AICPIN for June 2024 Released: 3% DA Hike Expected from July 2024
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (2016=100) – June, 2024
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 317 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country. The index for the months of June, 2024 is being released in this press release.
The All-India CPI-IW for June, 2024 increased by 1.5 point and stood at 141.4 (one hundred forty one point four).
Restoration of OPS – Representations for OPS Restoration Submitted to pension review Committee
Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2072 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2024/ /14 SHRAVANA, 1946 (SAKA)
RESTORATION OF OPS
QUESTION
2072: Shri Raja A: Shri S Venkatesan: Shri Anand Bhadauria:
Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:
(a) whether a Committee was set up under the chairmanship of Shri Somanathan, Secretary Finance to study the issues related to National Pension Scheme and suggest improvements;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for delay along with the current status of the said committee;
(c) whether the report has been submitted by the Committee;
(d) whether the Government Employees Associations have been struggling and also demanding restoration of Old Pension Scheme instead of contributory pension scheme and if so, the response of the Government thereto;
(e) whether it is a fact that some State Governments have also restored OPS for their employees and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government is not in favour of restoring OPS to its Government servants and if so, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHOUDHARY)
(a), (b) & (f): Yes. In pursuance of the announcement made by the Finance Minister in the Lok Sabha on 24.03.2023, the Central Government has constituted a Committee being chaired by the Finance Secretary. The composition and Terms of Reference of the Committee are as under:
Composition:
i. Finance Secretary & Secretary (Expenditure) : Chairman ii. Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions : Member iii. Additional Secretary (Pers), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance : Member iv. Chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) : Member
Terms of Reference
i. Whether in the light of the existing framework and structure of the National Pension System, as applicable to Government employees, any changes therein are warranted;
ii. If so, to suggest such measures as are appropriate to modify the same with a view to improving upon the pensionary benefits of Government employees covered under the National Pension System, keeping in view the fiscal implications and impact on overall budgetary space, so that fiscal prudence is maintained to protect the common citizens.
(c) The Committee has made considerable progress in its work but has not submitted its final report.
(d) Representations have been received from time to time to restore OPS. The same are placed before the Committee constituted to review the pension system.
(e) State Governments of Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have informed the Central Government/PFRDA about their decision to restart Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for their State Government employees. However, Government of Punjab continues to make contributions to the National Pension System.
Irregular Drawal of Transport Allowance by Level-14 and Above Officers
PP-161112021-PAP-DOP Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (Establishment Division) P.A.P. Section
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg. New Delhi-110001 Date 31st July, 2024.
Office Memorandum
Sub: Instructions on drawl of Transport Allowance in lieu of staff car facility for officers of the Level-14 and above of the pay matrix – regarding.
The attention of all concerned is drawn towards the instructions contained in Department of Expenditure O. M. No. 21/5/2017-E.II(B) dated 07.07.2017, which. inter-alia. provide that the officers drawing pay in Level 14 and above in the Pay Matrix. who are entitled to use of official car in terms of DoE’s O. M. No. 20(5)- E.1(A)/93 dated 28.01.1994 [read with O.M. No. 18(23).E.Coord/2021 dated 01.09.2022] have an option to draw the Transport Allowance after the same has been examined by the Administrative Ministry and their entitlement to the use of official car is certified by the competent authority.
2 . It has. however. been noticed that some of the officers of the Department in the Level-14 of Pay Matrix and above. who are entitled to use of official car start drawing the Transport Allowance without their options being examined by the Administrative Ministry (Directorate) and later. these cases are forwarded to the Directorate for ex post facto approval. The drawl of the transport allowance, pending the approval of the competent authority, is completely irregular and should be avoided.
3. It is. therefore. enjoined upon theDDOs concerned to ensure that no irregular drawl of transport allowance, in the manner mentioned above, is made to the officers concerned pending approval of the competent authority. All the officers of the Department in level 14 of Pay Matrix and above are also to ensure that they do not draw transport allowance in lieu of staff car facility till their options are examined by the Directorate and their entitlement to this effect is certified by the competent authority in accordance with extant instructions on the subject.
This issues with the approval of Member (P).
