than the current year.
  • India Infrastructure Finance Corporation (IIFC), in partnership with ADB will help infrastructure companies to access bond market to tap long term funds.
  • Income limit under Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS) will be raised from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh.
  • First home loan from a bank or housing finance corporation upto Rs. 25 lakh entitled to additional deduction of interest upto Rs. 1 lakh.
  • Proposal to launch Inflation Indexed Bonds or Inflation Indexed National Security Certificates to protect savings from inflation.
  • On oil and gas exploration policy, the Budget proposes to move from the present profit sharing mechanism to revenue sharing. Natural gas pricing policy will be reviewed.
  • On coal, the Budget proposes adoption of a policy of pooled pricing.
  • Benefits or preferences enjoyed by MSME to continue upto three years after they grow out of this category.
  • Refinancing capacity of SIDBI raised to Rs. 10,000 crore.
  • Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) for textile to continue in 12th Plan with an investment target of Rs. 1,51,000 crore.
  • Rs. 14,000 crore will be provided to public sector banks for capital infusion in 2013-14.
  • A grant of Rs. 100 crore each has been made to 4 institutions of excellence including Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
  • New taxes to yield Rs. 18,000 crore.
  • A surcharge of 10 percent on persons (other than companies) whose taxable income exceeds Rs.1 crore have been levied.
  • Tobacco products, SUVs and Mobile Phones to cost more.
  • Relief of Rs. 2000 for the tax payers in the first bracket of 2 to 5 lakhs.
  • ‘Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme’ launched for recovering service tax dues.
  • Rs. 9,000 crore earmarked as the first installment of balance of CST compensations to different States/UTs.

Union Budget Summary 2013

 Union Budget Summary 2013

The Union Budget for 2013-14 aims at ‘higher growth leading to inclusive and sustainable development.’ With this as mool mantra, the Finance Minister Shri P Chidambaram has sought to increase allocation to key areas and provide incentives for investments and savings while containing the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP.


Presenting the Union Budget in Parliament today, the Finance Minister expressed the hope that the India would achieve high economic growth despite slowdown in the global economic growth.


The Minister said that his government has been able to contain the fiscal deficit at 5.2% in 2012-13 by following the path of fiscal consolidation.  But the current account deficit (CAD) is a greater worry, the Minister added. He, therefore, proposes to encourage foreign investment that is consistent with India’s economic objectives.


The Finance Minister said that the other areas of concern addressed by his Government are inflation and government expenditure. “Our efforts in the past few months have brought down headline WPI inflation to about 7.0 percent and core inflation to about 4.2 percent. It is food inflation that is worrying, and we shall take all possible steps to augment the supply side to meet the growing demand for food items,” he said. The Minister further said that he had no choice but to rationalize government expenditure in view of huge fiscal deficit in 2012-13. “We also took some policy decisions that had been deferred for too long, corrected some prices, and undertook a review of certain tax policies.”



THREE PROMISES: TO WOMEN, YOUTH AND THE POOR


Shri Chidambaram made promises to the women, the youth and the poor -  the three faces that represent the majority of the people of India. Stating that the government pledges to do everything possible to empower the women and to keep them safe and secure, he said that a number of initiatives were underway and many more would be taken by the Government as well as non-government organizations. He announced the setting up of a fund - Nirbhaya Fund - with the Government contributing Rs. 1000 crore.

    

The Minister also announced a Rs. 1,000 crore scheme for training youth to boost their employability and productivity. The National Skill Development Corporation will be asked to set the curriculum and standards for training different skills.  Trained youth who pass a test at the end of training will get a monetary reward of Rs.10000 on an average. This initiative is likely to motivate 10 lakh youth.



For the benefit of the poor, the Minister assured that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes will be rolled out throughout the country during the term of the UPA Government. “We are redoubling out efforts to ensure that the digitized beneficiary lists are available; that a bank account is opened for each beneficiary; and that the bank account is seeded with Aadhaar in due course,” he said.



RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY


The allocation for Rural Development Ministry has been raised by 46 percent to Rs 80,194 crore in 2013-14.


Pradham Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-II has been carved out to benefit States that have substantially fulfilled the objectives of PMGSY. This will benefit states such as Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan.


Ministry of Agriculture gets a rise of 22 per cent over the revised estimates (RE) for 2012-13, at Rs 27,049 crore. Rs 500 crore is being allocated to start a programme on crop diversification. It will encourage farmers in the original green revolution states to choose alternative crops. A pilot programme on Nutri-Farms will be started for introducing new crop varieties that are rich in micro nutrients, such as iron-rich bajra. A sum of up to Rs 200 crore is to be provided to start the pilots.


The Budget seeks to support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), including Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) which have emerged as aggregators of farm produce and link farmers directly to markets.


The target of agricultural credit for 2012-13 (Rs. 5,75,000 crore) is likely to be exceeded, and a target of Rs 7,00,000 crore farm credit has been fixed for the next year.


The interest subvention scheme for short-term crop loans is proposed to be continued for loans by public sector banks, RRBs and Cooperative banks, and expanded to private scheduled commercial banks. Under the scheme, a farmer who repays the loan on time is able to get credit at 4 cent per year.


Rs.307 crore have been provided for setting up of the National Livestock Mission. This will attract investment and enhance livestock productivity. A sub-mission of this Mission seeks to increase the availability of feed and fodder.


Expressing the hope that the National Food Security Bill will be passed by Parliament as early as possible, the Finance Minister has set apart Rs. 10,000 crore towards the incremental cost that is likely under the Act.


OTHER MAJOR ALLOCATIONS


Education has been allocated Rs. 65,867 crore, an increase of 17 per cent over the RE for 2012-13.


ICDS gets Rs. 17,700 crore representing an increase of 11.7 per cent. A multi-sectoral programme to tackle maternal and child malnutrition that was announced last year will be implemented in 100 districts during 2013-14. It will be further scaled up to cover 200  districts the year after.


Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been allocated Rs. 37,330 crore.  Of this, the new National Health Mission that combines the rural mission and the proposed urban mission will get Rs. 21,239 crore - an increase of 24.3 percent over the RE.


The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) has been allocated Rs. 11,500 crore and will include a State component for Bihar, the Bundelkhand region, West Bengal, the KBK districts of Odisha and the 82 districts under the Integrated Action Plan.


Science and Technology related Departments have been allocated funds with substantial enhancements.


A National Institute of Sports Coaching is proposed to be set up at Patiala at a cost of Rs. 250 crore over a period of three years.


 Drinking water and sanitation will receive Rs. 15,260 crore. Rs. 1,400 crore is being provided for setting up water purification plants to cover arsenic and fluoride effected rural habitations.


The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) will receive Rs. 14,873 crore as against RE of Rs. 7,383 crore in the current year. Out of this, a significant portion will be used to support the purchase of upto 10,000 buses, especially by hill States.


Defence gets an allocation of Rs. 2,03,672 crore and the assurance that constraints will not come in the way of providing any additional requirement for the security of the nation.


Stating that adequate funds must be provided for programmes that benefit  women, children and minorities, as also the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, the Finance Minister  proposed to allocate Rs 41,561 crore to the scheduled caste sub-plan and Rs 24,598 crore to the tribal sub-plan. The programmes relating to women get Rs. 97,134 crore and child budget, Rs. 77,236 crore. The Ministry of Women and Child and Development has been asked to design a scheme that will address women’s concerns, and an additional sum of Rs. 2,000 crore has been provided to the Ministry to began work in this regard. Ministry of Minority affairs has been allocated Rs. 3,511 crore and the Department of Disability Affairs, Rs. 110 crore.


INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The Finance Minister stated that the key to restart the growth engine was to attract more investment, and that the government will improve communication of its policies to remove any apprehension or distrust in the minds of investors.


 A number of steps to mobilize investment have been announced in the Budget keeping in view that as per 12th Plan the private sector will share 47 percent of Rs 55,00,000 crore investment in infrastructure. Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDF) will be encouraged. India Infrastructure Finance Corporation (IIFCL) will offer credit enhancement to infrastructure companies that wish to access the bond market to tap long term funds. Some institutions will be allowed to issue tax - free bonds up a total sum of Rs 50,000 crore (as against Rs 25,000 crore in 2012-13). Assistance of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank will be sought to build roads in the North Eastern States and connect them to Myanmar. The corpus of Rural Infrastructure Development Funds (RIDF) is proposed to be raised to Rs. 20,000 crore. A sum of Rs 5,000 crore will be made available to NABARD to finance construction of warehouses, godowns, silos and cold storage units designed to store agricultural produce.


