Central employees entitled to get 125% Dearness Allowance from 01.01.2016

The Seventh Pay Commission headed justice A K Mathur has correctly predicted the dearness allowance (DA) hike to 125 per cent from the existing 119 per cent since January 2016.

The much awaited All India Consumer Price Index (Industrial Workers) for the month of December 2015 has been released by Govt. It has decreased by one point from 269 from 270 which was recorded in the month of November 2015.

This confirms that DA from January 2016 will be 125% which was estimated by 7th Pay Commission.

Consequently, no correction or change in 7th pay commissionfitment formula / multiplication factor of 2.57, will be needed now with respect to DA factor is concerned.

39th All India Conference at Jaipur on 13th and 14th February 2016

Bhupendra Parashar

It is once again requested to all Circle Secretaries, members, delegates and visitors to intimate their arrival particulars at Jaipur to Shri Bhupendra Parashar, Circle Secretary, Rajasthan Circle on his email id bhupendraparashar@gmail.com immediately to enable him to make further arrangements etc.  Mobile No. of Bhupendra Parasher is 09414576782. All those who are desire to attend AIC are requested to book their to and fro tickets from their originating station itself.

National Pension System (NPS) Service Week will be observed from 1st February to 6th February, 2016

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

29-January-2016 11:35 IST

To mark the completion of two years of statutory status of PFRDA, National Pension System (NPS) Service Week will be observed from 1st February to 6th February, 2016 dedicated to service-orientation towards the subscribers and building awareness and improved information dissemination.

PFRDA would be completing 2 years of its statutory status on February 1, 2016 as the ACT conferring the statutory status to PFRDA was notified on 1st Feb 2014. To mark this occasion, PFRDA in collaboration with all its intermediaries in the National Pension System (NPS), namely the Central and the State Governments nodal offices, POPs, Aggregators, Central Recordkeeping Agency, NPS Trust etc. is observing NPS Service Week from February 1- 6, 2016. This week-long campaign is being dedicated to service-orientation towards the subscribers and aimed at awareness building and improved information dissemination.

On this occasion, besides sharing of information on the range of functionalities and services now available under the NPS, the subscriber community shall be apprised about the need for constant updation of data/information to enable the system to operate at its optimum service level, so that the intended benefits now available under the new functionalities, can reach all the employees/subscribers under NPS. Besides, the subscribers will also be able to make best use of this opportunity and facilities available therein. 

Following are some of the activities which may be undertaken by the nodal officers in the proposed NPS Service Week: 

• Creating awareness about the NPS – Salient features of the scheme, the process of joining it, special efforts to reduce subscribers’ grievances, etc.

• Printing and distribution of the subscriber brochure for Govt. Subscribers.

• Updation of subscriber details through S2 Form.

• Conversion of non IRA to IRA compliant status. 

• Advising subscribers regarding benefits associated with PRAN being IRA compliant and updation of contact details. 

• Printing of Transaction Statement for the subscribers and distributing the same on the specific request of the subscriber. 

• Suitably rewarding/ acknowledging the best performing office/ branch/ person on completion of the NPS Service Week. 

PFRDA has also advised the CRA (NSDL) in this matter for actively assisting the Nodal Offices, POPs and aggregators in this campaign and for providing necessary guidance and further information to the employee-subscribers. This exercise is likely to help around 95 lakhs subscribers and would be available through more than 2 lakhs of points of interface comprising of Government offices , banks, non- bank Points of Presence and aggregators. 

On its part, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is organizing the 2nd Pension Conclave in Delhi on 4th February 2016 with the theme, “Towards Universal Pension: Coverage, Adequacy and Sustainability”. All the stake holders – POPs, CRA, TB, PFs, Custodian, Nodal Officers etc are expected to participate and share their experiences. PFRDA proposes to use this occasion to acknowledge/ award the best performing banks and Post Offices in mobilization and registration of subscribers under the Atal Pension Yojana up to 31st December 2015 and institute awards for best performing POPs under the Voluntary segment of the National Pension System.

February to be observed as ‘Sukanya Samriddhi’ month

TIRUCHI, January 30, 2016 : The Department of Posts will observe February as “Selvamagal Semippu Thittam month” and a campaign for opening of Sukanya Samriddhi accounts will be conducted in all the 11 postal divisions in the central region.

About 2.9 lakh accounts have been opened in the post offices in Central Region so far under the scheme. There are more than 3,500 post offices in the central region.

Special counters would be set up in all 24 head post offices at Chidamabram, Cuddalore, Karur, Kulittalai, Kumbakonam, Melakaveri, Mayiladuturai, Sirkali, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pattukkottai, Tiruthuraipundi, Pudukkottai, Perambalur, Srirangam, Thuraiyur, Mannargudi, Papanasam, Thanjavur, Lalgudi, Tiruchi, Kallakurichi, Tirukoyilur, andVriddhachalam.