Signed by Ravi Pahwa Assistant Director General (GDS/PCC/PAP)
Participation of the Government Servants in RSSS activities: DOPT O.M
F.No. 3401311(S)/2016-Estt (B) Government of India Ministry of Personnel , Public Grievances and Pension Department of Personnel and Training
New Delhi the 9th July,2024
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Participation of the Government servants in the activities of RSSS – regarding
The undersigned is directed to refer to the OM.No.3/10(S)/66-Estt.(B) dated 30.11.1966, OM No. 7/4/70-Est.(B) dated 25.07.1970 and OM No. 15014/3(S)/80- Estt.(B) dated 28.10.1980 on the above subject.
2. The aforesaid instructions have been reviewed and it has been decided to remove the mention of Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (R.S.S.S) from the impugned OMs dated 30.11.1966, 25.07.1970 and 28.10.1980.
3. This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.
(Vimal) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Periodic Review of Central Government Employees: Submit the report to DOPT within the Timeline [DOPT OM]
F. No. 25013/01/2024-Pers. Policy A-IV Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Personnel & Training (Personnel Policy A-IV Section)
***
North Block, New Delhi Dated :26 July, 2024
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Periodic Review of Central Government Employees for strengthening of administration under Fundamental Rule (FR) 56(j)/(1) and rule 48 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 [now, revised as Rule 42 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021] – reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to DoPT’s OM No. 25013/01/2024- Pers.Policy A-IV dated 27.06.2024 (copy enclosed) on the above mentioned subject whereby all the Ministries/Departments were requested to take immediate action to identify the employees due for review under relevant provisions of Fundamental/ Pension Rules and ensure that their cases are expeditiously submitted for consideration before the duly constituted Review Committee as per extant instructions. Further, all Ministries/Departments were also requested to direct the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)/Banks, Autonomous Institutions and Statutory bodies under their administrative control to undertake the exercise of periodic review of employees under the relevant provisions.
2. Apart from the above, all the Ministries/Departments/Organisations were also requested to strictly adhere to the timeline mentioned in DoPT’s OM No. 25013/03/2019-Estt.A-IV dated 28.08.2020 for undertaking the exercise of review of performance of the Government servants and for the employees of PSUs/Banks/ autonomous institutions/statutory organisations under their administrative control to ensure that the employees with doubtful integrity or found to be ineffective are not allowed to continue in Government and to furnish a report to DoPT in prescribed format by 15th day of each month starting from July, 2024. However, despite clear instructions, most of the Ministries/Departments/Organizations have not furnished the requisite report to DoPT as of now.
3. In view of the above, all Ministries/ Department/ Organizations are again requested to ensure that the instructions/guidelines in the subject matter contained in DOPT’s OM No. 25013/01/2024-Pers. Policy A-IV dated 27.06.2024 are adhered to both in letter and spirit and the requisite report in the prescribed format is furnished to DoPT within the timelines.
4. This may kindly be accorded “Top Priority”.
(Satish Kumar) Under Secretary to the Government of India
8th Pay Commission: Govt received Requests, No Decision Yet (Lok Sabha Q&A)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 195 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024/31 ASHADHA, 1946 (SAKA)
CONSTITUTION OF 8th CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION
195 SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA: Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received representation from various quarters regarding constitution of 8th Central Pay Commission during the month of June, 2024;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon, representation-wise; and
(c) the time by which the Government would constitute 8th Central Pay Commission for revision of pay/pension of Central Government employees in view of unprecedented inflation in the country?
ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c): Two representations have been received for constitution of 8th Central Pay Commission in June, 2024. No such proposal is under consideration of the Government, at present.
The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 in Parliament today. The highlights of the budget are as follows:
Part-A
Budget Estimates 2024-25:
Total receipts other than borrowings: `32.07 lakh crore.
Total expenditure: `48.21 lakh crore.
Net tax receipt: `25.83 lakh crore.
Fiscal deficit: 4.9 per cent of GDP.
The focus of budget is on EMPLOYMENT, SKILLING, MSMEs, and the MIDDLE CLASS.
Package of PM’s five schemes for Employment and Skilling
Prime Minister’s Package of 5 Schemes and Initiatives for employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over a 5-year period.
Scheme A – First Timers: One-month salary of up to `15,000 to be provided in 3 installments to first-time employees, as registered in the EPFO.
Scheme B – Job Creation in manufacturing: Incentive to be provided at specified scale directly, both employee and employer, with respect to their EPFO contribution in the first 4 years of employment.
Scheme C – Support to employers: Government to reimburse up to `3,000 per month for 2 years towards EPFO contribution of employers, for each additional employee.