Shri Chidambaram informed that the newly set-up Cabinet Committee on Investment has held two meetings and taken decisions in respect of a number of oil and gas, power and coal projects. CCI will take up some more projects shortly, he said. The Minister also informed that a regulatory authority is being constituted for the road sector. Bottlenecks stalling road projects have been addressed and 3,000 km  of road projects in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will be awarded in the first six months of 2013-14.


The Budget introduces an investment allowance for new high value investment. A company investing Rs. 100 crore or more in plant and machinery during the period 1.4.2013 to 31.3.2015 will be entitled to deduct an investment allowance of 15 percent of the investment (in addition to depreciation).


INDUSTRIAL SECTOR


Plans for seven new cities have been finalized for industrial corridors and work on two new smart industrial cities at Dholera (Gujarat) and Shendra Bidkin (Maharashtra) will start during 2013-14. A comprehensive plan is being prepared for the Chennai Bengaluru industrial corridor. Preparatory work has started for the next corridor - Bengaluru Mumbai industrial corridor.


Two new ports will be established in Sagar (West Bengal) and in Andhra Pradesh. In addition, a new outer harbour will be developed in the VOC port at Thoothukkudi (Tamil Nadu) through PPP at an estimated cost of Rs 7,500 crore.


A power transmission system will be constructed from Srinagar to Leh and for this Rs. 226 crore have been provided in 2013-14.


The oil and gas exploration policy will be reviewed to move from profit sharing to revenue sharing contracts. A policy to encourage exploration and production of shale gas will be announced. The natural gas pricing policy will be reviewed and uncertainties regarding pricing will be removed.


To provide greater support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the refinancing capability of SIDBI is proposed to be enhanced from Rs. 5,000 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore per year. SIDBI will also be provided a corpus of Rs 500 crore to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund for factoring.


Apparel Parks are proposed to be set up within the Integrated Textile Parks, to house apparel manufacturing units. A new scheme, Integrated Processing Developing Scheme, is being started to address to environmental concerns of the textile industry. Working capital and term loans to the handloom sector will be available at a concessional interest of 6 per cent. This will benefit 1.5 lakh weavers and 1,800 primary co-operative societies.


SAVINGS


The Budget proposes three measures to promote household savings. One, the income limit for Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme for first time investors is being raised from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh. Two, persons taking loan for first home up to Rs 25 lakh will be entitled to an additional deduction of interest of up to Rs 1 lakh. Three, instruments such as Inflation Indexed Bonds will be introduced to protect savings from inflation.


FINANCIAL SECTOR


Shri Chidambaram proposed to constitute a Standing Council of Experts in the Ministry of Finance to analyse the international competitiveness of the Indian financial sector.


The Finance Minister announced that Rs. 14,000 crore worth of capital infusion will be made into public sector banks. It will be ensured that these banks meet the Basel III regulations.



India’s first women’s bank is proposed to be set up with Rs. 1,000 crore as initial capital.


The government has finalized a number of proposals relating to the insurance sector in consultation with IRDA. These include empowering insurance companies to open branches in Tier II cities and below without prior approval of IRDA, having an office of LIC and a public general-insurance company in all towns with the population of 10,000, and  permitting banks to act as insurance broker.


The Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana, which cover 34 million families below the poverty line, will now be extended to other categories such as rickshaw, auto-rickshaw and taxi-drivers, sanitation workers, rag pickers and mine workers.


The Finance Minister proposes to evolve a comprehensive social security package by converging various schemes for life-cum-disability cover, health cover, maternity assistance and pension benefits.


A number of proposals relating to capital market have been finalized in consultation with SEBI. These include simplification of procedure and uniforms norms for foreign portfolio investors, clarity relating to FDI investment, allowing FIIs to participate in new areas, etc.


BUDGET ESTIMATES


The total expenditure in the Union Budget 2013-14 is pegged at Rs. 16,65,297 crore. Out of it Rs.5,55,322 crore (33%) is Plan expenditure.  The non-Plan expenditure is estimated at Rs 11,09,975 crore.


The Plan expenditure in 2013-14 will be 29.4 per cent more than the revised estimates of the current year. All flagship programmes have been fully and adequately funded.


Juxtaposing economic welfare with the economic policy, the Minister said that the link between policy and welfare can be expressed in a few words: opportunities, education, skills, jobs and incomes. The Budget has before it one overarching goal - to create opportunities for the youth to acquire education and skills that will get them decent jobs or self-employment that will bring them adequate incomes that will enable them to live with their families in a safe and secure environment. The Budget sets a target of skilling 90 lakh people in 2013-14, for which funds will be released by the National Rural Livelihood Mission and National Urban Livelihood Mission.


TAXES


The General Budget reiterates that clarity in tax laws, a stable tax regime, a non-adversarial tax administration, a fair mechanism for dispute resolution and independent judiciary for greater assurance is underlying theme of tax proposals. It is proposed to set up the Tax Administration Reforms Commission.


As regards Direct Taxes, a relief of Rs. 2000 for the Tax Payers in the first bracket of Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs have been proposed. A surcharge of 10 percent on persons (other than companies) whose taxable income exceeds Rs.1 crore have been levied. Surcharge has been increased from 5 to 10 percent on domestic companies whose taxable income exceed Rs. 10 crore. In case of foreign companies, surcharge will increase from 2 to 5 percent, if the taxable income exceeds Rs. 10 crore. Additional surcharges to be in force for only one year. Mr. Chidambaram said, education cess to continue at 3 percent.


The Finance Minister announced the grant of investment allowance at the rate of 15 percent to manufacturing companies that invest more than Rs. 100 crore in plant and machinery during the period 1.4.2013 to 31.3.2015. Concessional rate of tax of 15 per cent on dividend received by the Indian companies from its foreign subsidiary proposed to continue for one more year. It is proposed that TDS at the rate of one percent on the value of the transfer of immovable property where the consideration exceeds Rs. 50 lakhs to be levied. Agricultural land to be exempted from TDS. Modified provisions of GAAR will come into effect from 1.4.2016. It is also proposed to increase the rate of tax on payments by way of royalty and fees for technical services to non-residents from 10 percent to 25 percent. The Budget also proposes to introduce Commodities Transaction Tax (CTT) in a limited way. However, agricultural commodities will be exempted. A number of administrative measures such as extension of refund banker system to refund more than Rs. 50,000, technology based processing, extension of e-payment through more banks and expansion of in the scope of annual information returns by Income-tax Department.


With regards to Indirect Taxes, the Finance Minister proposed no change in the normal rates of 12 percent for excise duty and service tax. Similarly, no change has been made in the peak rate of custom duty of 10 percent for non-agricultural products. Custom duty on free gold limit increased to Rs. 50,000 in case of male passenger and Rs. 1,00,000 in case of a female passenger subject to conditions. Duty on imported luxury goods such as high end motor vehicles, motor cycles, yachts and similar vessels increased. Custom duty on Set Top Boxes increased from 5 to 10 percent while on raw silk increased from 5 to 15 percent to boost domestic production. Custom duty on specified machinery for manufacture of leather and leather goods including footwear reduced from 7.5 to 5 percent. The Budget also proposes that period of concession available for specified part of electric and hybrid vehicles extended upto 31 March 2015.


Excise duty on SUVs increased from 27 to 30 percent. However, this will not apply to SUVs registered as taxies. Cigarettes will cost more as specific excise duty increased by about 18 percent. Similar increases are proposed on cigars, cheroots and cigarillos. Duty on mobile phones priced above Rs. 2000 has been raised to 6 percent from the current one percent.


The Budget proposes ‘Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme’ where a defaulter may avail of the scheme on condition that he files a truthful declaration of Service Tax dues since 1.10.2007. It is a one-time scheme in which interest, penalty and other consequences will be waived.


The Budget proposes to mobilize Rs. 18,000 crore in which new proposals in indirect taxes will yield Rs. 4,700 crore and direct taxes of Rs. 13,300 crore.


