Monday, July 31, 2017

Proposal to grant Recruitment and discretionary powers to Postmaster Cadre officials



Aadhaar-PAN linking can be done till August 31

The Central Board of Direct Taxes on Monday extended the linking of Aadhaar with PAN (Permanent Account Number) till August 31.

The income tax returns will be processed after the Aadhar-PAN linking, a release said.

Under pressure to push back the July 31 deadline for filing income tax returns due to the inability of the online server to handle the traffic on the last day, the Income Tax Department on Monday announced the extension of the deadline to August 5.

“There are some complaints that the taxpayers are not being able to log on to the e-filing website of Income Tax Department or not being able to link Aadhaar with PAN because of different names reflected in PAN and Aadhaar database,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement. “While technical snags have been removed already, the main reason for failure of people to log in is because of last minute rush and panic in which those who have already logged in want to continue for the entire period for fear of losing it.”

In order to ease this situation, the government has decided to extend the return filing deadline by five days to August 5.

“For the purpose of e-filing return, it would be sufficient as of now to quote Aadhaar or acknowledgement number for having applied for Aadhaar in e-filing website,” the statement added. “The actual linking of PAN with Aadhaar can be done subsequently, but any time before August 31, 2017. However, the returns will not be processed until the linkage of Aadhaar with PAN is done.”

A senior official of the department said the decision to extend the deadline ending today was taken after a meeting of the revenue department and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) was held in the Finance Ministry on Monday.
The department, till Sunday, had maintained that no extension would be given as already over 2 crore returns have been received and no major glitches on the portal had been detected.

But, the situation changed on Monday and the extension was declared.
This time, the linking of the Aadhaar number with the PAN (Permanent Account Number) of a taxpayer has been made mandatory for filing of an ITR, beginning July 1.

The department has also asked taxpayers to declare cash deposits made in bank accounts aggregating to ₹2 lakh or more, post demonetisation between November 9-December 30 last year, in the ITRs.

The ITRs to be filed by July 31 pertain to 2016-17 fiscal or assessment year 2017-18.

(With inputs from PTI)


ITR filing deadline extended till 5 August: income tax department

New Delhi: The income tax (I-T) department said on Monday the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for financial year 2016-17 has been extended till 5 August.

On Sunday, a top official had said the last date for filing of ITRs will not be extended beyond 31 July deadline.

“The last date for filing of ITRs remains 31 July. There are no plans to extend this deadline. The department has already received over 2 crore returns filed electronically. The department requests taxpayers to file their return in time,” the official said.

The department has also issued advertisements in leading national dailies in the last few days stating that taxpayers should disclose their income “correctly” and file their ITRs on or before 31 July.

The linking of Aadhaar number with the PAN (Permanent Account Number) of a taxpayer has also been made mandatory for filing of an ITR, beginning 1 July.
The department has also asked taxpayers to declare cash deposits made in bank accounts aggregating to Rs2 lakh or more, post demonetisation between 9 November-30 December last year, in the ITRs.

On reports of the e-filing website facing some glitches, the official said that no major glitches have been reported with the department's e-filing website -http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/ - barring a few times when the portal was "interrupted for maintenance".

To view the copy of Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, CBDT, please CLICK HERE.

Friday, July 28, 2017

e-Book issued by Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy (RAKNPA)

To view the copy of e-Book (June 2017 issue) published by RAKNPA, please CLICK HERE.   To turn the page, please CLICK at the bottom of right side page, so that next page will be opened automatically and to go back to previous page, click on bottom of left page. 

To view the copies of the previous months, please CLICK ON FOLLOWING. 

JUNE 2017   MAY 2017    APRIL 2017      MARCH 2017     

RAKNPA is issuing e-book every month and its copies can be viewed on cover page of India Post website. 

All members and track-in-viewers are requested to view the e-Book published by RAKNPA. It is very informative and useful. 

Deputation to Directorate

Directorate vide memo No. 7-1/2017—SPB-II(D) dated 13.7.2017 has issued orders for posting of the following  PAs/IPs/ASPs in Postal Directorate on attachment basis for a period of one year.

