(TO BE PUBLISHED IN PART I SECTION 1 OF GAZETTE OF INDIA) F.NO. 5(4)-B(PD)/2021 Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division)
New Delhi, the 5 October, 2021
RESOLUTION
It is announced for general information that during the year 2021-2022, accumulations at the credit of subscribers to the General Provident Fund and other similar funds shall Carry interest at the rate of 7.1% (Seven point one percent) w.e.f. 1st October, 2021 to 31st December 2021. This rate will be in force w.e.f. 1st October, 2021. The funds concerned are:
1. The General Provident Fund (Central Services). 2. The Contributory Provident Fund (India). 3. The All India Services Provident Fund. 4. The State Railway Provident Fund. 5. The General Provident Fund (Defence Services). 6. The Indian Ordnance Department Provident Fund. 7. The Indian Ordnance Factories Workmen’s Provident Fund. 8. The Indian Naval Dockyard Workmen’s Provident Fund. 9. The Defence Services Officers Provident Fund. 10. The Armed Forces Personnel Provident Fund.
2. Ordered that the Resolution be published in Gazette of India.
(Ashish Vachhani) Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India
To, The Manager, (Technical Branch) Government of India Press, Mayapuri, Delhi.
F.No.5(4)-B(PD)/2021
Copy forwarded to all Ministries/Departments of Government of India, President’s Secretariat, Vice-President’s Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, Union Public Service Commission, Supreme Court, Election Commission and NITI Aayog.
Productivity Linked Bonus to Railway Employees for 2020-21
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2020-21 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).
The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs.1984.73 crore. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is Rs.7000/- p.m. The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 17,951 for 78 days.
About 11.56 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision. Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Dusshera/ Puja holidays. The decision of the Cabinet shall be implemented before the holidays for this year as well.
The PLB amount of 78 days’ wages were paid for the financial years from 2010-11 to 2019-20. For the year 2020-21 also PLB amount equivalent to 78 days’ wages will be paid which is expected to motivate the employees for working towards improving the performance of the Railways.
The Productivity Linked Bonus on Railway covers all non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) who are spread over the entire country.
Method for calculating Productivity Linked Bonus PLB:
a) The PLB has been paid as per formula approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 23.9.2000 for the years 1998-99 to 2013-14 (except 2002-03 to 2004-05 when slight changes were done with respect to Capital Weightage and Staff Strength). This formula was input : output based where output was reckoned in terms of equated net tonne kilometres and input was reckoned as the non-gazetted staff strength (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) modified by Capital Weightage.
b) For the financial year 2012-13, PLB for 78 days was approved as a special case with the condition that the formula for PLB would be revisited keeping in view the recommendations of the Sixth CPC and the views of the Ministry of Finance. Consequently, the Ministry of Railways constituted a Committee to evolve a new formula.
c) The Committee recommended that weightage to both the formula of year 2000 and die new formula based on Operation Ratio (OR) may be in the ratio of 50: 50. This formula ensured equal representation to the productivity in terms of physical parameters as well as financial parameters. The formula recommended by the Committee has been used for calculation of PLB from 2014-15 to 2019-20.
Background:
Railways were the first departmental undertaking of the Government of India wherein the concept of PLB was introduced in the year 1979-80. The main consideration at that time was the important role of the Railways as an infrastructural support in the performance of the economy as a whole. In the overall context of Railway working, it was considered desirable to introduce the concept of PLB as against the concept of Bonus on the lines of ‘The Payment of Bonus Act -1965’. Even though the Payment of Bonus Act does not apply to the Railways, yet the broad principles contained in that Act were kept in view for the purpose of determining the “Wage/Pay Ceiling”, definition of ‘Salary’/’Wage’, etc. The PLB Scheme for the Railways came into force from the year 1979-80 and was evolved in consultation with the two recognized Federations namely, All India Railwaymen’s Federation and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen and with the approval of the Cabinet. The scheme envisages a review every three years.
Investigations at empanelled Diagnostic Centres for CGHS beneficiaries aged 75 years and above
File No.Z15025/35/2019/DIR/CGHS Z 15025/35/2019/DIR/CGHS/ CGHS(P) Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Department of Health & Family Welfare
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 1st October, 2021.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Clarification regarding investigations at empanelled Diagnostic Centres in respect of CGHS beneficiaries aged 75 years and above
With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to draw attention to the Office Memorandum of even number dated the 29th May 2019 vide which CGHS beneficiaries aged 75 years and above were permitted to consult Specialists at Hospitals empanelled under CGHS without referral from CGHS and to clarify that there is no provision to undergo investigations at CGHS empanelled Diagnostic Laboratories and Imaging Centres without advice for such investigations from Government Specialists/ CGHS Medical Officer / Specialists of empanelled hospitals. In case of unlisted investigations, approval of Competent Authority is necessary before undergoing such investigations from empanelled Diagnostic Laboratories and Imaging Centres.