In a major step to rationalize taxation on goods and services, the Budget has earmarked Rs. 9,000 crore towards the first installment of the balance of CST compensation. The Minister said that overwhelming majority States have agreed that there is a need for Constitutional amendment to pass GST law. It will be drafted by the State Finance Ministers and the GST Council, the Minister added.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Strike by Employees of Defence Canteens (Rupees in Crore)

Strike by Employees of Defence Canteens (Rupees in Crore)
 
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
27-February-2013
Strike by Employees of Defence Canteens (Rupees in Crore)

No employees of Canteen Stores Department (CSD) are on strike, however, a section of the employees of Unit Run Canteens (URCs) are on strike. Data in respect of profit generated by the URCs is not maintained by CSD, however, the total sales turnover and profit generated by CSD during the last five years is as under:-



Year2007-082008-092009-102010-112011-12
Sales5614.696955.118689.809752.339746.59
Net Profit168.88203.69226.53267.84216.30
          

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Ram KripalYadavin Rajya Sabha today.

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SUMMARY OF ECONOMIC SURVEY

SUMMARY OF ECONOMIC SURVEY

Ministry of Finance

More than 6 Per Cent Growth Forecast for Next Fiscal Considerable Enhancement for Social Sector Spending India on Verge of Creating Quality Jobs to Seize ‘Demographic Dividend


Indian economy is likely to grow between 6.1% to 6.7%  in 2013-14 as the downturn is more or less over and the economy is looking up. Following the slowdown induced by the global financial crisis in 2008-09, the Indian economy responded strongly to fiscal and monetary stimulus and achieved a growth rate of 8.6 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively in 2009-10 and 2010-11, but due to a combination of both external and domestic factors, the economy decelerated growing at 6.2% and an estimated 5% in 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. The Economic Survey 2012-13, presented by the Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha predicts that the global economy is also likely to recover in 2013 and various government measures will help in improving the Indian economy’s outlook for 2013-14. While India’s recent slowdown is partly rooted in external causes, domestic causes are also important. The slowdown in the rate of growth of services in 2011-12 at 8.2%, and particularly in 2012-13 to 6.6 percent from the double-digit growth of the previous six years, contributed significantly to slowdown in the overall growth of the economy, while some slowdown could also be attributed to the lower growth in agriculture and industrial activities. But despite the slowdown, the services sector has shown more resilience to worsening external conditions than agriculture and industry. For improved agricultural growth, the survey underlines the need for stable and consistent policies where markets play an appropriate role, private investment in infrastructure is stepped up, food price, food stock management and food distribution improves, and a predictable trade policy is adopted for agriculture. FDI in retail allowed by the government can pave the way for investment in new technology and marketing of agricultural produce in India. Fast agricultural growth remains vital for jobs, incomes and food security.

The survey points out that the priority for the Government will be to fight high inflation by reducing the fiscal impetus to demand as well as by focusing on incentivizing food production through measures other than price supports. But unlike the previous year, when food inflation was mainly driven by higher protein food prices, this year the pressure has been coming mainly from cereals. On the Balance of Payments and External Position, the survey highlights that with net exports declining, India’s balance of payments has come under pressure. Moreover, in the current fiscal, foreign exchange reserves have fluctuated between US$ 286 billion and US$ 295.6 billion, while the rupee remained volatile in the range of Rs 53.02 to Rs 54.78 per US dollar during October 2012 to January 2013.

The survey had a special chapter focusing on jobs. The future holds promise for India provided we can seize the “demographic dividend” as nearly half the additions to the Indian labour force over the period 2011-30 will be in the age group 30-49. India is creating jobs in industry but mainly in low productivity construction and not enough formal jobs in manufacturing, which typically are higher productivity. The high productivity service sector is also not creating enough jobs. As the number of people looking for jobs rises, both because of the population dividend and because share of agriculture shrinks, these vulnerabilities will become important. Because good jobs are both the pathway to growth as well as the best form of inclusion, India has to think of ways of enabling their creation.

The survey calls for a widening of the tax base, and prioritization of expenditure as key ingredients of a credible medium term fiscal consolidation plan. This along with demand compression and augmented agricultural production should lead to lower inflation, giving the RBI the requisite flexibility to reduce policy rates. Lower interest rates could provide an additional fillip to investment activity for the industry and services sectors, especially if some of the regulatory, bureaucratic, and financial impediments to investment are eased. On financial sector reform, it takes note of the high level of gross NPAs (non-performing assets) of the banking sector which increased from 2.36 percent of the total credit advanced in March 2011 to 3.57 percent of total credit advanced in September 2012. The survey suggests that revival of growth will help contain NPAs, but more attention will have to be paid to whether projects are adequately capitalized up front given the risks. Expenditure on social services also increased considerably in the 12th Plan, with the education sector accounting for the largest share, followed by health. In the 11th Plan period nearly 7 lakh crore rupees has been spent on the 15 major flagship programmes. A number of legislative steps have also been taken to secure the rights of people, like the RTI, MGNREGA, the Forest Rights Act, AND THE Right to Education. However, the survey notes that there are pressing governance issues like programme leakages and funds not reaching the targeted beneficiaries that need to be addressed. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) with the help of the Unique Identification Number (Aadhaar) can help plug some of these leakages. With the 12th Plan’s focus on ‘environmental sustainability’, India is on the right track. However, the challenge for India is to make the key drivers and enablers of growth-be it infrastructure, the transportation sector, housing, or sustainable agriculture-grow sustainably.               

            Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan, Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance writes in an introduction to the Survey that these are difficult times, but India has navigated such times before, and with good policies it will come through stronger. Slowdown is a wake-up call for increasing the pace of actions and reforms. The way out lies in shifting national spending from consumption to investment, removing the bottlenecks to investment, growth, and job creation, in part through structural reforms, combating inflation both through monetary and supply side measures, reducing the costs for borrowers of raising finances and increasing the opportunities for savers to get strong real investment returns.

Highlights of the Overall Performance of CPSEs in 2011-12

Highlights of the Overall Performance of CPSEs in 2011-12: 
Out of 225 Operating CPSEs, 161 Earned Net Profit
Net Profit Increases from Rs.1,13,944 Crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 1,25,116 Crore in 2011-12



            The 52nd Public Enterprises Survey in the series (2011-12), brought out by the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India on the performance of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) was placed in both the Houses of Parliament here today.  There were 260 CPSEs in 2011-12, out of which 225 were in operation.  The remaining 35 CPSEs were under construction.  

The Public Enterprise Survey 2011-12 is based on Revised Schedule VI. Since the data for the Financial Year 2010-11 had also to be recast for comparison,  Volume II of PE Survey 2011-12 contains information  in the new format for these 2 years i.e. 2010-11 and 2011-12 (as against three years in earlier Surveys).

The main Highlights of the performance of CPSEs, during 2011-12 are as follows:

(i) Investment in CPSEs

  • Total paid up capital in 260 CPSEs as on 31.3.2012 stood at Rs. 1,63,863 crore compared to Rs. 1,57,438 crore as on 31.3. 2011 (248CPSEs), showing a growth of 4.08%.
  • Total investment (equity plus long term loans) in all CPSEs stood at Rs. 7,29,228 crore as on 31.3.2012 compared to Rs. 6,03,975 crore as on 31.3.2011, recording a growth of 20.74%.
  • Capital Employed (paid-up capital plus reserves & surplus and long term loans) in all CPSEs stood at Rs. 13,43,176 crore as on 31.3.2012 compared to Rs. 11,64,178 crore as on 31.3.2011 showing a growth of 15.38%.



(ii) Turnover, Profit/Loss and Net Worth of CPSEs
  • Total turnover/Gross Revenue from operations of all CPSEs during 2011-12 was Rs. 18, 41,927 crore compared to Rs. 14,98,018 crore in the previous year showing an increase of 22.96%.
  • Profit of profit making CPSEs stood at Rs. 1,25,115 crore during 2011-12 compared to Rs. 1,13,944 crore in 2010-11 showing a growth of 9.80%.
  • Loss of loss incurring CPSEs stood at Rs. 27,602 crore in 2011-12 compared to Rs. 21,817 crore in 2010-11 showing an increase in loss by 26.52%.
  • Reserves & Surplus of all CPSEs went up from Rs. 5,60,203 crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 6,13,949 core in 2011-12, showing an increase by 9.59%.
  • Net worth of all CPSEs went up from Rs. 7,17,641 crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 7,77,812 crore in 2011-12 registering a growth of 8.38%.



(iii) Contribution of CPSEs to the Central Exchequer
  • Contribution of CPSEs to Central Exchequer by way of excise duty, customs duty, corporate tax, interest on Central Government loans, dividend and other duties and taxes increased from Rs. 1,56,751 crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 1,60,801 crore in 2011-12, showing an increase of 2.58%.



