The matter has been reviewed and it has been decided that all Departmental Canteens may be opened. The Canteen employees are to strictly follow hygiene & safety protocols to avoid crowding, especially at the distribution/sale counters. A Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in offices, containing provisions specifically in para 4(xxiii) in respect of cafeteria/ canteen/ dining halls, issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 13.2.2021 is also available at https//www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/SOPonpreventivemeasurestocontainspreadofCOVID19inoffices.pdf for strict compliance.
2. Ministry of Home Affairs has issued detailed guidelines on containment of COVID-19 on 27th January, 2021, in order to maintain caution and to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy, focussed on surveillance, containment, caution and strict observance of the guidelines. In view of this, the matter has now been re-considered and it has been decided as under :-
(a) The Government servants at all levels are to attend office on all working days without any exemption to any category of employees.
(b) The officers/staff shall follow staggered timings to avoid over-crowding in offices/workplaces as decided by the Heads of Department.
(c) All officers/staff residing in the containment zone shall be exempted from coming to offices till the containment zone is de-notified. These officers/staff who are residing in the Containment Zone shall work from home and shall be available on telephone and electronic means of communications at all times.
(e) Biometric attendance shall continue to be suspended until further orders.
(f) Meetings, as far as possible, may continue to be conducted with video-conferencing and personal meetings with visitors, unless absolutely necessary in public interest, are to be avoided.
3. A Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in offices, issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 13.2.2021, is also available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/SOPonpreventivemeasurestocontainspreadofCOVID19inoffices.pdf All Ministries/Departments/Offices as well as the Central Government employees are directed to ensure strict compliance of instructions issued by MHA, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and DoP&T, from time to time, on regular sanitization/cleaning of workplaces, maintenance of social distancing norms, wearing of masks and health & hygiene practices etc.
4 The above instructions shall be in force with immediate effect until further orders.
Sd/- (Umesh Kumar Bhatia) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
TO, 1. All the Ministries/Departments, Government of India 2. PMO/Cabinet Secretariat 3. PS to Hon’ble MOS(PP) 4. PSO to Secretar, Persone For Information 5. Sr. Tech. Dir., NIC, DoP&T
Revision of limits of two family pensions payable to a child in respect of both the parents after the 7th CPC
1/1(2)/2020-P&PW (E) Part-1 Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi Dated 12th February, 2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Revision of limits of two family pensions payable to a child in respect of both the parents after the 7th CPC.
In accordance with sub-rule (11) of rule 54 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 1972, in case both wife and husband are Government servants and are governed by the provisions of that rule, on their death, the surviving child/children is/are eligible for two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents. As per the existing rule 54, if one of the parents dies while in service or after retirement, the family pension in respect of the deceased shall become payable to the surviving husband or wife and in the event of the death of the husband or wife, the surviving child or children shall be granted the two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents, subject to the limits specified below:
(a) (i) If the surviving child or children is or are eligible to draw two family pensions at the rate mentioned in sub-rule (3) of Rule 54, the amount of both the family pensions shall be limited to forty-five thousand rupees per month;
(ii) If one of the family pensions ceases to be payable at the rate mentioned in subrule (3) of Rule 54, and in lieu thereof the family pension at the rate mentioned in sub-rule (2) of Rule 54 becomes payable, the amount of both the pensions shall also be limited to forty-five thousand rupees per month.
(b) If both the family pensions are payable at the rates mentioned in sub-rule (2) of Rule 54, the amount of two family pensions shall be limited to twenty-seven thousand rupees per month.
2. The limits of Rs 45,000/- per month and Rs 27,000/- per month in the existing Rule 54(11) were determined at the rate of 50% and 30%, respectively, of the highest pay of Rs.90,000/- in the 6thCPC and were notified vide Notification No.38/80/2008-P&PW (A) dated 8th June, 2011 (GSR 176 dated the 11th June, 2011).
3. References have been received in this Department in regard to the limits of two family pensions payable to child/children in respect of both the parents, after the 7th CPC.
4. The highest pay in the Government has been revised to Rs. 2,50,000/-per month after the 7th CPC. Accordingly, it is clarified that, with effect from 01.01.2016, the amount of Rupees forty five thousand per month in Rule 54(11)(a)(i) & (ii) shall stand revised to Rupees one lakhtwenty-five thousand per month (being 50% of Rs.2,50,000/-) and the amount of twenty Seven thousand per month in Rule 54(11)(b) shall stand revised to Rupees seventy five thousand per month (being 30% of Rs. 2,50,000/-).