Ahead of the festive season, the Centre is likely to increase the Dearness Allowance of the government employees again. The central government has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for Central government employees and pensioners respectively from 17% to 28% that is an 11% increase in DA and DR with effect from July 1, 2021. [ DA Order July 2021 ]
The Centre will announce a further 3% hike in the DA and DR. With the speculated hike, the DA will be increased to 31% of the basic salary.
The Centre restored DA in July from 17% to 28%, with the hike applicable from the salary of July 2021 onwards. Moreover, the Centre also increased the House Rent Allowance (HRA) from 24% to 27%.
The employee’s unions are expecting that the government will make the official announcement soon that is before festival season begins. As per the AICPIN data and DA Calculation sheet, the DA is 31% as of June 2021
All India Railwaymen’s Federation Union also confirmed in the letter that “the payment of one instalment of Dearness Allowance, w.e.f. 01.07.2021, will be made with the arrears, before Festivals”
Letter from AIRF
The only wait now is for the official announcement and the implementation that is likely to be announced soon.
Payment of amount of Ex-Gratia lump sum compensation to the families of Central Government servants who die in the performance of bona fide official duty- Provision for nominations regarding
F.No. 1/7/2020 – P&PW (F) Indian government Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110003 dated 30th September, 2021
Office Memorandum
Subject: Payment of amount of Ex-Gratia lump sum compensation to the families of Central Government servants who die in the performance of bona fide official duty- Provision for nominations regarding.
The undersigned is directed to say that the families of Central Civil Government servants, who die in harness in the performance of their bona fide official duties under various circumstances, are entitled to payment of ex-gratia lump sum compensation in accordance with this Department’s OM No. 45/55/97- P&PW(C) dated 11th September, 1998. The amount of ex-gratia lump sum compensation has been revised from time to time. The existing rates of ex-gratia lump sum payment are specified in this Department’s OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW (A) dated 04.08.2016.
2. The existing instruction, however, do not specify the member of the family to whom such ex- gratia lump sum compensation is payable in the event of death of the Government servant in the performance of bona fide duty. Therefore, in terms of para 13 of the guiding principles mentioned in the Annexure to the OM No. 45/55/97-P&PW(C) dated 11th September 1998, payment of ex-Gratia lump sum compensation is presently being made to the member of the family who is eligible for extraordinary family pension under the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 1939.
3. The matter has been examined in consultation with Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure). On death of a Government servant, payment of other lump sum amounts, such as death gratuity, GPF balance and CGEGIS amount, is made in accordance with the nominations made by the Government servant during service. Accordingly, it has been decided that, on death of a Government servant in the performance of bona fide duty also, payment of ex-gratia lump sum compensation may be made to a member or members of the family in whose favour a nomination is made by the Government servant during service. Family for this purpose shall have the same meaning as in the case of gratuity and it shall include the members of family as mentioned in sub-rule (6) of Rule 50 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.
4. The Common Nomination Form in Form 1 appended to the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 has been amended to include the nomination in respect of the ex-gratia lump sum payment and the same is enclosed. Accordingly, nomination in respect of ex-gratia lump sum payment shall also be made in this Common Nomination Form. The nomination for ex-gratia lump sum payment shall be subject to the provisions as applicable in the case of gratuity under Rule 53 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. Since the ex-gratia lump sum payment is payable to the family only, no nomination shall be made in favour of a person who is not a member of the family, even where the Government servant has no family. If no nomination has been made or the nomination made by the Government servant does not subsist, the ex- gratia lump sum compensation will be shared equally by all eligible family members, as in the case of Gratuity, in accordance with Rule 51 of the CCS (Pension) Rules.
5. These instructions shall be applicable in the case of death of a Government servant on or after the date of issue of this OM. Cases of payment of ex-gratia lump sum compensation on death of Government servants before the date of issue of this OM shall continue to be dealt with in accordance with the instructions applicable before the issue of this OM.
6. This OM is issued with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their ID Note No. 27(1)/E-V/2020, dated 22.07.2021.
7. In its application to persons belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders are issued under Article 148(5) of the Constitution and after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India vide their U.O. No. 211-Staff -Hak (Rule)-A.R/09-2019 dated 13.09.2021.