(iv) Foreign Exchange Earnings and Outgo by CPSEs
  • Foreign exchange earnings through exports of goods and services increased from Rs. 91,774 crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 1,24,492 crore in 2011-12, showing a growth of 35.65%.
  • Foreign exchange outgo on imports and royalty, know-how, consultancy, interest and other expenditure increased from Rs. 5,50,086 crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 7,33,544 crore in 2011-12 showing an increase of 33.35%.



(v) Market Capitalization of CPSEs on Mumbai Stock Exchange

  • Total Market Capitalization (M_Cap) of 44 listed CPSEs, based on the stock price in Mumbai Stock Exchange, decreased from Rs. 15,06,698 crore as on 31.03.2011 to Rs. 12,53,245 crore as on 31.03.2012. Market Capitalization of CPSEs during this period, therefore, decreased by 16.82%
  • M_Cap of CPSEs as per cent of BSE M_Cap decreased from 22.03% as on 31.3.2011 to 20.17% as on 31.3.2012.

Fiscal Outcome Indicates Significant Improvement in 2012-13 Continuing Fiscal Consolidation Critical for Higher Growth and Price Stabliity: Economic Survey

Fiscal Outcome Indicates Significant Improvement in 2012-13
Continuing Fiscal Consolidation Critical for Higher Growth and Price Stabliity: Economic Survey

The Economic Survey 2012-13 presented by the Union Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha today emphasizes that the fiscal outcome of Central Government in 2012-13 so far indicates a significant improvement over 2011-12. The fiscal position of the States has continued to progress with fiscal deficit budgeted at 2.1% of gross domestic product (GDP), the Survey added.

The fiscal outcome of 2011-12 was affected by macro economic developments of slow down in growth, higher global crude oil prices and sluggish financial market conditions for effecting the budgeted disinvestments programme. The Survey stresses that these developments continued through the first half of the current year. The Government then pressed harder for reforms and an initial step was to set up the Kelkar Committee. Following its recommendations, the Government unveiled a revised fiscal consolidation roadmap.

The Economic Survey has called for staying on the path of indicated fiscal consolidation. This, it says, is critical to sustaining the desirable macro-economic outcomes not only in terms of higher growth in real GDP and lower inflation, but also in easing the financing of the widening current account deficit (CAD), for which India’s sovereign credit rating is important. The Survey also emphasizes widening tax base and privatization of expenditure as key factors in effecting the desired reduction in the Central Government fiscal deficit over the medium term and in reducing the key risks in fiscal marksmanship (different between actual outcomes and budgetary estimates as a proportion of GDP). The Survey underlines that addressing the key fiscal risk of petroleum subsidies is critical in better fiscal marksmanship. “ With recent reforms in diesel prices and efforts at expenditure reprioritization, the medium term fiscal consolidation plan is credible and could yet again yield macro economic dividends in terms of higher growth and price stability,” the Survey notes.

Source: PIB

Nomination of Stenographers Grade 'D' / PA (ad-hoc) of CSSS for appointment to the Grade of Personal Assistants of CSSS for the Select List Year-2010 on regular basis - reg.


No.5/1/2012-CS-II(C)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel and Training

3rd floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi date 25th February, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Nomination of Stenographers Grade 'D' / PA (ad-hoc) of CSSS for appointment to the Grade of Personal Assistants of CSSS for the Select List Year-2010 on regular basis under the Zoning Scheme for Seniority Quota - reg.

Launching of Web Based software solution for Cadre Management of CSS - Requests for cadre clearance and filing of Immovable Property details reg.

No. 21/11/2010-C.S.I (U)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Personnel & Training

2nd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated : 25th February 2013


OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Launching of Web Based software solution for Cadre Management of CSS - Requests for cadre clearance and filing of Immovable Property details reg.

As Ministries/ Departments are aware that the Web Based Cadre Management for CSS has been test launched and it is currently hosted at  http://10.21.145.125

2. Cadre clearance for deputation Starting from 1st March 2013, Ministries/ Departments are requested to forward requests for cadre clearance for deputation through the web based cadre management system also. Once the system is stabilized, cadre clearance requests will be entertained only through the system.

3. Voluntary Retirement Application seeking voluntary retirement should also be filed through the system. A print out of the copy of the application is required to be taken, duly signed and submitted to the nodal officer for processing. The nodal officer will also enter the details on line and submit to this Department for further processing in respect of US and above level officers.

3. Immovable Property Return All CSS Officers are requested to file their immovable property return through the web based system also, in addition to the conventional method of filing of paper returns.

4. Nodal officers are requested to bring the above to the notice of all CSS Officers under their control for compliance.

(V. Srinivasaragavan)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: www.persmin.nic.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02csd/25213wbcm.pdf]

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14: Central Government Railway Employees

Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14

Ministry of Railways 

26-February, 2013 14:23 IST
  • 67 new Express trains to be introduced
  • 26 new passenger services, 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced
  • Run of 57 trains to be extended
  • Frequency of 24 trains to be increased
  • First AC EMU rake to be introduced  on Mumbai suburban network in 2013-14
  • 72 additional services to be introduced in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata
  • Rake length increased from 9 cars to 12 cars for 80 services in Kolkata and 30 services in Chennai
  • 500 km new lines, 750 km doubling, 450 km gauge conversion targeted in 2013-14
  • First ever rail link to connect Arunachal Pradesh
  • Some Railway related activities to come under MGNREGA
  • For the first time 347 ongoing projects identified as priority projects with the committed funding
  • Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 63,363 crore
  • Loan of Rs. 3000 crore repaid fully.
  • A new fund-Debt Service Fund set up to meet committed liabilities.
  • Freight loading of 1047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13
  • Passenger growth 5.2% in 2013-14
  • Gross Traffic Receipts – Rs. 1,43,742 crore i.e. an increase of 18,062 crore over RE, 2012-13
  • Dividend payment estimated at Rs. 6,249 crore
  • Operating Ratio to be 87.8% in 2013-14
  • Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased
  • Fuel Adjustment Component linked revision for freight tariff to be implemented from 1st April 2013
  • Enhanced reservation fee abolished
  • Elimination of 10797 Level Crossings (LC) during the 12th Plan and no addition of new LCs henceforth
  • Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains
  • ‘Aadhar’ to be used for various passenger and staff related services
  • Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
  • E-ticketing through mobile phones
  • Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status
  • Next –Gen e-ticketing system to be rolled out : capable of handling 7200 tickets per minute against 2000 now,  1.20 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 now
  • Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations: Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru
  • Introduction of ‘Azadi Express’ to connect places associated with freedom movement
  • Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rain passengers, especially women passengers
  • 10% RPF vacancies being reserved for women
  • 1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged
  • Railways to impart skills to the youth in railway related trades in 25 locations
  • Provision of portable fire extinguishers in Guard-cum-Brake Vans, AC Coaches and Pantry Cars in all trains
  • Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback
  • Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains
  • Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains
  • Upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected
  • Introduction of an ‘Anubhuti’ coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services
  • 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently-abled
  • Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly
  • Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321)
  • Complimentary card passes to recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Dhyan Chand Awards to be valid for travel by 1st Class/2nd AC
  • Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
  • Travel by Duronoto Trains permitted on all card passes issued to sportspersons having facility of travel by Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
  • Facility of complimentary card passes valid in 1st class/2nd AC extended to parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and policy medal for Gallantry
  • Policy Gallantry awardees to be granted one complimentary pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2nd AC in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
  • Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years instead of every year.
  • Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad
  • Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for training in rail related electronics technologies
  • Setting up of a centralized training institute at Secunderabad--Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management
  • Five fellowships in national universities to be instituted to motivate students to study and undertake research on Railway related issues at M.Phil and Ph.D. levels
  • Fund allocation for staff quarters enhanced to Rs. 300 crore
  • Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all divisional headquarters
  • Provision of water closets and air conditioners in the locomotive cabs to avoid stress being faced by loco pilots

MKP/Samir/BS
(Release ID :92504)

Source: PIB

Parents of Posthumous Unmarried Bravery Awardees to be Extended Facility of Complimentary Card Pass in 1st Class/2nd AC Passes for Freedom Fighters to be Renewed Every 3 Years

Parents of Posthumous Unmarried Bravery Awardees to be Extended Facility of Complimentary Card Pass in 1st Class/2nd AC Passes for Freedom Fighters to be Renewed Every 3 Years

The Union Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced the extension of the facility of Complimentary Card pass valid in 1st Class/2nd AC to the parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and Police Medal for Gallantry.

While presenting the Railways Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today he announced that Police Gallantry awardees shall now be granted one Complimentary Pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2 AC in Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains.

