Dr Jitendra Singh took charge as Minister of State, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, here today.
The Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Pensions, Shri K. V. Eapen and senior officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion. The Minister was later briefed by the senior officers of the Ministry.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman takes charge as the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman assumed charge as the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs here today. She was greeted at the office in North Block by Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs designate, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Finance Secretary Shri Subhash Chandra Garg and other Secretaries of the Ministry. Smt. Sitharaman is the first woman appointed as the full-time Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs.
After assuming the charge, the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs was briefed on the key initiatives and policy issues by the Secretaries of the different departments of the Ministry of Finance & Corporate Affairs and was apprised of the ongoing issues and the forthcoming challenges facing the Indian economy among others.
BRIEF PROFILE:
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has served as the Union Defence Minister since 2017. She is currently a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) from Karnataka. In 2014, she was elected as Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh. She has also served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs and later the Minister for Commerce and Industry with Independent Charge.
As the Defence Minister, Smt. Sitharaman is credited with expediting the decision-making process relating to procurement in defence sector. She constituted a Defence Planning Committee to formulate an “action plan” to effectively overcome with various security challenges facing the nation.
Smt. Sitharaman joined the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in 2008 and has served as a national spokesperson for the party since 2010.
Smt. Sitharaman was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on August 18, 1959. She completed her graduation from Seethalakshmi Ramasamy College, Tiruchirappalli and obtained her M.A. (Economics) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Cabinet Ministers Complete Portfolio – Press Release
The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed the allocation of portfolios among the following members of the Union Council of Ministers:-
| Shri Narendra Modi | Prime Minister and also in-charge of:
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; Department of Space; and All important policy issues; and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister. |
|---|
Cabinet Ministers
| 1 | Shri Raj Nath Singh | Minister of Defence. |
| 2 | Shri Amit Shah | Minister of Home Affairs. |
| 3 | Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari | Minister of Road Transport and Highways; and |
| Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. | ||
| 4 | Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda | Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. |
| 5 | Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman | Minister of Finance; and |
| Minister of Corporate Affairs. | ||
| 6 | Shri Ramvilas Paswan | Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. |
| 7 | Shri Narendra Singh Tomar | Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; |
| Minister of Rural Development; and | ||
| Minister of Panchayati Raj. | ||
| 8 | Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad | Minister of Law and Justice; |
| Minister of Communications; and | ||
| Minister of Electronics and Information Technology. | ||
| 9 | Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal | Minister of Food Processing Industries. |
| 10 | Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot | Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. |
| 11 | Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar | Minister of External Affairs. |
| 12 | Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ | Minister of Human Resource Development. |
| 13 | Shri Arjun Munda | Minister of Tribal Affairs. |
| 14 | Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani | Minister of Women and Child Development; and Minister of Textiles. |
| 15 | Dr. Harsh Vardhan | Minister of Health and Family Welfare; |
| Minister of Science and Technology; and | ||
| Minister of Earth Sciences. | ||
| 16 | Shri Prakash Javadekar | Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and |
| Minister of Information and Broadcasting. | ||
| 17 | Shri Piyush Goyal | Minister of Railways; and |
| Minister of Commerce and Industry. | ||
| 18 | Shri Dharmendra Pradhan | Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and |
| Minister of Steel. | ||
| 19 | Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi | Minister of Minority Affairs. |
| 20 | Shri Pralhad Joshi | Minister of |
| Parliamentary Affairs; | ||
| Minister of Coal; and | ||
| Minister of Mines. | ||
| 21 | Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey | Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. |
| 22 | Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant | Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise. |
| 23 | Shri Giriraj Singh | Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. |
| 24 | Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat | Minister of Jal Shakti. |
Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
| 1 | Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. |
| 2 | Rao Inderjit Singh | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; and
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning. |
| 3 | Shri Shripad Yesso Naik | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH); and
Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence. |
| 4 | Dr. Jitendra Singh | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region;
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office; Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy; and Minister of State in the Department of Space. |
| 5 | Shri Kiren Rijiju | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; and
Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs. |
| 6 | Shri Prahalad Singh Patel | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Culture; and
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Tourism. |
| 7 | Shri Raj Kumar Singh | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Power;
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. |
| 8 | Shri Hardeep Singh Puri | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs;
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. |
| 9 | Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Shipping; and
Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. |
Ministers of State
| 1 | Shri Faggansingh Kulaste | Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel. |
| 2 | Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey | Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. |