8. The Administrative Divisions of all Ministries/Departments and attached/subordinate offices are requested to bring the contents of these instructions to the notice of all concerned for compliance.
9. Formal amendment to CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 for amending Form 1 appended to those rules shall be notified separately.
10. Hindi version will follow.
(Sanjoy Shankar) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
Small Savings Schemes Interest Rates unchanged from Oct 2021 to Dec 2021
F.No.1/4/2019-NS Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division)
North Block, New Delhi Dated: 30.09.2021
Office Memorandum
Subject: Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes – reg.
The rate of interest on various Small Savings Schemes for the third quarter of financial year 2021-22 starting from 1st October, 2021 and ending on 31st December, 2021 shall remain unchanged from the current rates applicable for the second quarter (1st July, 2021 to 30th September, 2021) of FY 2021-22.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT LABOUR BUREAU
F.No. 5/112021-CPI
`CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004 DATED: 30th September 2021
Press Release
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (2016=100) — August, 2021
The Labour Bureau, an attached office of the M/o Labour & Employment, has been compiling Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 31.7 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country. The index is compiled for 88 centres and All-India and is released on the last working day of succeeding month. The index for the month of August, 2021 is being released in this press release.
The All-India CPI-IW for August, 2021 increased by 0.1 point and stood at 123.0 (one hundred twenty three). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 0.16 per cent with respect to previous month compared*to an increase of 0.60 per cent recorded between corresponding months a year ago.
The maximum upward pressure in current index came from Miscellaneous group contributing 0.08 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Cow Milk, Dairy Milk, Mustard Oil, Palm Oil, Soyabean Oil, Almond, Sugar-white, Tea Leaf, Cooking Gas, Hospital/Nursing Home Charges, Petrol for Vehicle, Toilet Soap, etc. are responsible for the rise in index. However, this increase was largely checked by Rice, Eggs (Hen), Fish Fresh, Poultry/Chicken, Apple, Banana, Guava, Mausami, Bitter Gourd, Cucumber, Drum Stick, French Beans, Lady’s Finger, Onion, Potato, etc. putting downward pressure on the index.
At centre level, Ludhiana recorded maximum increase of 3.5 points followed by Jalpaiguri, Guwahati, Jalandhar and Munger-Jamalpur with 2.9 points, 2.6 points, 2.1 points and 2.0 points respectively. Among others, 11 centres observed an increase between 1 to 1.9 points and 33 centres between 0.1 to 0.9 points. On the contrary, Coonoor recorded a maximum decrease of 5.5 points followed by Tirunelveli with 2.2 points. Among others, 5 centres observed a decline between 1 to 1.9 points and 26 centres between 0.1 to 0.9 points. Rest of 6 centres remained stationary.
Year-on-year inflation for the month stood at 4.79 per cent compared to 5.27 per cent for the previous month and 5.63 per cent during the corresponding month a year before. Similarly, Food inflation stood at 4.83 per cent against 4.91 per cent of the previous month and 6.06 per cent during the corresponding month a year ago.
The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of September, 2021 will be released on Friday, 29th October, 2021. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureaunew.gov.in.
Auto forwarding of APAR in SPARROW from the assessment year 2020-21
F.No. 25-4/2013-SPG (Vol-II) Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (Personnel Division)
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110 001
Dated 29th September, 2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Auto forwarding of APAR in SPARROW from the assessment year 2020-21- reg.
This is with reference to letter no. 25-4/2013-SPG (Vol.II) dated 17.08.2021 regarding auto-auto-forwarding of APARs in SPARROW for the assessment year 2020-21.
2. It is to inform that as per DoP&T guidelines, 30.09.2021 is the last date for all the Reporting Officers to write the APARs of the officers Reported Upon in SPARROW. Therefore, all the STATE Custodians will ensure and remind all the concerned officers to complete process of writing APAR and submission to Reviewing Authority by 1800 hrs on 30.09.2021 through SPARROW, failing which the APAR will automatically get forwarded to Reviewing Authority by 23:59 hrs on 30.09.2021.
Instructions on modality for upward revision of TRCA of GDSs consequent upon increase in workload
No. 19-24/2020-GDS Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi — 110001 Date: 28.09.2021
To,
All Chief Postmasters General / Postmasters General
Chief General Manager, Parcel /BD / PLI Directorate / CEPT.
Director, RAKNPA / Directors of All PTCs
Addl. Director General, Army Postal Service, R.K.Puram, New Delhi
All General Managers (Finance) / Directors Postal Accounts
Sub :- Instructions on modality for upward revision of TRCA of GDSs consequent upon increase in workload – reg.