Sl. No.
Name of officer
Designation
Present Circle
Posting in Postal Directorate
1
Shri Gaurav Kain
ASP
Uttar Pradesh
Estate Division
2
Shri Mahendra Kumar
IP
Punjab
Estate Division
3
Shri Ankit Gupta
PA (CO)
Tamil Nadu
Estate Division
4
Shri S. Aravind
PA (SBCO)
Tamil Nadu
Estate Division
5
Shri Karam Singh Jhajholia
ASP
Haryana
WS&MR Division
6
Shri Bhartendu Kaushik
IP
Maharashtra
WS&MR Division
7
Shri Sandeep Pooniya
IP
Rajasthan
FS Division
8
Shri Om Prakash
ASP
Rajasthan
o/o Addl. DG
9
Shri Anokhe Lal
ASP
Himachal Pradesh
PMU Division
10
Shri Ankit
IP
Telangana
o/o DDG (P)
               
  Pay and allowances of the above officials/officers will be drawn by their parent office.


Thursday, July 27, 2017

All India Letter Writing competition "Dhai Akhar"



Amendment to the Rule 170(1) of General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017.

No.F.20/2/2014-PPD(Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Procurement Policy Division

516, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
New Delhi
Dated : 25.07.2017.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Amendment to the Rule 170(1) of General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017.

The reference of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) to exempt Startups from submitting Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) has been considered and it has been decided to revise the Rule 170(i) of GFRs, 2017 regarding Sid Security’ as under:

“Revised Rule 170 (1): To safeguard against a bidder’s withdrawing or altering its bid during the bid validity period in the case of advertised or limited tender enquiry, Bid Security (also known as Earnest Money) is to be obtained from the bidders except Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) as defined in MSE Procurement Policy issued by Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) or are registered with the Central Purchase Organisation or the concerned Ministry or Department or Startups as recognised by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). The bidders should be asked to furnish bid security along with their bids. Amount of bid security should ordinarily range between two percent to five percent of the estimated value of the goods to be procured. The amount of bid security should be determined accordingly by the Ministry or Department and indicated in the bidding documents. The bid security may be accepted in the form of Account Payee Demand Draft, Fixed Deposit Receipt, Banker’s Cheque or Bank Guarantee from any of the Commercial Banks or payment online in an acceptable form, safeguarding the purchaser’s interest in all respects. The bid security is normally to remain valid for a period of forty-five days beyond the final bid validity period.”

2.This OM is also available on our website http://doe.gov.in -> Notification ->Circular –> Procurement Policy OM.

3. Hindi version of this OM will follow.

S/d,
(Vinaya1 T. Likhar)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Tel.No.2462 1305.

To

All Secretaries & Financial Advisers of Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India.


Wednesday, July 26, 2017

181 New Post Offices will be opened in this fiscal-Manoj Sinha : PIB Report

The Government has planned to open 81 Sub-Post Offices and 100 Branch Post Offices during the current financial year 2017-18 under the Scheme – “Rural Business & Access to Postal Network”. Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today that the Department of Posts has also planned to open 66 Branch Post Offices by creation of new posts in 32 worst affected Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts in the country under the aforesaid scheme in the current financial year. 

Shri Sinha informed that out of 25,350 post offices in the States of the Country, 25,348 are computerised. He said that the Department of Posts takes action, from time to time, to induct technology and upgrade the system to cater to the growing market requirements and to increase revenue earnings. The Minister said that the increase or revision of rates of postal products and services is an ongoing exercise carried out from time to time and that there is no proposal to increase the rates of premium Business Development products at present...PIB


New rates of Tariff on Introduction of GST

To view, please CLICK HERE. 

New Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser (JS&FA) joined in the Department of Posts

Ms. Neelam Sanghi, IRAS:1989, has assumed the charge of the post of Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Posts. 

To view the copy of order issued by Directorate, please CLICK HERE. 


Trainpost

TRAINPOST is the training program designed by Universal Postal Union (UPC) for the employees of the postal administration. 

Based on a module training system that allows greater simplicity in course design and a higher performance learning mode, the Trainpost programme comprises a series of courses offered via internet and aimed at developing and enhancing the proficiency of the postal staff of UPU member countries.

All are directed to register them self at Trainpost and get the Distant Training on various subjects/matters by attending daily exercise. To see the Trainpost site, please CLICK HERE. 

RAKNPA Newsletter 2015-16

To read the full Newsletter, please CLICK HERE. 

Links  are also given to the blog and website of Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy, Ghaziabad on our blog for easy access to track in viewers. 

Please visit to RAKNPA sites regularly. 


Voluntary retirement .....

Shri T. Padmanabhan, ASP (HQ) o/o SSPOs, Chennai City South Division retired on 26-7-2017 F/N voluntarily from Government service.  

He was our former Asst Treasurer in CHQ and also worked more than 9 years as Treasurer to Tamil Nadu Circle Branch. 

He was close associated with the Association and helped a lot to develop Circle branch in Tamil Nadu. He was a very studied and hard worker.