5. Formal amendment to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules in this respect shall be notified separately.
Sanjoy Shankar Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
One time relaxation in Transport Allowance – FINMIN ORDER
No.21/3/2020-E.II(B) Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi. Dated the 11th February, 2021.
OFFICE MEMORENDUM
Subject: One time relaxation of the condition regarding exercising of option for admissibility of official car or in lieu of that Transport Allowance at higher rates during COVID-19 pandemic.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 21/5/2017-E.II(B) dated 07.07.2017 regarding grant of Transport Allowance to Central Government employees wherein in Para 2 (iv) conditions have been mentioned for exercising of option for admissibility of official car or in lieu of that Transport Allowance at higher rates in respect of officers in Pay Level 14 and above.
2. Several references are being received in this Department seeking relaxation regarding change of option as some officers preferred their own car in place of official car due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and opted to draw Transport Allowance. After change in the circumstances, these officers want to revert back to the facility of official car.
3. The matter has been considered in this Department and in view of the peculiar circumstances arisen due to COVID-19 pandemic, it has been decided to allow one time relaxation of the condition mentioned in Para 2 (iv) of this Department’s O.M. dated 07.07.2017 for exercising of option for availing official car in respect of officers in Pay Level 14 and above. Such relaxation shall be allowed in respect of only those officers who changed their option during the period from 1st April 2020 to 31st December 2020 subject to the condition that they attended the office during the period.
4. This is issued with the approval of the Secretary (Expenditure.)
Hindi version is attached.
(Nirmala Dev) Director
To All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India as per standard distribution list. Copy to C&AG and UPSC etc. as per standard distribution list.
Clarification on Modified Assured Career Progression – MACP Scheme – Dept of Posts
No.4-7/MACPS/2019-PCC
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(PC Cell)
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi — 110001
Dated 10.02.2021
To
1. All Chief Postmasters General / Postmasters General
2. Chief General Manager, BD Directorate / Parcel Directorate / PLI Directorate.
3. Director, RAKNPA / GM, CEPT / Directors of All PTCs
4, Addl. Director General, Army Postal Service, R.K.Puram, New Delhi
5. All General Managers (Finance) / Directors Postal Accounts / DDAP
Subject :- Clarification on Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme reg.
Sir / Madam,
On the above noted subject, this refers to various references seeking clarification on following points of doubt in respect of those employees who were promoted from Inspector Posts (IP) cadre to Asstt. Superintendent of Posts (ASP) cadre in the same Grade Pay Rs. 4600/- (identical pay scale-PB-2nd) during 6th CPC regime:-
i. Whether promotion earned from IP to ASP cadre in the same Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- (identical pay scale) in 6th CPC regime can be ignored for Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) purpose under the provisions of para-5 of MACP Scheme of 19th May, 2009, consequent upon upgradation of pay scale of Inspector Posts from Grade Pay Rs.4200/- to that of Rs.4600/-.
ii. Whether the benefits of 3rd financial upgradation under Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) with subsequent benefits in term of para 6.1 of Annexure-I to OM dated 22.10.2019 (MACPS guidelines) is admissible on completion of 10 years regular service in the same Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/-, or on completion of 10 years from the date of regular promotion to ASP cadre from Inspector Posts in the identical Grade Pay Rs. 4600/-.
2. The matter was examined in consultation with Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T) and the extract of clarification conveyed by the Establishment (D), DoP&T vide Comp. Dy. No. 1433722/20/CR are re-produced as under:
“….3. ……an official was appointed as Postal Assistant on 19-12-1994 in corresponding GP Rs. 2400/- and subsequently promoted to Inspector of Posts cadre w.e.£ 14-10-2004 (in the scale Rs. 5500-9000/- and w.e.f. 01-01-2006 in upgraded scale PB-2 with GP of Rs 4600/) and again promoted to Asstt. Superintendent of Posts (ASP) cadre w.e.f 30-04-2014 (in the identical pay scale with GP Rs. 4600/- & w.e.f 01-01-2016 in upgraded pay Level-8, corresponding to GP Rs. 4800/-).