Sir/Madam,
On the above noted subject, it has come to the notice of the competent authority that in a case of upward revision of TRCA consequent upon increase in workload of a GDSBPM. Karnataka Circle fixed his TRCA by adopting the method provided for downward revision of TRCA (on reduction of workload / redeployment to lower slab) vide this Directorate OM No.14-16/2001-PAP (Pt) dated 11-10-2004. Whereas, his TRCA should have been revised upward but owing to want of clear guidelines on the issue this irregular fixation was happened and caused unnecessary litigation.
2. The matter was examined and it has been observed that. since the provisions of downward revision of TRCA are based on the same analogy as provided in the Pay Rules for fixation on placing to lower scale, upward revision of TRCA should also be considered on the same analogy provided in the Pay Rules for fixation of pay on placement to higher scale.
3. Accordingly, the competent authority has decided the following modality for upward revision of TRCA of GDS consequent upon increase in workload:
“One increase shall be added to the existing TRCA in the old slab/level (lower slab/level) and, then TRCA shall be fixed at the equal figure so arrived at in the upward slab/level (higher slab/level) of TRCA and if no such figure is available then at the immediate next higher stage of TRCA in that slab/level.”
To illustrate
If TRCA slab / level of a GDS on increase of workload has been revised upward from the TRCA slab Rs.3660-70-5760 to that of Rs.4575-85-7125 w.ef. 01.08.2013 and at the time of such upward revision his existing TRCA was 5130/-, fixation of TRCA shall be made by adding Rs. 70/- (one increase) to his existing TRCA in the old slab (i.e. 5130 + 70 = Rs.5200/-) and then it shall be fixed at Rs.5255/- of the upward slab (Rs.4575-85-7125) as no Stage at Rs.5200/- is available in the upward slab, thus. to be fixed at the immediate next higher stage Rs.5255/- and annual increase in TRCA so on i.e. Rs.5340/- on 01.08.2014.
4. The competent authority has further directed to all the administrative units to review all the pending Court Cases on the issue and to ensure the course of further necessary action in the light of these instructions.
5. It is therefore, requested to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned immediately and ensure strict adherence in true spirit.
Yours faithfully,
(D.K.Tripathi) ADG (GDS/PCC) Tel. 011-23096629
Copy to :-
As per standard list.
CGM, CEPT for uploading the order on the India Post web site under Establishment subject.
Revision of the monetary limits for investigations in loss and fraud cases by different authorities in the Departments of Posts
Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg New Delhi-110001, Dated: 23.09.2021
To,
All Heads of Circles All Heads of Regions
Subject: Revision of the monetary limits for investigations in loss and fraud cases by different authorities in the Departments of Posts
The monetary limits for conducting investigations in the loss/ fraud cases by different authorities were revised vide this Directorate letter No. 8-01/2019-Inv dated October 24, 2019. During the various field visits and interactions with Circles, a need was being felt to consider further revision of the monetary limits in this respect.
2. It has, therefore, been decided to revise the monetary limits for different postal authorities for conducting investigations and handing the loss/ fraud cases as under:
S. No.
Level of Investigating Officer
Present Monetary limit (in Rs)
Revised Monetary limit (in Rs)
i.
Inspector Posts/ ASPOs
Upto Rs 1.00,000
Upto Rs 2,00,000
ii.
Divisional Head/ Chief Postmaster Senior Postmaster/ Deputy Director of Mumbai/ Kolkata GPO* Assistant Director of equivalent officer of HOs/GPOs in case of non availability of Chief Postmaster
> Rs 1,00,000 upto Rs 2,00,000
Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000
iii.
Assistant Director/APMG of Circle and Regional Offices
Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000
> Rs 5,00,000 to Rs 10,00,000
iv.
Director Postal Services and above
> Rs 5,00,000
> Rs 10,00,000
“Asstt Director of HOs/GPOs may also conduct investigation, in case of non-availability of CPM/Dy. Director
Note : These limits will be based on ‘Principal Amount of Loss/ Fraud including Temporary Misappropriation’. Normal Interest and Penal Interest will not be part of amount involved for the purpose of deciding the investigating authority.
3. Further, it has now been decided that only those loss and fraud cases shall henceforth be reported by the Circle to the Directorate, in which the amount involved is more than Rs.10 lakhs, instead of the present threashold limit of Rs.5 lakhs.
4. Rest of the instructions contained in the office letter no. 8-01/2019-Inv dated October 24, 2019 hold good.
This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