New centrally sponsored scheme for Skilling
20 lakh youth to be skilled over a 5-year period.
1,000 Industrial Training Institutes to be upgraded in hub and spoke arrangements.
New Scheme for Internship in 500 Top Companies to 1 crore youth in 5 years
Nine Budget Priorities in pursuit of ‘Viksit Bharat’:
Productivity and resilience in Agriculture
Employment & Skilling
Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice
Manufacturing & Services
Urban Development
Energy Security
Infrastructure
Innovation, Research & Development and
Next Generation Reforms
Priority 1: Productivity and resilience in Agriculture
Allocation of `1.52 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors.
New 109 high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops to be released for cultivation by farmers.
1 crore farmers across the country to be initiated into natural farming, with certification and branding in next 2 years.
10,000 need-based bio-input resource centres to be established for natural farming.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture to be implemented for coverage of farmers and their lands in 3 years.
Priority 2: Employment & Skilling
As part of the Prime Minister’s package, 3 schemes for ‘Employment Linked Incentive’ to be implemented – Scheme A – First Timers; Scheme B – Job Creation in manufacturing; Scheme C – Support to employers.
To facilitate higher participation of women in the workforce,
working women hostels and crèches to be established with industrial collaboration
women-specific skilling programmes to be organized
market access for women SHG enterprises to be promoted
Skill Development
New centrally sponsored scheme for Skilling under Prime Minister’s Package for 20 lakh youth over a 5-year period.
Model Skill Loan Scheme to be revised to facilitate loans up to `7.5 lakh.
Financial support for loans upto `10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions to be provided to youth who have not been eligible for any benefit under government schemes and policies.
Priority 3: Inclusive Human Resource Development and Social Justice
Purvodaya
Industrial node at Gaya to be developed along the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor.
Power projects, including new 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti, to be taken up at a cost of `21,400 crore.
Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act
Special financial support through multilateral development agencies of `15,000 crore in the current financial year.
Industrial node at Kopparthy along Vishakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and at Orvakal along Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
Women-led development
Total allocation of more than `3 lakh crore for schemes benefitting women and girls.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan
Socio-economic development of tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts, covering 63,000 villages benefitting 5 crore tribal people.
Bank branches in North-Eastern Region
100 branches of India Post Payment Bank to be set up in the North East region.
Priority 4: Manufacturing & Services
Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs in the Manufacturing Sector
A credit guarantee scheme without collateral or third-party guarantee in term loans to MSMEs for purchase of machinery and equipment.
Credit Support to MSMEs during Stress Period
New mechanism to facilitate continuation of bank credit to MSMEs during their stress period.
Mudra Loans
The limit of Mudra loans under ‘Tarun’ category to be enhanced to `20 lakh from `10 lakh for those who have successfully repaid previous loans.
Enhanced scope for mandatory onboarding in TReDS
Turnover threshold of buyers for mandatory onboarding on the TReDS platform to be reduced from `500 crore to `250 crore..
MSME Units for Food Irradiation, Quality & Safety Testing
Financial support to set up 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector .
E-Commerce Export Hubs
E-Commerce Export Hubs to be set up under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode for MSMEs and traditional artisans to sell their products in international markets.
Critical Mineral Mission
Critical Mineral Mission to be set up for domestic production, recycling of critical minerals, and overseas acquisition of critical mineral assets.
Offshore mining of minerals
Auction of the first tranche of offshore blocks for mining, building on the exploration already carried out.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Applications
Development of DPI applications in the areas of credit, e-commerce, education, health, law and justice, logistics, MSME, services delivery, and urban governance.
Priority 5: Urban Development
Transit Oriented Development
Formulation of Transit Oriented Development plans and strategies to implement and finance 14 large cities above 30 lakh population.
Urban Housing
Investment of `10 lakh crore, including the central assistance of `2.2 lakh crore in next 5 years, under PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 proposed to address the , housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families.
Street Markets
New scheme to support the development of 100 weekly ‘haats’ or street food hubs every year for the next 5 years in select cities.
Priority 6: Energy Security
Energy Transition
Policy document on ‘Energy Transition Pathways’ to balance the imperatives of employment, growth and environmental sustainability to be brought out.
Pumped Storage Policy
Policy for promoting pumped storage projects for electricity storage to be brought out.