Shri Bansal also announced that the requirement of renewal of the passes for freedom fighters is being raised to three years. Presently, freedom fighters are required to renew their passes every year which causes inconvenience to many of them in an advanced age. 


Source: PIB

Fund Allocation for Railway Staff Quarters Enhanced by 50 %

 Ministry of Railways 
 
Fund Allocation for Railway Staff Quarters Enhanced by 50 %

The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced enhancement of the fund allocation under Railways staff quarters by 50% over the previous year to provide Rs 300 crore. While presenting the Railways Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today he said that construction of staff quarters has been hampered by funding constraints. Encouraged by the success of Ministry of Urban Development in constructing staff quarters through PPP mode, his Ministry proposes to adopt the same in the Railways.

He announced the provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all Divisional headquarters.

He further announced that condition of barracks would be improved to provide better living condition to the RPF personnel.

1.52 Lakh Vacancies in Railways to Be Filled up this Year

1.52 Lakh Vacancies in Railways to Be Filled up this Year

The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced that the Ministry of Railways will make concerted efforts to fill up approximately 1.52 lakh vacancies this year. While presenting Railways Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today, he said that it is a measure of popularity of Railways as an employer that a staggering 2.2 crore applications were received.

For the first time, Railways recruitment examinations were held at more than 60 cities across the country. In the process, a backlog of about 47,000 vacancies earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged is likely to get cleared.

Outlay of Rs. 63,363 Crore Proposed in Rail Budget

Outlay of Rs. 63,363 Crore Proposed in Rail Budget
Operating Efficiency Likely to Improve to 87.8%


An outlay Rs. 63,363 crore has been proposed for 2013-14 rail budget which will be financed through Gross Budgetary Support of Rs. 26,000 crore, Railway’s Share in Road Safety Fund of Rs. 2,000 crore and internal resources of Rs. 14,260 crore.

Highlighting the importance of financially sustainability of Indian Railways for its efficient upkeep, operation and maintenance, Railway Minister, Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal said that we must be realistic in setting targets. He said that during the year the Railways shall have to borrow Rs. 15,103 crore from market and shall have to mobilize Rs. 6,000 crore through Public Private Partnership(PPP) route for its operations proposed in the Budget.

Expecting more revenue through freight and passenger tariff , the Railway Minister said that freight earning is expected to Rs. 93,554 crore, 9% higher than the previous budget year. Similarly passengers tariff earning is expected to increase to Rs. 42,210 crore.

Shri Bansal said that in view of expected growth of 11% and 10% in Other Coaching and Sundry earnings respectively, the Gross Tariff Receipts are expected to be Rs. 1,43,742 crore . While Ordinary Working Expenses for the year are expected to Rs. 96,500 crore. He said that the appropriation to the Pension Fund is estimated to Rs. 22,000 crore and the appropriation to Depreciation Reserve Fund has been kept at Rs. 7,500 crore.

Shri Bansal expressed the hope that Operating Ratio during the budget year will improve to 87.8% from the Revised Estimate of Rs. 88.8% and Railway would be able to close the financial year with the balance of Rs. 12,506 crore to Railway Funds.

NKP/NCJ/BR
(Release ID :92510)

Source: PIB

Prime Minister's statement on the Railway Budget

PM's statement on the Railway Budget

The Minister for Railways has done a commendable job in meeting competing demands of improving and increasing services for commuters and controlling expenditure of his department. It is a reformist and forward looking Budget which presents a realistic picture of Railway finances. I compliment him for his innovations in critical areas of Railway infrastructure and paving the way for capacity expansion.

Source: PIB

Sanctioning of Leave : Dies non – No Work No Pay

Sanctioning of Leave : Dies non – No Work No Pay

All the Central Government employees those who are participated in the Two Day Strike have been warned by the government through its circular dated 15-02-2013, that leave of any kind will not be sanctioned for them. It is under stood that the absence of two days in strike period will be treated as Dies non

The West Bengal State Government too issued a circular a day before , in which it has been said that no leave will be granted to its employees during the strike, and if they aren’t present in office it will be treated as dies non with no salary admissible if they don’t give a suitable reason and produce proper documents for refraining from turning up for duty.

What is Dies non ?

Dies non: In service terms, “dies non” means a day, which cannot be treated as duty for any purpose. It does not constitute break in service. But the period treated as ‘dies non’ does not qualify as service for pensioner benefits or increment.

As per the Postal Manual Volume III, Central Civil Services (Classification,Control and appeal) rules, 1965, the Absence of officials from duty without proper permission or when on duty in office, they have left the office without proper permission or while in the office, they refused to perform the duties assigned to them is subversive of discipline. In cases of such absence from work, the leave sanctioning authority may order that the days on which work is not performed be treated as dies non, i.e. they will neither count as service nor be construed as break in service. This will be without prejudice to any other action that the competent authorities might take against the persons resorting to such practices.

Source: gservants.com

EPF interest rate raised by 0.25 to 8.5 per cent for the current fiscal

EPF interest rate raised by 0.25 to 8.5 per cent for the current fiscal

Employees’ Provident Fund Organization, EPFO, has decided to pay 8.5 per cent rate of interest on Provident Fund, PF, deposits for 2012-13.

It is higher by 0.25 per cent provided in the previous fiscal. It will benefit over five crore subscribers of retirement fund body.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, the highest decision making body of EPFO, chaired by Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

According to the EPFO’s estimates, payment of 8.5 per cent interest rate on PF deposits for current fiscal, would leave a surplus of 4.13 crore rupees with the retirement fund body.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Rail Budget 2013-14: Train travel may cost more with passenger amenities cess

Rail Budget 2013-14: Train travel may cost more with passenger amenities cess

Train travel is expected to get costlier, said sources a day ahead of the Rail Budget 2013. According to sources, the government is likely to introduce a fuel adjustment component and a passenger amenities cess which will contribute to a hike in fares.

Train travel is expected to get costlier, said sources a day ahead of the Rail Budget 2013 . According to sources, the government is likely to introduce a fuel adjustment component and a passenger amenities cess which will contribute to a hike in fares. The Rail Budget 2013 may not be as populist as the people expect it to be.


The Rail Budget 2013 will be the the first by a Congress minister in 17 years and is likely to pinch you a bit more.

However, there is good news in the offing. Sources say that an additional Rajdhani is likely to be introduced between Delhi and Mumbai. Two are already running between the two destinations.

Also, several railway works could come under the MNREGA, the flagship programme of the UPA which would widen the programme's scope. Reportedly, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has accepted this proposal of the Railway Ministry.

Trinamool Congress, however, is not pleased. TMC leader Saugata Roy said, "We oppose the 20 per cent hike introduced last time. Future price hike is opposed."

Source: Money Control

Railway Budget 2013 : Six stocks to watch out ahead of Railway Budget 2013-14

Railway Budget 2013 : Six stocks to watch out ahead of Railway Budget 2013-14

The Railway Budget is generally viewed as a precursor to the Union Budget 2013-14, due later this week. Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal will present the Railway Budget on Tuesday, February 26.

The curiosity about the upcoming Railway Budget with the budget announcement for 2013 - 2014 is obvious as the Indian Railways sprawls a huge network of rail tracks throughout the country.

"The condition of the railway department has been deteriorating day by day. The Indian Railways, which carries over 25 million passengers daily, has witnessed total earnings growth 20.4 per cent during the period between April2012-January201 compared to a growth of 27.6 per cent which was projected in the Budget estimates," said D.K. Aggarwal, CMD-SMC Investments & Advisors Ltd.

In the year 2012, Indian Railways hiked passenger fares by 21 per cent to curb the mounting losses. The hike in the fare has helped mop up additional revenue of Rs 6,600 crore in a year. However, the diesel price hike of Rs 10.8 per litre has put additional burden of Rs 3,300 crore annually.

"After raising the railway fares in January, the Railway Ministry is mulling another round of fare hike in the upcoming Rail Budget 2013-14. It is expecting a good chunk of helping hand from the government in this Budget," added Aggarwal.

Aggarwal is of the view that stocks like Titagarh wagons, Kalindee Rail, Bharat Earth Movers and Texmaco generally get attraction before the announcements of the Rail Budget as these are the companies that generally get benefited by the capital spending of the Railways.