4. Attention is invited towards para 1 of Annexure-I to DoPT OM No. 35034/3/2008-Estt.(D) dated 19-05-2009 which provides that “There shall be three financial upgradations under the MACPS, counted from the direct entry grade on completion of 10, 20 and 30 years service respectively. Financial upgradation under the Scheme will be admissible whenever a person has spent 10 years continuously in the same grade-pay.”
5. Para 8 of Annexure-I to DoPT OM dated 19-05-2009 further provides that “Promotion earned in the post carrying same grade pay in the promotional hierarchy as per Recruitment Rules shall be counted for the purpose of MACPS.”
6. From the information provided by the Administrative Department, 1t may be observed that the said official was appointed as Postal Assistant on 19-12-1994 in corresponding GP Rs. 2400/- and the official has already earned two promotions on 14-10-2004 and 30-04-2014. However, the date of retirement on superannuation in r/o official is not mentioned in the proposal. Therefore, in terms of above provisions under MACP Scheme, the official would be eligible for grant of 34 financial upgradaton in the immediate next higher level in the hierarchy of the Pay Matrix as given in PART A of Schedule of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 but not before 30-04-2024 (on completion of 10 years of service from 2nd promotion) if otherwise, admissible and the official fulfils the other eligibility conditions.”
3. It is therefore, requested to bring these clarifications/instructions to the notice of all concerned immediately and ensure strict adherence in true spirit.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1429 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021)
(a) whether the Government has taken appropriate technical and administrative measures for providing Life Certificate easily to the old age pensioners to be furnished by them to concerned institution/bank;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that old and differently abled pensioners face difficulty in submitting Life Certificate through online mode and therefore have to submit Life Certificate to their concerned institution/bank by presenting themselves mandatorily; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to provide the facility of submitting Life Certificate to the old and differently abled pensioners through phone or at their doorstep by sending the persons from the concerned institution/bank to collect the said certificate?
ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b): Yes, the Government has taken many technical and administrative measures for providing Life Certificate easily to the old age pensioners to concerned institutions/banks. The details are as under:-
Keeping in view the difficulties faced by very senior citizens aged 80 years and above, an exclusive window from 1st October onwards, has been provided to them to avoid the general rush from 1st November onwards.
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare started a Pilot Programme “DLC from home campaign” in 2018 in 7 cities through Pensioners’ Associations. The objective of the campaign was to extend support to aged and infirm pensioners in submission of Life Certificate digitally from home. In 2019, this project was expanded to cover 24 cities and this has continued up to 2021 as well, with the help of Registered Pensioners’ Associations
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare roped in the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and utilize its huge network of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks in providing doorstep facility to pensioners for submission of life certificate digitally. As a result a huge number of pensioners across the country shall be able to avail doorstep service through Postmen/ Gramin Dak Sevak, without visiting to bank branch or standing in a queue outside the bank branches by paying a nominal amount
(c) & (d): Yes, The major issues reported regarding authentication processes of Digital/Life Certificates is non capturing of finger bio-metrics due to aging. Keeping in view the difficulties have been reported in capturing through finger print devices, IRIS enabled devices have been provided by this department to Pensioners’ Associations which is more effective and convenient. Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is also instrumental in roping in an Alliance comprising 12 Public Sector Banks which does “Doorstep Banking” for its customers in 100 major cities of the country under Ease of banking reforms. As a result, Public Sector Banks (PSB) Alliance has introduced the service for collection of Life Certificates under the umbrella of Doorstep Banking. This Department also issued instructions, whereby the Banks were directed to resort to Video based Customer Identification Process for obtaining a Life Certificate within the guidelines of RBI which will obviate the need to resort to a bio-metric enabled device.
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 279
ANSWERED ON: 03.02.2021
Facilities to Soldiers
Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of facilities being provided to Indian soldiers according to their eligibility;
(b) whether the Government has received any complaint in regard to Providing such facilities to soldiers as per their eligibility;
(c) if so, the details thereof the and during last three years and the current year;
(d) the details of action taken against the erring personnel in this case, during the said period; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to monitor complaints of soldiers?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(a) Armed Forces personnel are provided various facilities as per the terms and conditions of service. These facilities include accommodation, ration, messing, education, sports and adventure, recreation, CSD, medical, LTC, library, postal etc.