I, on behalf of the CHQ extend him best wishes for his happy, healthy and peaceful retirement life. 

Shri G. Babu Circle Secretary Tamil Nadu Circle arranged farewell of Mr T. Padmanabhan


Gr. C cadre restructuring put on hold till further orders



Requested member to open sealed cover and promote PS Gr, B officer

ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, POSTS
CHQ Qtr. No. 12, P & T Colony, Khurshid Square, Civil Lines, Delhi 110 054.

Nirmalya Mitra 
President
ADPS (FS)
o/o CPMG WB Circle
Kolkata 700012
(M) 09433395342
Vilas Ingale
General Secretary
Superintendent of POs
Palghar Division
Mira Road 401107
(M) 09869417961
Yadagiri G. Nyalapelli
Treasurer
Assistant Sudpt. Posts
o/o PMG, Mumbai Region
Mumbai 400001
(M) 09869143819

No. CHQ/AIAIPASP/PS Gr.B/Review DPC/2017                Dated :          26/7/2017.
To,
Ms Achala Bhatnagar,
Member (P),
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001.

Subject :    Regarding promotion to the PS Gr. B cadre – Case of  of Sri P. Parisudda Rao, ASP, Vijayawada South Sub Division

Ref.        :    Directorate No. 9-14/2016-SPGP dated 09/12/2016

Respected Madam,

                   We are enclosing herewith a copy of representation dated 08-05-2017 of Sri P. Parisudda Rao, ASP, Vijayawada South Sub Division regarding his non-selection in PS Gr. B cadre.

                   It is to bring your kind notice that DPS Vijayawada Region under memo No. ST-IV/31/PPR/PRK/2016 dated 22-8-2016 has issued charge sheet under Rule 16 of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 against the officer and consequently his case would have been kept in Sealed Cover due to pending disciplinary case in  the DPC for promotion to PS Gr. B cadre held for the year 2016-17. Now the said disciplinary case culminated into imposition of punishment of “CENSURE” vide Vijayawada Region memo No. ST-IV/31/PPR/PRK/2016 dated 8/3/2017 (copy enclosed). The officer has already made a representation to Directorate on 13/3/2017 requesting to consider his case for promotion to PS Gr. B cadre. But till date nothing has been materialized.

                   It is most important to state that the officer is going to superannuate w.e.f. 31/10/2017. It is therefore earnestly requested to kindly look into it personally and issue his promotion order by opening sealed cover if any at the earliest, so that officer may retire from PS Gr. B cadre.
                  
Hoping for an early and positive action.
                  
With esteem regards,
Yours sincerely,

Sd/- 
(Vilas Ingale
General Secretary 

Monday, July 24, 2017

Farewell of The President Shri Pranab Mukherjee


The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee being presented a souvenir by the Vice President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri M. Hamid Ansari and the Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, during his farewell ceremony, at Central Hall of the Parliament, in New Delhi on July 23, 2017.

Relieving of Ms. Saroj Punhani, IA&AS (1984) from the post of JS&FA in the DOP

To view, please CLICK HERE. 

Voluntary retirement of Shri Thakur Subhash Sinha (lPoS-1991)

To view, please CLICK HERE. 

Simplification in procedure for getting passports - Total number of Annexes has been reduced to 9 from the present 15. Annexes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-495
ANSWERED ON-20.07.2017

Simplification in procedure for getting passports

495 . Shri Ranjib Biswal

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has decided to print personal details of individuals on passports, both in Hindi and English;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government proposes to reduce passport fee for children and elderly people and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the other steps taken by Government to simplify the procedure for getting passports?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) Yes. The Government has decided to print personal details on passports in both Hindi and English languages. The pre-printed portion of the passport is already in Hindi and English languages.

(c) Yes. The Government has implemented with effect from 24 June, 2017 a new scheme under which senior citizens of the age of 60 years and above and minor children upto the age of eight years would be given a discount of 10 per cent on the applicable passport fee on fresh application for passports.

(d) The Government has taken several steps to simplify the procedure for getting passports by general public. These involve simplification of the passport rules and outreach to the people in the delivery of passport related services. The steps taken in this direction are as follows:

A. Outreach

(i) The Government has opened 14 Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) since May 2014 which includes all the States in the North East of India. Two more PSK at Siliguri in West Bengal and at Sholapur in Maharashtra are scheduled to be inaugurated shortly to take the total number of PSK in the country to 93.

