GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 725
ANSWERED ON 27.06.2019
Conducting Civil Services Preliminary Examination in Tamil
725 Dr. V. Maitreyan
Will the Minister of PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state :-
(a) the details of examination conducted in Tamil language by the Union Public Service Commission;
(b) whether it is a fact that Civil Services Preliminary Examination is held only in English and Hindi; and
(c) whether Government would consider conducting Civil Services Preliminary Examination in Tamil and other Indian languages in addition to English and Hindi?
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): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts various Direct Recruitment Examinations as per the Rules of Examinations notified by the Government. As per the existing Rules of the Civil Services Examination, candidates have the option to answer all question papers of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, except the Qualifying Language Papers, in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, which includes ‘Tamil’ also. Further, the candidates opting for Indian Language medium for the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, may choose either the same Indian Language or English or Hindi as the medium for the interview.
(b): The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is a language neutral Examination. It is an objective type test and candidates are only required to shade bubbles against their preferred answers. Further, the question papers of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination are printed in Hindi and English languages.
(c): No such proposal is under consideration for conducting Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination in Tamil and Other Indian Languages, in addition to English and Hindi.
Double shift in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya – Lok Sabha QA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 293
ANSWERED ON : 24.06.2019
Double Shift System in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya
Will the Minister of
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that due to increase in number of students seeking admission in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Government proposes to introduce double shift in these schools across the
country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, district-wise; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) No such proposal is under consideration of Government of India to introduce double shift in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Discontinuation of Overtime Allowance – Rajya Sabha QA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-730
ANSWERED ON-27.06.2019
Discontinuation of overtime allowance
730. Dr. Banda Prakash
(a) whether Government has decided to discontinue overtime allowance for categories other than operational staff and industrial employees;
(b) whether it has also been decided to link grant of overtime allowance with biometric attendance; and
(c) whether Government has also decided not to revise the rate of overtime allowance for the operational staff and they would continue to get the amount as per its order issued in 1991?
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): Yes Sir, in pursuance of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, the Government has decided to discontinue overtime allowance for categories other than operational staff and the industrial employees governed by statutory provisions, w.e.f. 01.07.2017.
National Pension System : Increased the mandatory contribution by Central Government from 10% to 14%
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 366 ANSWERED ON: 24.06.2019 National Pension System
Raksha Nikhil Khadse Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government proposes to enhance the contribution which is presently at 10 percent to National Pension System (NPS) to make the retirement income scheme more attractive;
(b) if so, whether the Government has notified this change;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the date proposed for the notification of the new scheme?
ANSWER
Finance Minister
(a) to (c) Government has increased the mandatory contribution by Central Government from 10% to 14% of the basic pay+DA for all the Central Government employees covered under National Pension System Tier-I. The employees’ contribution rate would remain at the existing 10% of the basic pay+DA. This has been notified vide Gazette Notification No. 1/3/2016 PR dated 31.01.2019, and has come into force with effect from 01.04.2019.
(d) Does not arise in view of reply given to parts (a) to (c).
Around 3,650 women candidates have been given employment in the Indian Railways in technical categories in the last three years.
In the past few years, against notifications issued for various technical posts, a total of 2,79,60,224 applications were received and out of these, 46,76,928 (16.73%) were from women. Wide publicity is given to Railway recruitment notifications and every candidate, irrespective of gender, etc. fulfilling eligibility criteria is free to apply.
Application fee collected from women candidates are refunded to those who appear in the examination. Also, upper age limit in case of widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from their husbands, who are not remarried, is relaxed up to the age of 35 years. In addition, for Level-1 categories, relaxed qualifying standards for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for women candidates are applied.
Provisions of separate rest rooms, cloak rooms, changing rooms and crèches have been made to ensure safe working conditions for women employees.
Wide publicity is given to Railway recruitment notifications to encourage women candidates to apply for Railway jobs. Facility of online application form ensures that women are able to apply even from their home for Railway recruitment notifications.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today
Consequent upon implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, the rates of special allowance for women with disabilities have been increased from Rs.1500 per month to Rs.3000 per month for child care which shall be payable from the time of child’s birth till the child is two years old. This special allowance shall be payable for a maximum of two eldest surviving children and would be automatically raised by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%. It is effective from 1st July, 2017 and applicable to all Central Government disabled woman employees, irrespective of their place of posting, including in Uttar Pradesh.