Research and development of small and modular nuclear reactors
Government to partner with private sector for R&D of Bharat Small Modular Reactor and newer technologies for nuclear energy, and to set up Bharat Small Reactors.
Advanced Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plants
Joint venture proposed between NTPC and BHEL to set up a full scale 800 MW commercial plant using Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology.
Roadmap for ‘hard to abate’ industries
Appropriate regulations for transition of ‘hard to abate’ industries from the current ‘Perform, Achieve and Trade’ mode to ‘Indian Carbon Market’ mode to be put in place.
Priority 7: Infrastructure
Infrastructure investment by Central Government
`11,11,111 crore (3.4 % of GDP) to be provided for capital expenditure.
Infrastructure investment by state governments
Provision of `1.5 lakh crore for long-term interest free loans to support states in infrastructure investment.
Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY)
Launch of phase IV of PMGSY to provide all-weather connectivity to 25,000 rural habitations.
Irrigation and Flood Mitigation
Financial support of `11,500 crore to projects such as the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and other schemes in Bihar.
Government to provide assistance to Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim for floods, landslides and other related projects.
Tourism
Comprehensive development of Vishnupad Temple Corridor, Mahabodhi Temple Corridor and Rajgir.
Assistance for development of temples, monuments, craftsmanship, wildlife sanctuaries, natural landscapes and pristine beaches of Odisha.
Priority 8: Innovation, Research & Development
Anusandhan National Research Fund for basic research and prototype development to be operationalised.
Financing pool of `1 lakh crore for spurring private sector-driven research and innovation at commercial scale.
Space Economy
Venture capital fund of `1,000 crore to be set up for expanding the space economy by 5 times in the next 10 years.
Priority 9: Next Generation Reforms
Rural Land Related Actions
Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhaar for all lands
Digitization of cadastral maps
Survey of map sub-divisions as per current ownership
Establishment of land registry
Linking to the farmers registry
Urban Land Related Actions
Land records in urban areas to be digitized with GIS mapping.
Services to Labour
Integration of e-shram portal with other portals to facilitate such one-stop solution.
Open architecture databases for the rapidly changing labour market, skill requirements and available job roles.
Mechanism to connect job-aspirants with potential employers and skill providers.
NPS Vatsalya
NPS-Vatsalya as a plan for contribution by parents and guardians for minors.
PART B
Indirect Taxes
GST
Buoyed by GST’s success, tax structure to be simplified and rationalised to expand GST to remaining sectors.
Sector specific customs duty proposals
Medicines and Medical Equipment
Three cancer drugs namely TrastuzumabDeruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab fully exempted from custom duty.
Changes in Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on x-ray tubes & flat panel detectors for use in medical x-ray machines under the Phased Manufacturing Programme.
Mobile Phone and Related Parts
BCD on mobile phone, mobile Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) and mobile charger reduced to 15 per cent.
Precious Metals
Customs duties on gold and silver reduced to 6 per cent and that on platinum to 6.4 per cent.
Other Metals
BCD removed on ferro nickel and blister copper.
BCD removed on ferrous scrap and nickel cathode.
Concessional BCD of 2.5 per cent on copper scrap.
Electronics
BCD removed, subject to conditions, on oxygen free copper for manufacture of resistors.
Chemicals and Petrochemicals
BCD on ammonium nitrate increased from 7.5 to 10 per cent.
Plastics
BCD on PVC flex banners increased from 10 to 25 per cent.
Telecommunication Equipment
BCD increased from 10 to 15 per cent on PCBA of specified telecom equipment.
Trade facilitation
For promotion of domestic aviation and boat & ship MRO, time period for export of goods imported for repairs extended from six months to one year.
Time-limit for re-import of goods for repairs under warranty extended from three to five years.
Critical Minerals
25critical minerals fully exempted from customs duties.
BCD on two critical minerals reduced.
Solar Energy
Capital goods for use in manufacture of solar cells and panels exempted from customs duty.
Marine products
BCD on certain broodstock, polychaete worms, shrimp and fish feed reduced to 5 per cent.
Various inputs for manufacture of shrimp and fish feed exempted from customs duty.
Leather and Textile
BCD reduced on real down filling material from duck or goose.
BCD reduced, subject to conditions, on methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) for manufacture of spandex yarn from 7.5 to 5 per cent.
Direct Taxes
Efforts to simplify taxes, improve tax payer services, provide tax certainty and reduce litigation to be continued.