We have compiled technical views on top six stocks which are likely to move on and after the Railway Budget day:

Ranajit Kumar Saha, Senior Manager- Technical Research at Microsec Capital Ltd


BEML:

After making a low of Rs 235 on 15th February, 2013, the BEML has given a pullback rally of almost 7.6 per cent in last five successive trading sessions. Now the stock is likely to face a stiff resistance at Rs 271.

If the stock is able to maintain above this level, an upward rally might carry it to Rs 330 in the extreme short term. We recommend initiating long positions on the stock with a stop loss at Rs 210.

Titagarh Wagons Ltd:

Titagarh Wagons Ltd (TWL) is in continuous downtrend since the last two years. The immediate crucial support of the stock is at Rs 250 and a breach of this level is likely to take the stock lower to Rs 210 and then Rs 185. We recommend holding long positions in the stock with strict stop loss of Rs 250.

Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd:

The short-term crucial support of TEXRAIL is at Rs 58, near 200 DMA. If the stock breaches this level, the short term trend would become negative and the stock may further go down to Rs 50. We recommend holding long positions in the stock with stop loss of Rs 50.

Source: ET

INDWF proposals for General Budget 2013

General Budget 2013 – INDWF proposals for General Budget 2013

NDWF/PM/Budget/2013 19.01.2013

To
Hon’blePrime Minister,
Government of India,
New Delhi 110 011.

Sub: General Budget 2013 – INDWF proposals for General Budget 2013

Sir,
Indian National Defence Workers Federation affiliated to Indian National Trade Union Congress is the Federation of around 300 unions in the Defence Civilian Sector consisting of around more than 1 lac employees as its members

GENERAL BUDGET 2013 – Consideration of INDWF’s Proposals:

INDWF requests the Hon’ble Finance Minister to kindly consider the following proposals for inclusion in the General Budget 2013 which would provide relief to over 34 lac of Central Government Employees (including 3.5 lacs of Defence Civilian employee) and also other workers.

1. Annual income amounting to Rs.5 lacs may be exempted from the purview of income tax in view of steep rise in prices of essential commodities.

2. Since the percentage of Dearness Allowance has crossed 50% of pay long ago there is thus immediate need for setting up of VII Central Pay Commission, alternatively, the Government may consider setting up of Permanent Wage Revision Board.

3. 50% DA may be merged with pay as was done in the year 2004.

4. Bonus Act to be amended for ensuring payment of Bonus including that of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) on actual monthly wages, alternatively, the limit may be enhanced to Rs.10, 000 for payment of PLB to Defence Civilian Employees.

5. New Pension Scheme for the employees joined Government services after 01.01.2004 is anti-worker and anti-staff. NPS does not carry safe guards admissible under the Pension Rules 1993; The New Pension Scheme needs to be scrapped.

6. Additional pension be allowed to the retired Central Government employees on attaining 70 years of age.

7. INDWF proposed upward revision of retirement age on superannuation from 60 to 62 years in the wake of mass retirements during the coming years, as it is possible that there may be shortage of skilled and qualified personnel.

8. Thousands of contract workers have been engaged in the Public and Private Sector industries with a meager salary. This way, the exploitation of poor labourers is going on unabatedly. We are demanding abolition of contract labour system in all the industries, particularly the Government owned sectors. Till such time a policy is framed, we propose that the same remuneration as that of permanent workers be paid to the contract workers as well as outsourced workers.

9. The perks/fringe benefits presently being availed by the workers including private sector workers as incentive be considered for exemption from the taxes.

10. Transport Allowance paid to the Central Government employees including Defence Employees may be exempted from the purview of income tax.

11. Children Education Allowance being re-imbursed to all the employees for their school going children to the tune of Rs.15,000/- per child per year, but the same is being taxed, only a rebate of Rs.40 per annum. Hence, it is requested to exempt the Children Education Allowance from the purview of Income Tax to the full extent of the allowance paid to the employee.

12. For adequate career growth of Teachers and Lecturers of Central Government Institutions particularly in Ordnance Factories, the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACP) may be made applicable to them.

INDWF is confident that the Hon’ble Finance Minister would give serious consideration to the above proposals for making Budget announcements.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,
(R.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary.

SUCCESS OF TWO-DAYS STRIKE BY Central Government EMPLOYEES ALONGWITH WORKING CLASS OF INDIA.

SUCCESS OF TWO-DAYS STRIKE BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ALONGWITH WORKING CLASS OF INDIA.

PRESS STATEMENT


About 8 lakhs Central Government employees took part in the 48 hour (two day) general strike yesterday and today organised by the Indian working class as per the call of the Joint platform of 11 Central Trade Unions of the country. Besides 5 lakh Defence Civilian employees are also reported to have participated in this historic action.

The Strike was total and cent per cent in Income tax and Postal departments. The participation ranged from 60 to 90% in other Government of India organisations except in the Central Secretariat. As per the report, the strike was total in Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and 60 to 70% in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and partial in other States.

In Delhi, the Income tax and RMS offices of the Postal Department virtually remained closed. Not a single employee reported for duty in these offices. Many offices of the Civil Accounts and Post offices in Delhi also did not function on these two days.

Many establishments of Printing and Stationery, Indian Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey of India, Medical Depots, Customs, Ground Water Board, ISRO, Directorate of Marketing Inspection, Civil Accounts, Central Public Works Department remained closed throughout the country on both the days.

The National Secretariat of the Confederation places on record its sincere gratitude and appreciation of the efforts undertaken by the State/Branch level leaders to make this historic action of the Indian working class a resounding success by eliciting the total participation of the Central Government employees. The success of the two days strike action will no doubt embolden the employees and workers to chalk out intensified action programme including indefinite strike action to compel the Govt. to rescind the anti-people economic policies pursued since 1991.

K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General.

PCDA Pension Orders 2013 : Counting of former service in respect of employees covered under New Pension Scheme.

Counting of former service in respect of employees covered under New Pension Scheme.

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 103.

Dated :- 8th February 2013

To,
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
(All Heads of Department under Ministry of Defence)

Subject : Counting of former service in respect of employees covered under New Pension Scheme.

As per existing practice Audit Report for counting of former service in respect of Defence Civilian Employees covered under old pension scheme is being rendered by the Office of the PCDA (P) Allahabad. However, consequent upon introduction of New pension scheme w.e.f. 01-01-2004, this office has stopped rendering audit report for counting of former service in r/o employees covered under New pension scheme. Now, it has been decided that this office will continue to Render Audit report to those employees who are covered under New Pension scheme till finalization of NPS Rules.

2.Therefore it is advised to forward affected cases as well as returned cases to render Audit Report.

No.GI/C/Misc/NPS-I/Tech.
Dated: 8th February 2013

sd/-
(ALOK PATNI)
ACDA(P)

Source: www.pcdapension.nic.in
[http://pcdapension.nic.in/6cpc/Circular-103.pdf]

PCDA Pension Orders 2013 : Revision of pension of Pre-2006 pensioners - reg.

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No.102.

Dated :- 11th February 2013.

To,
The Treasury Officer
The PO- Master, Kathua, Srinagar (J&K)
The PO- Master, Campbell Bay (Andman & Nicobar)
The Defence Pension Disbursing Officer
--------------------------------
Pay & Accounts Officer
--------------------------------
Military & Air Attache, Indian Embassay, Kathmandu, Nepal (through Gorkha
Record Officer, Kurnaghat, Gorakhpur)
Director of Accounts, Panji (Goa)
Finance Secretary, Gangtok, PO-I, Thimpu Bhutan
The General Manager (Nodal Officer, PSBs)
All Managers, CPPC of Public Sector Banks.
All Managers, CPPC of Authorized Private Banks.

Subject : Revision of pension of Pre-2006 pensioners - reg.

Reference: This office Important Circulars No. 57 bearing no. GI/C/0198/VOL-I/Tech dated 17-09-2008, 62 bearing no. GI/C/0198/VOI-II/Tech dated 12-11-2008 and Circular no. 96 bearing no. GI/C/0198/VOL-IV/Tech dated 04-12-2012.

Attention of all pension disbursing authorities is invited to above cited circulars wherein instructions had been issued for implementation of GOI, Ministry of P,PG and pensions, Deptt of P&PW OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A,) dated 01 September 2008 and that Ministry OM.No. 1/3/2011-P&PW (E) dated 25-05-2012. Now, GOI, Ministry of P,PG and pension, Dept of P&PW have further issued orders under their OM No. 38/37/08 P&PW (A) dated 28-01-2013, a copy of which is enclosed for immediate implementation.