| 3 | Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal | Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; and
Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. |
| 4 | General (Retd.) V. K. Singh | Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. |
| 5 | Shri Krishan Pal | Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. |
| 6 | Shri Danve Raosaheb Dadarao | Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. |
| 7 | Shri G. Kishan Reddy | Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| 8 | Shri Parshottam Rupala | Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. |
| 9 | Shri Ramdas Athawale | Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. |
| 10 | Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti | Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development. |
| 11 | Shri Babul Supriyo | Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. |
| 12 | Shri Sanjeev Kumar Balyan | Minister of State in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. |
| 13 | Shri Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao | Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development;Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications; and
Minister of State in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.. |
| 14 | Shri Anurag Singh Thakur | Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance; andMinister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. |
| 15 | Shri Angadi Suresh Channabasappa | Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways. |
| 16 | Shri Nityanand Rai | Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| 17 | Shri Rattan Lal Kataria | Minister of State in the Ministry of Jal Shakti; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. |
| 18 | Shri V. Muraleedharan | Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. |
| 19 | Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta | Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. |
| 20 | Shri Som Parkash | Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. |
| 21 | Shri Rameswar Teli | Minister of State in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. |
| 22 | Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi | Minister of State in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. |
| 23 | Shri Kailash Choudhary | Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. |
| 24 | Sushri Debasree Chaudhuri | Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development. |
AICPIN for the month of April 2019
No. 5/1/2019-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU
`CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004
DATED: 31st May, 2019
Press Release Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) — April, 2019
The All-India CPI-IW for April, 2019 increased by 3 points and pegged at 312 (three hundred and twelve). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.97 per cent between March, 2019 and April, 2019 when compared with the increase of (+) 0.35 per cent between the corresponding months of previous year.
The maximum upward pressure in current index came from Food group contributing (+) 2.26 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Arhar Dal, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Poultry (Chicken), Fresh Milk, Chillies Green, Garlic, Ginger, Onion, Apple, Banana, Lemon, Brinjal, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, French Bean, Green Coriander Leaves, Lady’s Finger, Methi, Palak, Peas, Potato, Radish, Tomato, Torai, Electricity Charges, Ornament Glass, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was checked by Eggs (Hen), Tamarind, Bitter Gourd, Parval, Cucumber, Kharbooza, Mango (Ripe), Flowers/ Flower Garlands, etc., putting downward pressure on the index.
The year-on-year inflation based on CPI-IW stood at 8.33 per cent for April, 2019 as compared to 7.67 per cent for the previous month and 3.97 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at (+) 4.92 per cent against (+) 3.96 per cent of the previous month and (+) 1.33 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.
At centre level Rourkela, Howrah and Siliguri reported the maximum increase of 7 points each followed by Mysore, Munger-Jamalpur and Varanasi (6 points each). Among others, 5 points increase was observed in 8 centres, 4 points in 8 centres, 3 points in 15 centres, 2 points in 23 centres and 1 point in 10 centres. Rest of the 8 centres’ indices remained stationary.
The indices of 35 centres are above All-India Index and 43 centres’ indices are below national average.
The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of May, 2019 will be released on Friday, 28th June, 2019. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureaunew.gov.in.
(AMRIT LAL JANGID)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
CGEGIS Tables of Benefits from April to June 2019
No. 7(2)/EV/2016
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
New Delhi, the 29th May, 2019
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub : Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme-1980 – Tables of Benefits for the savings fund for the period from 01.04.2019 to 30.06.2019.
The Tables of Benefits for Savings Fund to the beneficiaries under the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme-1980, which are being issued on a quarterly basis from 01.01.2017 onwards, as brought out in this Ministry’s OM of even number dated 17.03.2017, for the quarter from 01.04.2019 to 30.06.2019, as worked out by IRDA based on the interest rate of 8% per annum (compounded quarterly) as notified by the Department of Economic Affairs as per their Resolution No. 5(2)-B(PD)/2019 dated 03.04.2019, are enclosed.
2. The Tables enclosed are of two categories as per the existing practice. As hitherto, the first Table of Benefits for the savings fund of the scheme is based on the subscription of Rs.10 p.m. from 1.1.1982 to 31.12.1989 and Rs.15 p.m. w.e.f. 1.1.1990 onwards. The second Table of Benefits for savings fund is based on a subscription of Rs.10 p.m. for those employees who had opted out of the revised rate of subscription w.e.f. 1.1.1990.
3. While these orders are in respect of Table of Benefits for the period from 01.04.2019 to 30.06.2019, the Tables already issued for the first quarter i.e. for the period 01.01.2019 to 31.03.2019 are also reproduced for the sake of convenience and consolidation.
4. In their application to the employees of Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders are issued after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.
5. Hindi version of these orders is attached.
(Amar Nath Singh)
Director
Early Closure of Offices in connection with the Swearing of Ceremony of the newly elected Prime Minister of India on 30.05.2019
No.12/10/2016- JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training Establishment (JCA) Section
North Block, New Delhi – 110 001
Dated : 28 May, 2019
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Early Closure of Offices in connection with the Swearing of Ceremony of the newly elected Prime Minister of India on 30.05.2019.