No specific information regarding the financial burden on Government exchequer in this regard available
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
During last five years, i.e. May, 2014 to May, 2019 Sanction for Prosecution, under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was granted against 23 officers of Indian Administrative Service and 4 officers of Indian Police Service.
After obtaining sanction of the Central Government, the State Government / Investigating Agency files the charge-sheets to prosecute the accused IAS / IPS officer before the Court of Law.
Recoveries are made from the officers in accordance with the decision of the Court of Law.
During last five years, two officers of Indian Administrative Service have been dismissed on corruption charges, and nine officers of Indian Police Service have been suspended.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
DOPT Corrigendum – Holidays in Central Government Offices during the year 2020
F.No.12/1/2019-JCA-2
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment (JCA) Section
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 26th June, 2019
CORRIGENDUM
Subject : Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2020 – reg.
In the list of holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2020, circulated vide OM of even number dated 18th June, 2019, the para 6 of the OM may be read as;
“During 2020, Diwali (Deepawali) falls on saturday, November 14,2020 (Karthika 23).”
Hindi version will follow
(Juglal Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt of India
The Government of India extends bank loans to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) under various Schemes.
In terms of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Guidelines on Priority Sector Lending (PSL), a target of 40 percent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (OBE), whichever is higher, as of preceding March 31st, has been mandated for lending to the priority sector by domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks and Foreign Banks with 20 branches and above. Within this, sub-targets of 10 and 18 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent amount of OBE, whichever is higher, as of preceding March 31st, have been mandated for lending to weaker sections and Agriculture respectively. Further, within the 18 percent target for agriculture, a sub-target of 8 percent of ANBC or OBE, whichever is higher has been prescribed for Small and Marginal Farmers.
As per RBI’s notification dated 19.06.2018 loans to individuals up to Rs. 28 lakh in metropolitan centre and Rs. 20 lakh in other centres, are eligible to be classified under priority sector, provided that the cost of dwelling unit does not exceed Rs. 35 lakh and Rs. 25 lakh, respectively. To give a fillip to low-cost housing for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG), the housing loan limits for eligibility under priority sector lending have been revised to Rs. 35 lakh in metropolitan centres, and Rs. 25 lakh in other centres with certain conditions. Further, there is provision of loan for construction of house for EWS and LIG wherein the total cost of house does not exceed Rs 10 lakh provided the family income limit is Rs.2 lakh per annum. This income criteria has been revised to Rs. 3 lakh per annum for EWS and Rs. 6 lakh per annum for LIG.
The Government of India extends bank loans to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) under various schemes. Some of the schemes of Government for EWS are as under:
I. In pursuance of the Government vision of facilitating housing to all by 2022 Government has launched Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) mission on 25.06.2015. The mission aims to provide assistance to all States/UTs in addressing the housing requirement of urban poor including EWS/ LIG.
II. Under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for EWS/ LIG component of PMAY-U an interest subsidy of 6.5% for EWS / LIG, calculated on Housing Loan up to Rs. 6 lakh over a tenure of 20 years is provided by the Government.
III. All Scheduled Commercial Banks have adopted and implemented the IBA Model Educational Loan Scheme for pursuing higher education in India and abroad. The scheme is applicable uniformly to all students’ borrowers including students belonging to weaker sections. However, for the students belonging to EWS whose parental/family income is upto Rs 4.50 Lakh, an Interest Subsidy Scheme, namely Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS), is operational under which full interest subsidy, on educational loans upto Rs 7.50 lakh, is available during the period of moratorium on loans availed under the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) Model Education Loan Scheme from Scheduled Banks. CSIS scheme benefits all categories of economically weaker students for pursuing professional/ technical courses in lndia and intends to provide affordable higher education.
This was stated by the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharamanin a written reply to a Parliament Question in Rajya Sabha today.
Regulation of pay on imposition of a penalty under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965
No: 11012/15/2016-Estt A-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-III Desk
North Block, New Delhi – 110001
Dated June 18, 2019
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Regulation of pay on imposition of a penalty under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965.
The Undersigned is directed to say that the following penalties prescribed in the Rule 11 of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, have a bearing on the pay of the officer:
11. Penalties
Minor Penalties –
(iii)(a) reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay by one stage for a period not exceeding three years, without cumulative effect and not adversely affecting his pension.