Institutions such as schools, banks, and government offices can open accounts in bulk and contact the respective Postal Division or call 9443847055 to get the accounts opened on their premises itself.

Under the scheme, accounts can be opened in the name of girls aged below 10 by crediting a minimum amount of Rs. 1,000. Subsequent deposits can be made in multiples of Rs. 100 and a minimum of Rs. 1,000 has to be deposited in the account every financial year.

The maximum amount for a financial year is Rs. 1,50,000, a Postal Department release said.

The interest rate which was 9.1 per cent for 2014-15 has been enhanced to 9.2 per cent for 2015-16, the release added.

Source :  http://www.thehindu.com

Sack erring government officials who don't mend ways, PM tells secretaries

NEW DELHI: In a stern message to government officials refusing to mend their ways despite repeated complaints, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked secretaries to carry out assessment of such employees and recommend action, including dismissal and slashing their pension. 

The PM also asked all central government departments, which have to extensively deal with the public, to set up a grievance-monitoring mechanism. 

The PM's warning came as he reviewed grievances relating to the excise and customs department during his monthly interaction with central government secretaries and chief secretaries of states through Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), a web-based interface, sources said.
"Though he (the PM) specifically asked the excise and customs department to identify and take action against such officials, he said the message is for all secretaries and chief secretaries," a secretary level official told TOI. 

The department of personnel and training (DoPT) rules specify the circumstances under which an a government officer can be "retired" in "public interest". Rule 56(J) of Fundamental Rules says, "Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, the appropriate authority shall, if it is of the opinion that it is in public interest to do so, have the absolute right to retire any government servant by giving him notice of not less than three months in writing or three months' pay and allowances." 

Employees attaining 55 years can be impacted under this rule.
Similarly, Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rule says, "At any time after a government servant has completed 30 years qualifying service, (a) he may retire from service or (b) he may be required by the appointing authority to retire in public interest, and in case of such retirement, the government servant shall be entitled to a retiring pension."

 As per rules, the government can initiate disciplinary action against any employee for dereliction of duty, and his pension and other benefits can be withheld pending investigation. 

In an official release, the PMO said that taking strong exception to public complaints and grievances related to the customs and excise department, the PM asked for "strict action against responsible officials. He urged all secretaries whose departments have extensive public dealing, to set up a system for top-level monitoring of grievances immediately".

 Officials said though the Central Board of Excise and Customs said it had already been initiating steps to warn errant officials and installed CCTV cameras to keep tab on them, the PM observed that they must take quick action in such cases. 

Sources said Modi also asked top bureaucrats to work together and resolve prickly issues quickly and get out of the "government way of doing business" by passing files from one to another. 

This was Modi's ninth such interaction through PRAGATI. 

Source :  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

JTS posting in Directorate

Implementation of 7th CPC – Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments on 2.2.2016

To view copy, please CLICK HERE. 

Implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments will be held on 2.2.2016

Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments – implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Issues on way ahead

F.No.1-1/2016- IC
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, 29.1.2016

Meeting Notice

Subject : Meeting of Nodal officers of various Departments – implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Issues on way ahead.

In order to process the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, the Cabinet has approved setting up of an Empowered Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. Accordingly, the ECOS has been set up as per this Ministry’s OM No.1-4/2015/EIII-A dt. 27.1.2016 (copy placed on the website of this Ministry, viz, www.finmin.nic.in).

2. As provided in the said OM dt. 27.1.2016, the Implementation Cell created in this Ministry shall work as the Secretariat for the ECOS.

3. This Ministry has already requested all the Ministries/Departments vide DO letter No.1-4/2015/EIII.A dt. 21.11.2015 from JS(Pers) addressed to all the Secretaries to nominate a nodal officer at the level of a Joint Secretary to interact with the Implementation Cell during the curse of processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC.

4. Accordingly, Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) shall take a meeting of all the Nodal Officers of the Ministries/Departments on 2.2.2016 at 11 .00 a.m. in Conference Hall (R. No. 72), North Block, New Delhi to discuss the relevant issues in connection with the processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC and to concretise the points of action pertaining to all the Ministries/Departments in general and also in regard to specific issues concerning individual Ministries/Departments with a view to enabling an effective, holistic and quicker processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC and for submission of the matter before the ECOS.

5. As this is the first meeting of the Nodal Officers to formulate the action points on the way ahead on processing of the recommendations of the 7th CPC, it is requested that the concerned nodal officers may kindly make it
convenient to attend the meeting.

sd-
(Amar Nath Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

To,
All the nodal officers of Ministries/Departments, as per list attached.