(b) No, Sir.
(c) & (d): Does not arise.
(e) A well-established grievances redressal mechanism exists in the armed forces to dispose of such complaints in a time bound manner as and when received.
TDS deduction on payment of medical bills of Retired BSNL Employees
BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED [A Government of India Enterprise]
CORPORATE OFFICE,TAXATION SECTION
5th FLOOR,BHARAT SANCHAR BHAWAN,
JANPATH, NEW DELHI-110001
Dated:- 03-02-2021
No. BSNLCO-TAXN/13(15)/1/2020-Taxation/4045
To
The Chief General Managers and IFAs,
All BSNL Circles/Units.
Sub:- TDS deduction on payment of medical bills of Retired Employees –Reg.
The undersigned is directed to inform you that, this office has received a PMOPG complaint filed by the BSNL Retired Executive Association addressed to Chairman CBDT regarding deduction of income tax (TDS) on medical bills of Retired Employees at the time posting in SAP.
In this connection, it is intimated that, the relevant extract of the Income Tax Act, 1961 related with the matter are as follows:-
“As per Section 15 of the Income Tax Act,1961, the following income shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Salaries” u/s 15:-
a). Any salary due from an employer or a former employer to an assesse in the previous
year, whether paid or not;
b). Any salary paid or allowed to him in the previous year by or on behalf of an employer or a former employer though not due or before it became due to him;
c). Any arrears of salary paid or allowed to him in the previous year by or on behalf of an employer or a former employer, if not charged to income-tax for any earlier previous year.
[Explanation 1]. For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where any salary paid in advance is included in the total income of any person for any previous year it shall not be included again in the total income of the person when the salary becomes due.
[Explanation 2]. Any salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by, a partner of a firm from the firm shall not be regarded as “salary” for the purpose of this section.
Further, as per Section 192 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, “Any person responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head “Salaries” shall, at the time of payment, deduct income tax on the amount payable at the average rate of income tax computed on the basis of the rates in force for the financial year in which the payment is made, on the estimated income of the assesse under this head for that financial year.”
Further, as per Section 192, following conditions must be satisfied for applicability of Section 192:-
Any payment is made by an employer to his employee.
Such payment must be chargeable under the head ‘Salaries’.
Quantum of such payments for the financial year in which such payments are made exceeds maximum amount not chargeable to tax (generally referred to as ‘threshold limit’).
Further, Tax is to be deducted at the time of payment of salary, i.e., tax is to be deducted at the time of ‘actual payment’ of salary. When the salary is only credited to the account of employee and is not actually paid to him, tax is not required to be deducted; tax will be deducted only at the time when salary is ‘actually’ paid to the employee.
In view of above, it has been decided by the Competent Authority to discontinue the existing practice of deducting TDS at the time of posting of medical bill in the SAP and deduct TDS on Retirees Medicals Bills at the time of payment with effect from January 2021 (i.e. Q4 of F.Y. 2020-21) onwards.
This is for your kind information and necessary action please.
This may be treated as Most Urgent.
This issues with the approval of Sr. GM (Taxation).
(Subrat Kumar Mohakud)
AGM Taxation
Copy to:-
1) Sr. PPS to CMD- for kind information please.
2) Sr. PPS to Director (Finance) – for kind information please.
3) PGM (ERP), ALTTC Ghaziabad/ Sr. GM (CA/ERP-FICO) – for kind information and necessary action please.
Dept of Posts : Rate of interest for purchase of Computer during 2020-21
F.No.19-01/2021-PAP
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
Establishment Division/P.A.P. Section
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001.
Dated: 08.02.2021
To
1. All Chief Postmasters General / Postmasters General
2. Chief General Manager, BD Directorate / Parcel Directorate / PLI Directorate
3. Director, RAKNPA / GM, CEPT / Directors of All PTCs
4. Addl. Director General, Army Postal Service, R.K.Puram, New Delhi
5. All General Managers (Finance) / Directors Postal Accounts / DDAP
Sub: Advances to government Servants — Rate of interest for purchase of Computer during 2020-21
(D. K. Tripathi)
Assistant Director General (Estt.)