(iv) withholding of increments of pay;
Major Penalties –
(v) save as provided for in clause (iii) (a), reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay for a specified period, with further directions as to whether or not the Government servant will earn increments of pay during the period of such reduction and whether on the expiry of such period, the reduction will or will not have the effect of postponing the future increments of his pay
(vi) reduction to lower time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service for a period to be specified in the order of penalty, which shall be a bar to the promotion of the Government servant during such specified period to the time-scale of pay, grade, post or Service from which he was reduced, with direction as to whether or not, on promotion on the expiry of the said specified period –
(a) the period of reduction to time-scale of pay, grade, post or service shall operate to postpone future increments of his pay, and if so, to what extent; and
(b) the Government servant shall regain his original seniority in the higher time scale of pay , grade, post or service;
2. Vide Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 notified vide notification No. GSR 721(E) dated 25.07.2016, the present system of Pay Bands and Grade Pays have been dispensed with qnd a new system of pay matrix as specified under Part A of Schedule of Central Civil Service (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 have been introduced. The status of the employee so far determined by Grade Pay, will now be determined by Level in the Pay Matrix. Further, as per Rule 10 (1) of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016, there are two dates for grant of increment namely, 1st January and 1st July of every year, instead of the existing date of 1st July.
3. As per clause 3 of the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 ‘Level’ is defined as under:
‘Level’ in the Pay Matrix shall mean the Level corresponding to the existing Pay Band and Grade pay or Scale specified in Part A of the Schedule.”
4. In the light of Implementation of the Revised (Pay) Rules, 2016, the regulation of pay on imposition of these penalties, is discussed in the subsequent paras:
A. Reduction to a lower stage of pay by one stage {Rule 11( iii a)}
On imposition of a penalty under this Rule, the pay would be fixed at the next upper vertical cell in the same level in the pay matrix. In other words, in case of reduction by one stage, the revised pay would be the pay drawn in the same level at the stage before the last increment.
Note: The above mentioned penalty cannot be imposed on a Government Servant drawing pay at the minimum of the Level.
B. Withholding of increment {Rule 11(iv)}
As already noted in para 2 above, increment is granted either on 1st January or 1st July of every year, as per the eligibility. Therefore, on imposition of penalty of withholding of increment, the next increment(s) due after the date of imposition of the penalty would be withheld. In case where penalty of withholding of multiple increments is imposed, increments due on 1st January or 1st July, as the case may be, in the subsequent years would similarly be withheld. The increment would be restored at the end of the period for which the penalty is imposed. The increments will be given on notional basis without arrears and without affecting date of next increment on restoration of increment.
This also applies to cases where the penalty is imposed for part of a year. For instance, if the penalty of withholding of one increment for six months is imposed on a Government servant in October 2017, then withholding of increment will be on following manner:
C. Reduction to a lower stage in the time-scale of pay for a specified period Rule [11(v)]
The process of imposition of penalty of reduction by one stage under Rule 11(iii a) explained above shall be repeated for every additional stage of reduction to the lower vertical cell in the same level of pay in the Pay Matrix.
Note 1: It is not permissible to impose a penalty under this rule if the pay after imposition of the penalty would fall below the first cell of the same Level.
Note 2: Disciplinary Authority may weigh all factors before deciding upon the quantum of penalty i.e. the number of stage by which the pay is to be reduced.
D. Reduction to lower time-scale of pay under Rule 11(vi)
In the case of imposition of penalty of reduction to lower time-scale of pay, the pay of the Government servant would be reduced to the stage of pay he/she would have drawn had he/she continued in the lower post for the period of penalty. The mode of fixation of pay in this case is similar to reversing the mode of fixation of pay on promotion.
However, Disciplinary Authority has the power, in terms of FR 28, to indicate the pay which the Government servant on whom a penalty of reduction in rank has been imposed, would draw.
It may also be noted that a Government servant cannot be reduced in rank to a post not held earlier by him in the cadre.
For example:
(i) A direct recruit Assistant Section Officer cannot be reduced to the lower rank like SSA/JSA.
(ii) A Government servant holding any post like LDC/ Tax Assistant etc. who qualifies as Assistant Section Officer as a Direct Recruit and is later promoted as Section Officer cannot be reduced to the rank, which was earlier held by him before ASO (DR) but only to that of an Assistant Section Officer.
5. Some illustrations on pay fixation on the above cases are annexed.
6. In so far as the personnel serving in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these instructions are being issued after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
7. Hindi version will follow.
(Satish Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