Enhance revenues for funding development and welfare schemes of government.
58 per cent of corporate tax from simplified tax regime in FY23, more than two-thirds taxpayers availed simplified tax regime for personal income tax in FY 24.
Simplification for Charities and of TDS
Two tax exemption regimes for charities to be merged into one.
5 per cent TDS rate on many payments merged into 2 per cent TDS rate.
20 per cent TDS rate on repurchase of units by mutual funds or UTI withdrawn.
TDS rate on e-commerce operators reduced from one to 0.1 per cent.
Delay for payment of TDS up to due date of filing statement decriminalized.
Simplification of Reassessment
Assessment can be reopened beyond three years upto five years from the end of Assessment Year only if the escaped income is ₹ 50 lakh or more.
In search cases, time limit reduced from ten to six years before the year of search.
Simplification and Rationalisation of Capital Gains
Short term gains on certain financial assets to attract a tax rate of 20 per cent.
Long term gains on all financial and non-financial assets to attract a tax rate of 12.5 per cent.
Exemption limit of capital gains on certain financial assets increased to ₹ 1.25 lakh per year.
Tax Payer Services
All remaining services of Customs and Income Tax including rectification and order giving effect to appellate orders to be digitalized over the next two years.
Litigation and Appeals
‘Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024’ for resolution of income tax disputes pending in appeal.
Monetary limits for filing direct taxes, excise and service tax related appeals in Tax Tribunals, High Courts and Supreme Court increased to ₹60 lakh, ₹2 crore and ₹5 crore respectively.
Safe harbour rules expanded to reduce litigation and provide certainty in international taxation.
Employment and Investment
Angel tax for all classes of investors abolished to bolster start-up eco-system,.
Simpler tax regime for foreign shipping companies operating domestic cruises to promote cruise tourism in India.
Safe harbour rates for foreign mining companies selling raw diamonds in the country.
Corporate tax rate on foreign companies reduced from 40 to 35 per cent.
Deepening tax base
Security Transactions Tax on futures and options of securities increased to 0.02 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.
Income received on buy back of shares in the hands of recipient to be taxed.
Social Security Benefits.
Deduction of expenditure by employers towards NPS to be increased from 10 to 14 per cent of the employee’s salary.
Non-reporting of small movable foreign assets up to ₹20 lakh de-penalised.
Other major proposal in Finance Bill
Equalization levy of 2 per cent withdrawn.
Changes in Personal Income Tax under new tax regime
Standard deduction for salaried employees increased from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000.
Deduction on family pension for pensioners enhanced from ₹15,000/- to ₹25,000/-
Revised tax rate structure:
0-3 lakh rupees
Nil
3-7 lakh rupees
5 per cent
7-10 lakh rupees
10 per cent
10-12 lakh rupees
15 per cent
12-15 lakh rupees
20 per cent
Above 15 lakh rupees
30 per cent
Salaried employee in the new tax regime stands to save up to ₹ 17,500/- in income tax.
Grant of Notional Increment to Jun/Dec Retirement Cases pertaining to MES Civilian Employees: MES Order dated 10.07.2024
Military Engineer Services Directorate General (Pers)/E1C (Legal) Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch Kashmir House, Rajaji Marg New Delhi-110011
No 90237/4381/E1C (Legal-D)
10th July 2024
ADG (P) Chennai ADG North ADG NEI Chief Engineers HQ Southern Command HQ Eastern Command HQ Western Command HQ Central Command HQ Northern Command HQ Southern Western Command
GRANT OF NOTIONAL INCREMENT JUN/DEC RETIREMENT CASES PERTAINING TO MES CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES
1. It is mentioned that as on date more than approximately 30 to 40 cases are running in the AOR of MES pertaining to subject matter. Out of them this office has received 25 cases (Para-43 documents) and, being a settled preposition in the Hon’ble Apex court, the cases for issue of Govt sanction for implementation of Hon’ble court orders regarding grant of notional increment on 1st July/ 1st Jan i.e next date of retirement of pertinent applicants, have been processed by E-in-C’s Branch to competent authority (involving 04 Ministries i.e DoP &T, Min of Finance, Ministry of Law and Min of Def). Due to a large influx of similar nature case files there is an inadvertent delay in the issue of GSL.