(ii) The Ministry of External Affairs in association with the Department of Posts has taken an innovative initiative and has decided to open Passport Offices at the Head Post Offices (HPO) in the country called ‘Post Office Passport Seva Kendra’ (POPSK). The Government has announced the opening of 235 POPSK in two phases – 86 in Phase-I and 149 in Phase-II. 55 POPSK out of the 86 announced in Phase-I have become functional as on 15 July, 2017. With the addition of 235 POPSKs, the total number of Passport Seva Kendras including POPSK to have been set-up since May 2014 for the benefit of the citizens would be 251.


(iii) There will be 93 PSK and 235 POPSK after the operationalization of all the PSK and POPSK announced in Phases I and II. The Government intends to open POPSK in the HPO in the country in such a manner that Passport Seva Kendra facility is available to citizens within a radius of 50 kms.

B. Simplification of rules

In order to streamline, liberalize and ease the process of issue of passport, the Ministry of External Affairs has announced steps in the realm of passport policy to ease the process of issue of passports. The details of these steps are given below:-

(I) Documents in support of proof of Date of Birth

As per the extant statutory provisions of the Passport Rules, 1980, all the applicants born on or after 26/01/1989, in order to get a passport, had to, hitherto, mandatorily submit the Birth Certificate as the proof of Date of Birth (DOB). It has now been decided that all applicants of passports can submit any one of the following documents as the proof of DOB while submitting the passport application:

(i) Birth Certificate (BC) issued by the Registrar of Births & Deaths or the Municipal Corporation or any other prescribed authority whosoever has been empowered under the Registration of Birth & Deaths Act, 1969 to register the birth of a child born in India;

(ii) Transfer/School leaving/Matriculation Certificate issued by the school last attended/recognized educational board containing the DOB of the applicant;

(iii) PAN Card issued by the Income Tax Department with the DOB of applicant;

(iv) Aadhaar Card/E-Aadhaar having the DOB of applicant;

(v) Copy of the extract of the service record of the applicant (only in respect of Government servants) or the Pay Pension Order (in respect of retired Government Servants), duly attested/certified by the officer/in-charge of the Administration of the concerned Ministry/Department of the applicant, having his DOB;

(vi) Driving license issued by the Transport Department of concerned State Government, having the DOB of applicant;

(vii) Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India having the DOB of applicant;

(viii) Policy Bond issued by the Public Life Insurance Corporations/Companies having the DOB of the holder of the insurance policy.


II. Other steps:

(i) The online passport application form now requires the applicant to provide the name of father or mother or legal guardian, i.e., only one parent and not both. This would enable single parents to apply for passports for their children and to also issue passports where the name of either the father or the mother is not required to be printed at the request of the applicant.

(ii) The total number of Annexes prescribed in the Passport Rule, 1980, has been reduced to 9 from the present 15. Annexes A, C, D, E, J, and K have been removed and certain Annexes have been merged.

(iii) All the annexes that are required to be given by the applicants would be in the form of a self-declaration on a plain paper. No attestation/swearing by/before any Notary/Executive Magistrate/First Class Judicial Magistrate would be henceforth necessary.

(iv) Married applicants would not be required to provide the erstwhile Annexure K or any marriage certificate.

(v) The passport application form does not require the applicant to provide the name of her/his spouse in case of separated or divorced persons. Such applicants for passports would not be required to provide even the Divorce Decree.

(vi) In case of children not born out of wedlock, the applicant for the passport of such children should submit only extant Annexure C while submitting the passport application.

(vii) In case of issue of passport to in-country domestically adopted children, submission of the registered adoption deed would no longer be required. In the absence of any deed to this effect, the passport applicant may give a declaration on a plain paper confirming the adoption.

(vii) Government servants, who are not able to obtain the Identity Certificate (extant Annexure-A)/ No-Objection Certificate (extant Annexure-G) from their concerned employer and intend to get the passport on urgent basis can now get the passport by submitting a self-declaration in extant Annexure-‘H’ that he/she has given prior Intimation Letter to his/her employer informing that he/she was applying for an ordinary passport to a Passport Issuing Authority.

(viii) Sadhus/ Sanyasis can apply for a passport with the name of their spiritual Guru mentioned in the passport application in lieu of their biological parent(s) name(s) subject to their providing of at least one public document such as Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India, PAN card, Aadhaar Card, etc wherein the name of the Guru has been recorded against the column(s) for parent(s) name(s).

(ix) Orphaned children who do not have any proof of DOB such as Birth Certificate or the Matriculation Certificate or the declaratory Court order, may now submit a declaration given by the Head of the Orphanage/Child Care Home on their official letter head of the organization confirming the DOB of the applicant.