Phone — 011-23096191
email- [email protected]
F.No.5(3)-B(PD)/2019
Ministry of Finance
Department of Economic Affairs
(Budget Division)
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 16 March, 2020
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Advances to Government Servants — Rate of interest for purchase of Computer during 2020-21.
The undersigned is directed to state that the rate of interest for advance sanctioned to the Government servants for purchase of Computer during 2020-21 i.e. from 1st April, 2020 to 31st March 2021 is as under:
Amendment of income criteria for grant of family pension to children/ siblings suffering from mental or physical disability
1/17/2019- पी एंड पी डब्लू (ई)
भारत सरकार
लोक शिकायत तथा पेंशन मंत्रालय
पेंशन और पेंशनभोगी कल्याण विभाग
(डेस्क-ई)
तीसरी मंजिल, लोक नायक भवन,
खान मार्केट, नई दिल्ली-110003,
दिनांक 8th फरवरी, 2021
कार्यालय ज्ञापन
विषय : Amendment of income criteria for grant of family pension to children/ siblings suffering from mental or physical disability – regarding.
The undersigned is directed to say that in accordance with sub-rule (6) of Rule 54 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, a child/sibling of a deceased Government servant/pensioner, who is suffering from a mental or physical disability, is eligible for family pension for life, if the disability is of such a nature so as to prevent him/her from earning his/her livelihood. Further, as per the said Rule 54, a member of the family is deemed to be earning his/her livelihood, if his/her income, from sources other than family pension, is equal to or more than the minimum family pension and the dearness relief admissible thereon. This income ceiling is also applicable for determining eligibility for family pension of a child/sibling, suffering from a mental or physical disability.
2. The matter regarding income criteria for determining eligibility for family pension in the case of a child/sibling, suffering from mental or physical disability, has been reviewed in this Department, keeping in view the special needs of such a child/sibling, who requires greater medical care and financial assistance. It is considered desirable that the income ceiling for grant of family pension to such children/siblings should commensurate with the amount of the entitled family pension in their case.
3. Therefore, it has now been decided that a child/sibling of a deceased Government servant/pensioner, who is suffering from a mental or physical disability, shall be eligible for family pension for life, if the appointing authority is satisfied that the disability is of such a nature so as to prevent him/her from earning his/her livelihood, as evidenced by a disability certificate obtained from a competent medical authority. Such a child shall be deemed to be not earning his/her livelihood, if his/her overall income from sources other than family pension is less than the entitled family pension at ordinary rate and the dearness relief admissible thereon, payable on death of the Government servant/pensioner concerned.
4. Accordingly, a child/sibling of a deceased Government servant/pensioner, who is suffering from a mental or physical disability, shall be eligible for family pension for life, if he/she fulfils, among others, the following conditions:
i. A disability certificate is issued by the competent medical authority.
ii. The overall income of the disabled child, from sources other than family pension, remains less than the entitled family pension at ordinary rate (i.e. 30% of the last pay drawn by the deceased Government servant/pensioner concerned) plus the dearness relief admissible thereon.
5. The provisions of Rule 54 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 shall stand modified to the extent mentioned above only and the amended provisions shall take effect from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum. A formal amendment of Rule 54 shall be notified separately.
6. In cases where a child/sibling, suffering from a mental or physical disability is presently not in receipt of a family pension due to non-fulfillment of the earlier income criteria, family pension may be granted to such a child/sibling, if he/she fulfils the income criteria mentioned in para 3 and 4 above and also fulfills the other conditions for grant of family pension at the time of death of Government servant or pensioner or previous family pensioner. The financial benefits, in such cases, shall accrue from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum and no arrears for the period from the date of death of Government servant/ pensioner/previous family pensioner shall be admissible.
7. This OM is issued with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their ID No. 1(2)/EV/2020 dated 29.12.2020 and 02.02.2021.
8. 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 यू.ओ.संख्या-28-स्टाफ़ हक.(नियम)/ ए आर./09-2019 dated 25.01.2021.
9. 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.
(संजय शंकर)
भारत सरकार के उप सचिव
Ph. 24644632
To
1. All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India
2. President’s Secretariat
3. Vice President’s Secretariat
4. Prime Minister’s Office
5. Comptroller & Auditor General of India
6. Cabinet Secretariat
7. Union Public Service Commission
8. NIC for uploading in the Website