2. It is directed to take all necessary steps, duly complying with the provisions of SOP, in order to defend the CP cases filed in this regard. It is emphasized that Chief Engineer Zone and CWE should be present during the hearing in ibid CP cases so that the stand of the Deptt and efforts being taken to implement the Hon’ble court order can be explained by them on behalf of Def Secy/E-in-C.
3.This is for strict compliance.
(Nitin Bhardwaj) Director E1C (Legal) for E-in-C
Copy to: Automation Cell: for uploading on MES Website (open domain)
State Railway Provident Fund Interest Rate from April 2024 to June 2024
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAILWAY BOARD)
No. F(E)III/2003/PF-1/1
New Delhi, Dated: 28.06.2024
The General Managers/Principal Financial Advisers, All Zonal Railways/Production Units etc., DGs of RDSO and NAIR.
Subject: State Railway Provident Fund-Rate of interest during the 1st Quarter of financial year 2024-25 (1st April, 2024 — 30th June, 2024).
A copy of Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance’s Resolution F.No. 5(3)-B(PD)/2023 dated 10th June. 2024 prescribing interest at the rate of 7.1%(Seven point one per cent) wef. 1st April, 2024 to 30th June, 2024 on accumulations at the credit of the Subscribers to State Railway Provident Fund, is enclosed for information and necessary action.
1140 Family Pensioners Grievances Redressed in Week 2 of Special Campaign for Redressal of Family Pension Grievances
More than 60% of targeted cases redressed in the first 2 weeks of the Campaign
Through the coordinated efforts by 46 Ministries/ Departments several Family Pensioners have benefited from the Special Campaign2
As a part of 100 days action plan of the Department of Pension and Pension Welfare, a month-long Special Campaign to redress Family Pension grievances was launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on 1st July, 2024.
This month-long Special Campaign by end of second week has crossed the 60% targeted mark, with the redressal of 1140 Family Pension cases, out of the total 1891 family pension cases, identified for disposal at the commencement of the campaign.
The coordinated efforts of 46 Ministries/ Departments has benefitted the Family Pensioners and some of the important cases, where Family pension grievances have been successfully redressed on the Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS), an online Portal, are as follows:
1. Grievance of Ms. Shivani Aniya – “Sanction of Family Pension with arrears of Rs. 9.8 lakh to an unmarried daughter after 07 years”:
Ms. Shivani Aniya, d/o Late Sh. Satish Kumar Aniya from Railways, was not sanctioned family pension since 2017 despite repeated efforts. She resides in Khandwa, MP and registered her first grievance on CPENGRAMS portal on 20.02.2024. DoPPW actively pursued her case with the concerned ministry. Her case was selected for the Special Campaign and due to active coordination with Ministry of Railways, it has been successfully closed with the payment of arrears amounting to around Rs. 9.8 lakh and commencement of monthly family pension.
2. Grievance of Ms. Najma Khatoon – “Sanction of revised Family Pension with arrears of Rs. 9.3 lakh to the spouse after 11 years”:
Ms. Najma Khatoon, w/o Late Sh. Sheikh Md. Jubair, JE had been getting family pension, less than her entitlement, since 2013. She resides in Munger, Bihar. For her grievance, she filed numerous complaints, but could not succeed. Thereafter, a grievance was registered on CPENGRAMS portal on 12.06.2024. Her case was selected for inclusion in Special Campaign and it was monitored constantly. Due to this, long pending grievance has got resolved and payment of arrears of more than Rs.9.3 lakh has been made to her.
3. Grievance of Ms. Prabeetha Sooraj- “Payment of erroneously recovered gratuity of Rs. 10.25 lakh to the spouse after 4 years”:
Ms. Prabeetha Sooraj, w/o Late Sh. Sooraj Lal Kuniyil, lost her husband in 2020. She hails from Mahe, Puducherry. The gratuity payable to her, after the death of her husband, was erroneously recovered from her. To redress her grievance, she filed complaints, but redressal was taking time. In this process, she registered her grievance on CPENGRAMS Portal on 14.05.2024. The case was forwarded to the concerned department and included in the Special Campaign. Constant monitoring and active processing have led to successful redressal of her grievance with the payment of gratuity of Rs.10.25 lakh.