Authority: www.finmin.nic.in

Click to view the order

Revision of Inspection Questionnaire for HO/SO/BO

Retirement in the month of January 2016

Following JTS Gr. A and PS Gr. B Officers are retiring from Govt. Service on superannuation on 31/1/2016

Sl. No.	Name of Officer	Designation	Circle
1	Shri A. Kuppsamy	Chief PM, Chennai GPO, Chennai	Tamil Nadu
2	Shr M. Bakthavatsalam	SSP, Virudunagar Division	Tanil Nadu
3	Shri Chhotey Lal	Supdt., PSF, Aligarh	Uttar Pradesh
4	Shri Jagannath Baith	SSP, Gaya division, Gaya	Bihar
5	Shri Suresh Chandra		Odisha
6	Shri Hanuman Visen	SP, Bahraich division	Utta Pradesh
7	Shri Interjit Singh	AD (Inv/Estt) o/o CPMG, Chandigarh	Punjab
8	Arjun Jha	AD (Legal) o/o CPMG, Patna	Bihar
9	Shri V. G. Vaghela	ASP (HQ) Bhavnagar Division	Gujarat
10	Shri V.Chandrasekaran	SP, Dharamapuri Division	Tamil Nadu
11	Shri Pramod Kumar Srivastava	SRM, Muzaffar Division, Muzaffar	Bihar
12	Shri Balram Mandal	SP, CSD, Patna	Bihar
13	Smt. Pushkala	ASP (HQ) Alappuzha Div (Vol. Retirement on 1/2/2016)	Kerala
14	Shri V. P. Phirke	SP, Buldhana Division, Buldhana	Maharashtra

CHQ wishes them a very happy, healthy and long retired life. In few circles, senior ASPs are working on adhoc basis in PS Gr. B cadre and retiring without getting regular PS Gr. B promotion, their names are not included in the list, the same may kindly be reported to GS by SMS.

Government announces first batch of 20 smart cities

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Urban Development

28-January-2016 17:58 IST

Government announces first batch of 20 smart cities from 11 States and Delhi 
23 States/UTs left out to participate in fast track competition 

Selection through competition totally objective and transparent, says Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu

20 cities propose an investment of Rs.50,802 cr over five years; All cities to resort to PPP

26,735 acres area in 20 cities identified for making them smart

            The Government today announced the 20 winners of the Smart City Challenge competition for financing during this financial year. Announcing the cities here today, Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu said that the winners were from 11 States and the Union Territory of Delhi and the selection was totally objective and transparent based on standardized processes.

            Shri Naidu further said that Smart City Mission marks a paradigm shift towards urban development in the country since it is based on ‘bottom up’ approach with the involvement of citizens in formulation of city vision and smart city plans and the Urban Local Bodies and State Governments piloting the mission with little say for the Ministry of Urban Development. He also observed that it was for the first time in the country and even in the world that investments in urban sector are being made based on competition based selection of cities.

            Informing that 1.52 crore citizens participated in shaping smart city plans of 97 cities and towns in the first round of competition, Shri Naidu said that this enthusiastic participation of people is a major positive outcome. 

            3 cities from Madhya Pradesh, two each from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and one each from the remaining five made it to the winning list.

            The Minister informed that 23 States and UTs who could not make to the list of winners will be given an opportunity to participate in a ‘fast track competition’. Each top ranking city form these left out states can upgrade their smart city proposals and submit them by April 15, this year for inclusion in the mission.

            Shri Naidu informed that the 20 winning cities and towns have proposed a total investment of Rs.50,802 cr over five years with all the cities proposing Public-Private-Partnership as a major vehicle of resource mobilization. 10 of the 20 cities have proposed to mobilise Rs.8,521 cr under PPP model while others have also indicated this option. A total area of 26,735 acres has been identified by these cities for making them smart through necessary interventions.

            Elaborating on the advantages of Smart City Mission, Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that this leads to integrated urban planning by addressing the issue of infrastructure, land use planning, transport, urban design and architecture in a holistic manner unlike in the past. Stating that building a smart city is not a destination but a series of small steps in that direction, Shri Naidu said that the country has taken one such step today. 

            The Minister said that urban local bodies are taking a quantum jump to improve their capabilities and have resorted to SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of each city for coming out with city vision. 

            The 20 smart cities announced by Shri Venkaiah Naidu were :

           

Rank	City	State
1	Bhubaneswar	Odisha
2	Pune	Maharashtra
3	Jaipur	Rajasthan
4.	Surat	Gujarat
5	Kochi	Kerala
6	Ahmedabad	Gujarat
7	Jabalpur	Madhya Pradesh
8	Visakhapatnam	Andhra Pradesh
9	Solapur	Maharashtra
10	Davanagere	Karnataka
11	Indore	Madhya Pradesh
12	New Delhi Municipal Council	Delhi
13	Combattore	Tamil Nadu
14	Kakinada	Andhra Pradesh
15	Belagavi	Karnataka
16	Udaipur	Rajasthan
17	Guwahati	Assam
18	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
19	Ludhiana	Punjab
20	Bhopal	Madya Pradesh

            Of these 20 cities accounting for a total population of 3.54 crore, 5 have  population below 5 lakhs each, 4 in the range of 5-10 lakhs, 6 in between 10-25 lakhs, 4 between 25 and 50 lakhs and only Ahmedabad has above 50 lakhs.