GSR 1170(E) and 1171(E) dated 26.12.2016 and other executive instructions have been issued bringing into force these changes with effect from 26 December, 2016. All the above changes are expected to benefit the citizens of India applying for a passport.

C. Others

(i) An applicant for a passport has to submit any one of the documents as mentioned in B (I) above as proof of Date of Birth (DOB) while submitting the passport application. The DOB mentioned in the document would be recorded in the passport. In case there is a discrepancy between the DOB previously recorded in the passport and the new proof of DOB submitted by the applicant, the Passport Issuing Authorities (PIA) have been authorized to consider the explanation of each applicant seeking change in the DOB (irrespective of the period that would have lapsed after the issue of the passport) to find the genuineness of the claim and if the PIA is satisfied with the claim and with the document(s) submitted by the applicant in support of the claim, the PIA shall accept all such requests made by the applicant to issue the passport with revised DOB.

(ii) Police Verification of the applicants plays an important role in timely dispatch of passports. The Ministry along with the Passport Offices continues to engage closely with the Police Departments across States/Union Territories and with concerned Home Departments to reduce time taken in police verification.

(iii) In order to speed up passport issuance, Walk-in facility has been allowed for certain categories of services/ citizens having Application Registration Number (ARN) to enable them to apply for Tatkaal services ; issue of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC); deletion of Emigration Check Required(ECR) status; inclusion of name of spouse in passport and new booklets where pages have been exhausted. Senior citizens (above 60 years); minors below 15 whose parents hold valid passports; differently-abled persons; central/state government servants and their spouse/dependent minor children, have also been permitted walk-in facility.

(iv) With a view to meet heavy and seasonal demand for passport services, Passport Melas are being organized on weekends from time to time by Passport Offices.

(v) In order to provide closer and speedier passport services to people located far away from PSKs, Passport Seva Camps are being organized at various locations in the country.

(viii) Passport Adalats, on need basis, are also being conducted by Passport Offices to redress passport service grievances by dealing with citizens directly.

CWC Shimla 7th and 8th September 2017 ..... Notification thereof


All Circle Secretaries and CHQ Office Bearers are directed to take out the print of above notification and give copy to their circle administration for issue of special casual leave and relief order.

CWC Shimla notification

ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, POSTS
CHQ Qtr. No. 12, P & T Colony, Khurshid Square, Civil Lines, Delhi 110 054.

Nirmalya Mitra 
President
ADPS (FS)
o/o CPMG WB Circle
Kolkata 700012
(M) 09433395342
Vilas Ingale
General Secretary
Superintendent of POs
Palghar Division
Mira Road 401107
(M) 09869417961
Yadagiri G. Nyalapelli
Treasurer
Assistant Sudpt. Posts
o/o PMG, Mumbai Region
Mumbai 400001
(M) 09869143819

No. CHQ/AIAIPASP/CWC/SHIMLA/2017                     Dated :          24/7/2017. 

NOTIFICATION

Under the provisions of the Article 30 of the Constitution of the Association, it is hereby notified that the Central Working Committee meeting of the Association will be held at Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) on 7th and 8th September 2017.

Venue : Grand Hotel, Mall Road, Near Ramakrishna Bhavan, Shimla 171001

Agenda :

1.       Confirmation of minutes of the last CWC held at Jaipur on 13/2/2016.
2.       Organizational review of each circle.
3.       Inter-circle transfer of IPs under Rule 38 of Postal Manual Vol. IV.
4.       Combined Seniority list of Inspector Posts cadre.
5.       LDCE for promotion to the cadre of Sr. PM and PS Gr. B.
6.       DPC for promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B.
7.   CAT case : Eligibility and Quota for appearing in Sr. Postmaster Examination.
8.     Ernakulam Bench CAT case : Up-gradation of GP of Inspector Posts from  Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/- w.e.f. 1/1/2006.
9.      Cadre restructuring of Inspector Posts cadre.
10.     Financial review of CHQ.
11.     Any other item with the permission of chair.

All the CHQ office bearers and Circle Secretaries are requested to attend the meeting at scheduled date and time.

       Sd/-
 (Vilas Ingale)
General Secretary

Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to : -

1.    The Director General, Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 11001.
2.    All Chief PMsG (through concerned Circle Secretaries)
3.    Sri Nirmalya Mitra, President and ADPS (FS), o/o CPMG WB Circle, Kolkata    700012
4.    All CHQ Office Bearers / Circle Secretaries