4. Grievance of Ms. Neelam Kumari- “Payment of arrears of Enhanced Family Pension of Rs. 4.30 lakh to spouse after 6 years”:
Ms. Neelam Kumari w/o Late Lt. Surinder Singh from Army, is a resident of remote village of Jammu. She was sanctioned family pension at the ordinary rate i.e. 30% of the last basic pay. However, she was entitled for enhanced rate of 50% of last basic pay. She filed complaints in this regard, but it was taking time. In the meantime, she got to know about the CPENGRAMS, an on-line portal and registered her grievance on 18.05.2024. Her case was forwarded to the concerned ministry and was also included in the ongoing Special Campaign. Due emphasis was provided by the Ministry of Defense in this case, which has eventually resulted in successful redressal of grievance with the payment of arrears of Rs.4.30 lakh.
5. Grievance of Ms. Ganga Devi – “Sanction of Additional Family Pension with payment of arrears of Rs. 3.72 lakh to 88 years old spouse after 08 years”:
Ms. Ganga Devi is a Super-senior Family pensioner whose husband retired from Army. She resides in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. The additional family pension which is paid after attaining the age of 80 years, was not started in her case. A grievance was registered on CPENGRAMS portal on 17.05.2024. It was actively followed up by DOPPW as department gives special emphasis on the cases of Super-senior pensioners/family pensioners. Her case was also included in the Special Campaign and the same has been successfully resolved with the payment of arrears of Rs.3.72 lakh.
6. Grievance of Ms. Simranjit Kaur – “Payment of Family Pension arrears of Rs. 5.54 lakh to an unmarried daughter after 1.5 years”:
Ms. Simranjit Kaur, d/o Late Sh. Sukhdev Singh from Army, hails from a village of Tarantarn District of Punjab. Unfortunately, she lost her parents in October, 2022. However, her family pension was started only in April, 2024 without payment of the arrears of family pension from October, 2022 to March, 2024. For this, she registered her grievance on CPENGRAMS Portal on 06.05.2024. Her case was identified for the Special campaign. Due to this, active follow up was done and the case has been successfully redressed with the arrears payment of Rs. 5.54 lakh.
7. Grievance of Ms. Pramila Yadav – “Payment of 3 installments of OROP-II amounting to Rs. 1.87 lakh to the spouse after 1 year”:
Ms. Pramila Yadav, w/o Late Colonel Sajan Singh Ram Kumar Yadav, was getting family pension after the demise of her husband in May, 2023. She is residing in Gurugram, Haryana. She was to receive installment no. 2,3 and 4 of OROP-II since July, 2023. For this, she registered her grievance on CPENGRAMS Portal on 13.04.2024. The case was taken up in the Special campaign. Due to this, the redressal process was expedited and the case has been successfully redressed with the arrears payment of Rs. 1.87 lakh.
8. Grievance of Ms. Rampukari Devi – “Sanction of revised Family Pension with arrears of Rs. 2.64 lakh to the spouse after 15 years”:
Ms. Rampukari Devi, w/o Late Sh. Bhrigunath Chaubey, was getting family pension since 2009. She resides at Bettiah, Bihar. However, the pension was to be paid at higher rate and thereby, required revision. In this regard, she approached various forums, but it was taking time. A grievance in this regard was registered on CPENGRAMS Portal on 14.06.2024. Her case was identified and pursued in the Special Campaign. It expedited the redressal process, leading to the arrear payment of Rs. 2.64 lakh.
9. Grievance of Ms. Amrik Kaur Kang – “Sanction of revised Family Pension with arrears of Rs. 2.6 lakh under OROP to spouse after 1.5 years”:
Ms. Amrik Kaur Kang, w/o Late Col. Jasvir Kang was not getting revised family pension as per the PCDA circular no. 666 dated 20.01.2023. She resides in Jalandhar, Punjab. For the revision of the family pension, she registered her grievance on CPENGRAMS Portal on 14.05.2024. The case was included as a part of the Special campaign and was constantly monitored. The grievance has been successfully redressed with the arrear payment of around Rs. 2.6 lakh.
10. Grievance of Ms. Jaya Lakshmi- “Resumption of stopped Family pension of spouse”:
Ms. Jaya Lakshmi, a resident of Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, lost her husband in April, 2021. Thereafter, she was sanctioned family pension and it continued till April, 2024. However, due to certain reasons, her family pension was stopped in May, 2024. For this, she registered a grievance on CPENGRAMS portal on 14.06.2024. Her case was selected under Special Campaign and it was regularly monitored. This has resulted in expeditious redressal of her grievance with the resumption of family pension.