In connection with arrangements for the Swearing in Ceremony of the newly elected Prime Minister of India on 30.05.2019, it has been decided that the Government offices located in the North Block, South Block, Rail Bawan, Vayu Bhawan, Sena Bhawan, DRDO and Hutments would be closed early at 14:00 hours. on 30th May, 2019 (Thursday).
(Juglal Singh)
Secretary (JCA)
SPARROW for all the cadre of CSS, CSSS & CSCS – Extension of timelines
F.No.22/15/2018-CS.I(APAR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
2nd Floor, A-Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan
New Delhi, dated; the 28 May, 2019.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject : Introduction of ‘SPARROW’ for all the cadre of CSS, CSSS & CSCS- extension of timelines for completion of APAR online on ‘SPARROW’ portal for the year 2018-19.
The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject mentioned above and to say that a large number of officers including those belonging to CSS, CSSS and CSCS cadres have been deputed for election duty in the General Election to the Lok Sabha, 2019. Keeping in view the practical difficulties in recording of APAR online as per the target dates as prescribed in this Department’s O.M. No.21011/1/2005- Estt.(A)(Pt.II) dated 23rd July, 2009, through SPARROW portal, this Department has relaxed the prescribed timelines by extending the dates for online generation upto the stage of completion of the entire process of recording APARs on SPARROW portal for all Group ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ officers/officials for the year 2018-19 as a one¬time measure vide O.M. No.21011/02/2015-Estt(A-II)-Part II dated 18.04.2019. (Copy enclosed).
Also Read : Latest DOPT Orders
2. A doubt has been expressed by some quarters as to whether the Estt. Division O.M. dated 18.04.2019 as mentioned above will also be applicable in respect of officers/officials belonging to CSS/CSSS/CSCS cadres. It is clarified that timelines extended vide O.M. dated 18.04.2019 will equally be applicable to officers/officials belonging to CSS/CSSS/CSCS for completing activities on SPARROW.
(Chandra Shekhar)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
BSNL : Need for ensuring 100% error free pay fixation method and Post Audit of Pay Fixation
TOP PRIORITY
BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED.
[A Government of India Enterprise]
CORPORATE OFFICE
Establishment Cell
Bharat Sanchar Bhawan
H.C.Mathur Lane, New Delhi
No.1-06/2016-PAT(BSNL)
Dated 1st May,2019
To
All Heads of Telecom Circles/ Telecom Districts/Regions/
Projects/Telecom Stores/Telecom Factories & Other Administrative Offices,
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.
Sub : Implementation of Supreme Court judgment on recovery of excess / wrongful payments — Need for ensuring 100% error free pay fixation method and Post Audit of Pay Fixation – reg.
Sir,
I am directed to refer to this office letter No. 1-06/2016-PAT(BSNL) dated 09.09.2016, 23.03.2017, 08.05.2017, 19.09.2017 & 08.03.2018 wherein instructions were issued on the procedures to be followed in the matter of implementation of Supreme Court judgment on recovery of excess/ wrongful payments made to employees in BSNL.
A kind reference is also invited to this office letter No.1-09/201 6-PAT(BSNL) dated 23.09.2016 and letter No.1-06/2016-PAT(BSNL) dated 15.11.2018 wherein instructions were issued for conducting post audit of every pay fixation on account of promotion, up-gradation and pay revision etc., of employees, invariably by an officer not below the rank of AGM/ CAO of Finance Wing not connected with the channel of submission of pay fixation related work and that each Circle IFA shall send a certificate to DGM (Estt), BSNL CO ND by 31st July of every year to the effect that all pay fixation cases of the Circle during the previous financial year have been got post-audited.
However, it is observed that even after repeated instructions from this office to ensure correctness of the pay fixation of the employees by implementation of a checking & counter-checking mechanism for pay fixations in respect of all employees, many of the circles do not seem to have complied with the same, leading to heavy financial loss to BSNL which otherwise could have been avoided. Hence a robust} mechanism shall be put in place by all Circles for strict adherence of Hon’ble Supreme Court order in CA No.11527 of 2014 (State of Punjab & ors Vs Rafiq Masih (White Washer)) as depicted below and instructions issued by this office from time to time in order to prevent any further loss to the BSNL.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court while observing that it is not possible to postulate all situations of hardship which would govern employees on the issue of recovery, where payments have mistakenly been made by the employer, in excess of their entitlement has summarized the following few situations, wherein recoveries by the employers would be impermissible in law:
I. Recovery from employees belonging to Class-III & Class -IV service (or Group ‘C” and Group ‘D” service).
II. Recovery from retired employees, or employees who are due to retire within one year, of the order of recovery.
III. Recovery from employees, when the excess payment has been made for a period in excess of five years, before the order of recovery is issued.