2. According to current orders, pension of pre-2006 pensioners as revised w.e.f. 01- 01-2006 in terms of para 4.1 or para 4.2 of the OM dated 01-09-2008 as amended from time to time would be further stepped up to 50% of the sum of minimum of pay in pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre- revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired, as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Min of Fin, Deptt of Expenditure OM No. 1/1/2008 - IC dated 30-08-2008. In case of HAG and above scales, this will be 50% of the minimum of the pay in the revised pay scale arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the above referred OM dated 30-08-2008 of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.

3. The normal family pension of pre-2006 pensioners as revised w.e.f. 01-01-2006 in terms of para 4.1 or para 4.2 of the OM dated 01-09-2008 as amended from time to time would be further stepped up to 30% of the sum of minimum of pay in pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre- revised pay scale from which the Government servant had retired, as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Min of Fin, Deptt of Expenditure OM No. 1/1/2008 - IC dated 30-08-2008. In case of HAG and above scales, this will be 50% of the minimum of the pay in the revised pay scale arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the above referred OM dated 30-08-2008 of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.

4. A revised concordance table ( Annexure ) of the pre - 1996, pre-2006 and post 2006 pay scales/pay bands indicating the pension/family pension (at ordinary rates) payable under the above provisions is enclosed to facilitate payment of revised pension/family pension.

5. The pension so arrived at in accordance with para 2 above and indicated in col.9 of Annexure will be reduced/prorata where the pensioner had less than the maximum required service ( 33 years ) for full pension and in no case it will be less than Rs. 3500/- p.m.

6. Further, it has also been decided that:-

(i) In case of Govt. servants who died while in service before 01-01-2006 and in respect of whom enhanced family pension is applicable from. 24-09-2012 the enhanced family pension will be stepped up to 50% of the sum of minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale in which the Govt. servant had died, as arrived at with reference to the fitment table annexed to the Fin of Finance OM dated 30-08-2008 & in case of HAG and above scales this will be 50% of the minimum of the pay in revised pay scale arrived at with reference to the fitment table annexed to the OM dated 30-08-2008.

(ii) In the case of a pensioner who retired before 01-01-2006 and in respect of whom enhanced family pension is applicable from the date of approval by the Government, i.e. 24-09-2012, the enhanced family pension will be stepped up to the amount of pension as 2 revised in terms of para 2 read with para 5 above. In case the pensioner has died before 24-09-2012, the pension will be revised notionally in terms of para 2 read with para 5 above. The amount of revised enhanced family pension will, however, not be less than the amount of family pension at ordinary rates as revised in terms of Para 3 above.

7. In case the pension consolidated pension/family pension/enhanced family pension calculated as per Para 4.1 of OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 01-09-2008 is higher than the pension/family pension calculated in the manner indicated above, the same ( higher consolidated pension/family pension ) will continue to be treated as basic pension/family pension.

8. These orders will take effect from 24-09-2012. There will be no change in the amount of revised pension/family pension paid during the period 01-01-2006 and 23-09- 2012, and, therefore, no arrears will be payable on account of these orders for that period.

9. All pension disbursing authorities are therefore, requested to revise the pension/family pension in affected cases in terms of Govt. OM dated 28-01-2013. Payment made w.e.f. 24-09-2012 will be adjusted against the arrears now being paid and these cases may be reflected in the monthly account sent to this office as 'change item'.

10. Where the PDAs are in doubt in regulating the payment of revised pension/family pension under these orders, the cases with full details of pensioner/family pensioners and PPO No: etc may be referred to Audit Section of this office for advice and further action.

 No:-GI/C/0198/Vol-IV/Tech.
Dated: 11th February 2013.

sd/-
(ALOK PATNI)
ACDA (P)

Source: www.pcdapension.nic.in
[http://pcdapension.nic.in/6cpc/Circular-102.pdf]

REVISED PENSION / FAMILY PENSION OF PRE-2006 PENSIONERS FOR POSTSCARRYINGPRESENTSCALESIN GROUP 'A', 'B', 'C' & 'D' [Annexure to OM No.38/40/12-P&PW(A) Dated 28.1.2013

PCDA Pension Orders 2013 : One Rank One Pension - Rate of Minimum Guaranteed Family Pension with effect from 24.9.2012 (Commissioned Officers)

PCDA Pension Orders 2013 : One Rank One Pension - Rate of Minimum Guaranteed Family Pension with effect from 24.9.2012 (Commissioned Officers)

An Important circular has been issued by the Office of the PR.Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions)-Allahabad regarding that the Dependent Pension (Special) and Dependent Pension (Liberalised) to Defence Service Personnel and Ex-Servicemen and also issued the table of minimum guaranteed family pension effect from 24.9.2012 (Commissioned Officers). Implementation of Government decision on the recommendations of the Committee Secretaries Committee- 2012 on the issues related to Defence Service Personnel and Ex-Servicemen- Improvement in Casualty Pensionary Awards for pre- 2006 Armed Forces Officers and JCO/ ORs and equivalents.

The main content of the order is reproduced and given for your information and also given a link to the original order...

Subject : Implementation of Government decision on the recommendations of the Committee Secretaries Committee- 2012 on the issues related to Defence Service Personnel and Ex-Servicemen- Improvement in Casualty Pensionary Awards for pre- 2006 Armed Forces Officers and JCO/ ORs and equivalents.

Reference : This Office Circular No. 503 dated 17.01.2013.

Kindly refer to Table No. 1 appended in this office circular cited under reference. Your attention is invited wherein to various nomenclature columns (Column 6, 8, 11, 13, 17,19) the 2nd Life awards of SFP and 2nd Life awards of LFP have been shown. However, in the case of Commissioned Officers it should be Dependent Pension (Special) and Dependent Pension (Liberalised). In order to facilitate the PDAs for smooth revision and implementation, the same has been rectified and an amended Table No. 1(Revised) is enclosed for necessary revision/ action.

It is also mentioned that the rates of Dependent Pension (Liberalised) in case both parents are alive are @ of 75% of LFP. This has been left out inadvertently which has now been reproduced in the revised table.

2.All Pension Disbursing Authorities are authorized to revise/ update the family pension in respect of Commissioned Officers equivalent as per tables attached to this circular, if the same is beneficial. Table No. 1 appended in Circular No. 503 is replaced by Table No. 1(Revised) annexed with this circular.
3.All other terms and conditions for revision of family pension in respect of pre-2006 Armed Forces family pensioners drawing pension under casualty pensionary awards shall remain unchanged.

sd/-
(ALOK PATNI)
ACDA(P)

No. Grants/Tech/0167-XIII (508)
Dated: - 19th February 2013.

Click here to get the "Rate of Minimum Guaranteed Family Pension with effect from 24.9.2012 (Commissioned Officers)"

Source : www.pcdapension.nic.in
[http://pcdapension.nic.in/6cpc/Circular-508.pdf]

Sunday, February 24, 2013

To Fix timeline for redressal of grievances - Web based Pensioner's Portal

To Fix timeline for redressal of grievances - Web based Pensioner's Portal

F. No. 55/20/2012-P&PW(C)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
New Delhi, the 18th February, 2013

To
All Nodal Officers of all Ministries/ Departments
(Web Based Pensioners' Portal)

Sub: To Fix timeline for redressal of grievances.

As per software developed for monitoring of Pension related grievances, all on- line grievances of pensioners are being fed through web application CPENGRAMS available in the Pensioners' Portal maintained by Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare and the same are forwarded online to the concerned Ministries/Departments/Organizations for their redressal.  It has, however, been felt that timely action is not being taken by various Ministries/Departments/ Organizations for redressal of grievances and same remain pending for unduly long periods. There is thus need to emphasis upon the concerned officers dealing with these grievances in your Department for taking timely action on the grievances of pensioners so that unnecessary delays could be avoided.  The regional offices and field officers, wherever they exist also need to be sensitized in this regard accordingly.

2. Any grievance redress system would be failing in its primary purpose of the minimum courtesy of acknowledging receipt of a complaint is not observed. As per the guidelines issued by administrative Reforms and Public Grievances vide its Office Memorandum No. K 15011/l/2006-PG, dated 22nd May, 2006, an acknowledgement has to be sent immediately and at the most within a period of three days of the receipt of the grievance and the grievance itself should be redressed within a maximum period of two months of its receipt. cases where it is not possible to give immediate reply, an interim reply should be given to the applicant. An immediate action by the concerned Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations will be steps towards pensioners' welfare and will go a long way in ameliorating the hardships of Pensioners. Further, in case it is not feasible to accede to the request made in the petition, a reasoned reply may be issued to the aggrieved citizen within this stipulated time limit.