IV. Recovery in cases where an employee has wrongfully been required to discharge duties of a higher post, and has been paid accordingly, even though he should have rightfully been required to work against an inferior post.
V. In any other case, where the Court arrives at the conclusion that recovery if made from the employee, would be iniquitous or harsh or arbitrary to such an extent, as would far outweigh the equitable balance of the employer’s right to recover.
While examining proposals for waiver of recovery, it has been observed that cases are reviewed on the verge of retirement of an employee or after a number of years thereby making it difficult for BSNL to recover the excess payments from them. All Cadre Controlling Authorities are, therefore, requested to review all cases of doubts and ensure that there are no cases of excess payments made to BSNL employees. Wherever any excess payment has been made on account of fraud, misrepresentation, collusion, favoritism, negligence, carelessness, etc., roles of those responsible for overpayments in such cases, and the employees who benefitted from such actions should be identified, and disciplinary/ criminal action should be considered in appropriate cases.
Yours faithfully
Sd/-
(S.N.Tiwary)
Assistant General Manager (Estt-I)
Revision of rates of Uniform Allowance, Kit Maintenance Allowance and Washing Allowance for RPF/RPSF personnel
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
RBE NO. 84/2019
PC-VI No. 396
No. E(P&A)I-2014/ALL/RPF-1
New Delhi, dated 27.05.2019
The General Managers and PFAs,
All Indian Railways & Production Units.
Sub : Implementation of recommendations of VI Central Pay Commission – Revision of rates of Uniform Allowance, Kit Maintenance Allowance and Washing Allowance in respect of RPF/RPSF personnel.
*****
1. In terms of Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2008/ALL/RPF-3 dated 06.02.2009 on the cited subject, Kit Maintenance Allowance @ Rs. 300/- p.m. was provided for Group ‘A’ officers of RPF/RPSF.
2. It has now been decided to extend the benefits of above mentioned Kit Maintenance Allowance to Group ‘A’ officers of RPF/RPSF promoted on ad-hoc basis from Inspectors also, at the same rate which is admissible to regular Group ‘A’ officers of RPF/RPSF for the 6th CPC period i.e. from 01.09.2008 to 30.06.2017.
3. The rates of Kit Maintenance Allowance increase by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance payable on revised pay scales goes up by 50%. In view of this, the rates of Kit Maintenance Allowance are Rs. 375/- p.m. w.e.f. 01.01.2011 and Rs. 450/p.m. w.e.f. 01.01.2014.
4. This Allowance shall be payable till 30.06.2017, since instructions for subsuming this Allowance into a single Dress Allowance w.e.f. 01.07.2017 have been issued vide Board’s letter No. PC-VII/20 17 /U7 1517 dated 03.10.2017 on the recommendations of 7th CPC and acceptance of Government thereto.
5. Other terms & conditions as mentioned in Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2008/ALL/RPF-3 dated 06.02.2009 will remain unchanged.
6. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
7. Please acknowledge receipt.
(N.P.Singh)
Joint Director/Estt.(P&A)
Railway Board.
MACPS for the Railways Employees – Benchmark
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
S.No.PC-VII/138
No. PC-V/2016/MACPS/1
RBE No. 86/2019
New Delhi, dated 28-5-2019
The General Managers (P)
All Zonal Railways & PUs
(As per mailing list)
Sub :- Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) for the Railways Employees-Benchmark Regarding.
Subsequent to acceptance of the recommendations of 7th CPC by the Government regarding raising the benchmark for performance appraisal for promotion and financial upgradation under MACPS from “Good” to ”Very Good”. Railway Board vide letter dated 19-12-2016 enhanced the benchmark for grant of financial upgradation under MACPS to ”Very Good” tor all posts. These changes were made effective from 25th July. 2016 i.e. from the date of resolution notified by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance regarding acceptance of the recommendations of 7th CPC.
2. On the demand raised by the Staff Side persistently in all forums including in the National Council (JCM) for revision of enhanced benchmark on prospective basis, the matter has been considered by the Board and it has been decided that APAR grading ”Good” for the period prior to 25-7-2016 i.e. the date from which the new Benchmark was made applicable. may be treated as ··very Good” while considering those cases of MACPS in which APARs for the said period are required to be taken into account.
3. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
4. Hindi version will follow.
(Subhankar Dutta)
Deputy Director, Pay Commission-V
Railway Board