3. As already requested earlier vide this Department's letters No. 41130/2011-P&PW(C) dated 13.01.2012 and 15.10.2012, you are once again requested to fix the time-line for timely redressal of grievances as per the guidelines issued by Department of AR&PG (copy enclosed). A detailed report on the action taken for implementation of these guidelines may also please be sent to this Department.

Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(Tripti P. Ghosh)
Director

Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances No. K-15011/1/2006-PG dated 22 May, 2006.

No. K-15011/1/2006-PG
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances

Sardar Patel Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi, Dated: May 22, 2006

OFFICE MEMRANDUM

Subject: Activating machinery for redress of Public Grievances.

The undersigned is directed to refer to the consolidated guidelines issued by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances for prompt and effective redress of public grievances. It has been emphasized that a fully functional redress mechanism needs to be in place in all Ministries of Government of India and in the Department/Organizations under the Ministries for expeditious redressal of public grievances. It has further been emphasized that the system of grievance redress mechanism should be well publicized to ensure that the citizens are aware of the system and can interact with the Department to settle their grievances. However, complaints still continue regarding the delays and lack of response.

2. It is now reiterated that the following step may please be taken to ensure that the internal grievance redress machinery is in order for prompt redressal of grievances of citizens:-
(i) A grievance should be acknowledged immediately and at the most within three days of the receipt of the grievance. A grievance should be redressed within a period of a maximum of two months of its receipt. If finalization of a decision on a particular grievance is anticipated to take longer than two months, an interim reply should invariably be sent.
(ii) In case it is not feasible to accede to the request made in the petition, a reasoned reply may be issued to the aggrieved citizen within this stipulated time limit.
(iii) Grievances received in the Ministries may be analyzed periodically at a senior level to identify grievance prone areas of the Ministries/Departments to adopt systemic changes to eliminate the causes of grievances.
(iv) Wide publicity of the grievance mechanism available in the Ministry and the names, designation and address of Director of Public Grievances may be given.
(v) The Director of Public Grievances of the Ministries/Departments of Government .of India may call for the documents of the case and take a decision with the approval of the Secretary of the Ministry/Head of the Department/Organization if a grievance is not redressed within a period of three months.
(vi) Every Wednesday may be kept as meeting-less day for the Directors of Public Grievances for hearing the grievances of the citizens. The feedback mechanism may be ensured for an inbuilt mechanisms to correct deficiencies.
(vii) In order to promote responsive administration, the system of regular dialogue with user and citizen groups on grievance redress mechanism and service delivery may be strengthened.

(viii) The software (PGRAMS) developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in consultation with National Informatics Centre (NIC) for efficient management of public grievances may be installed in all Ministries/Departments of Government of India.

(ix) The Department 'of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances with assistance from NIC has been providing necessary training to officers of different Ministries for better handling of grievances through PGRAMS for effective redressal of grievances of citizens.

All Ministries/Departments are requested to strengthen the Grievance Redress Mechanism to ensure effective redressal of public grievances. Action taken on the issues may be communicated to this Department.

Sd/-
(Shyamalima Banerjee)
Director (PG)

Source: http://pensionerportal.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/Cpengram1_180213.pdf]

Revision of PPO of pre-2006 pensioners / family pensioners

Revision of PPO of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners - (i) even if age/date of birth of spouse is not available, (ii) model advertisement for use by Ministries / Departments - regarding.

No. 1/20/2011·P&PW (E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 28th January, 2013

Sub: Revision of PPO of pre-2006 pensioners / family pensioners - (i) even if age/date of birth of spouse is not available, (ii) model advertisement for use by Ministries / Departments - regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM of even number, dated 16.12.2011, 2.11.2012 and 14.11.2012 and OM No. 1/23/2012-P&PW(E), dated 13.09.2012 and 27.09.2012 on an extremely important issue, i.e. revision of the Pension Payment Order (PPOs) of pensioners/family pensioners who retired/died before 2006. The revision has to be done on priority because the pensioners are suffering harassment due to non-revision of their PPOs.

2. A number of initiatives were taken in the last quarter of 2012 such as allowing change in date of birth of spouse, use of certain documents for revision of PPOs, inclusion of present postal address and mobile and telephone number in the life certificate and use of e-scroll for extracting information from banks database. In order to further streamline the process, it has been decided to allow revision of PPOs even in those cases where date of birth/age of spouse is not given in the PPO or this information is not available in the office records. Such PPOs may be revised again when age/date of birth becomes available. It has also decided that only live cases in which pension/family pension is being disbursed will be included in the pendency statement of the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) and for this purpose e scroll alone will be relied upon by the CPAO.

3. A copy of the advertisement previously circulated to all Ministries / Departments vide this Department's OM of even number, dated 16.12.2011 for use by them for eliciting information from pensioners/family pensioners is enclosed. It is requested that the advertisement may be posted on the website and if desired get it published in the leading News Papers.

sd/-
(Sujasha Choudhury)
Deputy Secretary

Source: www.pensionersportal.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/PPO2_220213.pdf]

Fixation of Pay consequent upon 6th Pay commission Recommendations in cadres of Inspectors / P.A's Administrative Officers. reg.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF FINANCE
CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES
DIRECTORATE OF INCOME TAX
(HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT)

ICADR Building. Plot No. 6, Vasant Kunj Institutional Area Phase-II
New Delhi - 110070. Ph: 26130592. FAX : 26130594

F. No, HRD/CMD/I75/9/2010-11/3740

Dt : 20/22/2/2013

To,
All the Chief Commissioners of income Tax (CCA)/DGITs

Madam/Sir,
Sub: Fixation of Pay consequent upon 6th Pay commission Recommendations in cadres of Inspectors / P.A's Administrative Officers. reg.

Sir,
Kindly refer to the above Subject.
2. The matter was referred to Department of Expenditure who have now conveyed their final advice as under :-

"Accordingly, Department of Revenue is informed that the fixation of pay as on 1.1.2006 is to be done only with reference to the actual pay scale of Rs. 6500-10500 and pay in the pay band so fixed will be the revised pay and thereafter, the Grade pay of Rs. 4600/.now admissible in the revised structure will he paid. In case there is anomaly whereby a senior promote officer draws less pay than the Minimum Entry pay of DRs who has joined after 01.01.2006, then the stepping up of pay senior promote may be considered at par with the pay of the junior DR appointed on or after 01.01.2006, subject to the following conditions:-

    a.Stepping up of the pay of seniors can be claimed only if in these cadres there is an element of direct recruitment and in cases where a direct recruited junior appointed on or after 01.01.2006 is actually drawing more basic pay than the seniors. In such cases, the basic pay of the seniors will be stepped up with reference to the pay of the directly recruited junior provided they belong to the same seniority list for all purposes.

    b.Government servants cannot claim stepping up of their revised basic pay with reference to the entry pay in the revised structure for direct recruits appointed or after 01.01,2006, as lain down in section 11 of part A of the first schedule to the
    CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, if their cadre does not have in element of direct recruitment or in cases where no junior is drawing basic pay higher than them.

    c.Stepping up of pay of the seniors shall not be applicable in cases where direct recruits have been granted advance increments at the time of recruitment.
    Overpayment over and above this will have to be recovered in an administratively suitably way."

3. In pursuance to the final advice given by Department of Expenditure it is directed that pay fixation of the Inspectors/PAs/AOs in the Sixth CPC revised pay scales should be done w.r.t. the pre revised scales of Rs.6500-10500 along with Grade Pay of Rs.4600 with stepping up being resorted to whenever applicable as advised by DOE.

4. In so far as the issue of recovery of excess payments already made in deserving cases, it is clarified that such excess payments already made can be waived as per provision of Rule 17 of the DFPRs. Under certain specific circumstances all the CCIT(CCAs) may accordingly a analyse all the cases in which recoveries are to be made and refer the deserving cases for further necessary action under Rule V of the DFPRs to the Board. The cases should be referred to the DIT(B&E) under DIGIT (Logistics) as separate budget will need to be provided for the proposed remissions and the matter will need to be taken up first with the IFU before it is sent to the DOE.

5. This issues with the approval of the Chairperson, CBDT.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Sanjar Gosain)
Deputy Director of Income Tax(HRD)
New Delhi.

Source: www.irsofficersonline.gov.in
[http://irsofficersonline.gov.in/Documents/OfficalCommunique/1222201332218.PDF]

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