Rate of Interest for purchase of Computer during 2024-25 – Advances to Government Servants – FinMin O.M
F.No. 5(2)-B(PD)/2024 Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division)
North block, New-Delhi Dated the 10th June, 2024
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Advances to Government Servants – Rate of interest for purchase of Computer during 2024-25.
The undersigned is directed to state that the rate of interest for advance sanctioned to the Government servants for purchase of computer during 2024-25 i.e. from 1st April, 2024 to 31st March, 2025 is as under:
Rate of interest per annum
Advance for purchase of Computer
9.10%
Sd/- (Harish Rajpal) Under Secretary (Budget)
To 1) All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India with spare copies for Integrated Finance Division (IFD), Controller of Accounts and Pay and Accounts Offices.
2) Finance Secretaries of UTs without legislature.
(TO BE PUBLISHED IN PART I SECTION 1 OF GAZETTE OF INDIA) F.NO. 5(3)-B(PD)/2023 Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division)
New Delhi, the 10 June, 2024
RESOLUTION
It is announced for general information that during the year 2024-2025, accumulations at the credit of subscribers to the General Provident Fund and other similar funds shall carry interest at the rate of 7.1% (Seven point one percent) w.e.f. 1st April, 2024 to 30th June, 2024.
This rate will be in force w.e.f. 1st April, 2024. The funds concerned are:
The General Provident Fund (Central Services).
The Contributory Provident Fund (India).
The All India Services Provident Fund.
The State Railway Provident Fund.
The General Provident Fund (Defence Services).
The Indian Ordnance Department Provident Fund.
The Indian Ordnance Factories Workmen’s Provident Fund.
The Indian Naval Dockyard Workmen’s Provident Fund.
Copy forwarded to all Ministries/Departments of Government of India, President’s Secretariat, Vice-President’s Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, Union Public Service Commission, Supreme Court, Election Commission and NITI Aayog.
Copy also forwarded to :—
1. Comptroller & Auditor General of India and all offices under his control. 2. Chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. 3. Controller General of Accounts (10 copies). 4. Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pension (Pension Unit/All India Services Division). 5. Financial Adviser of Ministries/Departments (6 copies). 6. Chief Controller of Accounts/Controller of Accounts of Ministries/Departments. 7. Controller General of Defence Accounts. 8. Finance Secretary of all State Governments and Union Territories. vo 9. Secretary to Governors/Lt. Governors of all States/Union Territories. 10. Secretary Staff Side, National Council of JCM. 11. All Members, Staff Side, National Council of JCM. 12. NIC – For uploading on webhost.
DA for Bank Employees from May 2024 to July 2024 – IBA ORDER
Indian Banks’ Association
HR & Industrial Relations
No.CIRJHR&IR/76/D/2024-25/1152
June 10, 2024
All Members of the Association (Designated Officers)
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Dearness Allowance for Workmen and Officer Employees in banks for the months of May, June and July 2024 under XII BPS/ Joint Note dated 08.03.2024
The confirmed All India Average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (Base 2016= 100) for the quarter ended March 2024 are as follows:-
January 2024
138.9
February 2024
139.2
March 2024
138.9
The average CPI of the above is 139 and accordingly the number of points over 123.03 are 15.97 (139- 123.03) The last average quarterly CPI was 138.76. Hence, there is an increase of 0.24 points for May. June & July 2024.
In terms of clause 13 of the 12111 Bipartite Settlement dated 08.03.2024 and clause 2 (i) of the Joint Note dated 08.03.2024, the rate of Dearness Allowance payable to Workmen and Officer employees for the months of May, June & July 2024 shall be 15.97 % of ‘pay’ (0.01 % change in DA on ‘pay’ for change in every second decimal place of CPI 2016 over 123.03 points)
Revised Rates of allowances upon Dearness Allowance being raised by 50%: RBE No. 51/2024
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR) MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA) (RAILWAY BOARD)
RBE No. 51/2024 New Delhi, Dated: 05.06.2024
No. F(E)l/2024/AL-28/34
The General Managers/Principal Financial Advisers, All Zonal Railways & Production Units etc, DGs of RDSO and NAIR.
Sub: Revised Rates of various Allowances upon Dearness Allowance being raised to 50%.
Ref: Board’s letter No. PC-VII/2016/117/2/l(RBE No. 26/2024) dated 15.03.2024.
Vide Board ‘s letter referred above, the rate of Dearness Allowance was raised to 50%. Consequently, multiple references have been received regarding revision in the rates of various allowances whose rates were slated to be revised upon DA reaching 50%.
2. In view of the same, a list of such allowances whose rates shall be revised with DA reaching 50%, along with the revised rates is enclosed as Annexure-I.
3.The revised rates of these allowances shall be applicable with effect from 1st January, 2024.
Hindi version will follow.
(Sanjay Prashar) Jt Director Finance (Estt.)
Annexure-I
No. F(E)l/2024/AL-28/34
REVISED RATES OF VARIOUS ALLOWANCES UPON DEARNESS ALLOWANCE BEING RAISED TO 50%
(i) Conveyance Allowance: In partial modification to Board’s letter No. F(E)I/2017/AL-4/3, dated 10.08.2017 (RBE No. 89/2017) & dated 11.01.2024 (RBE No. 04/2024), the revised rates will be as following:-
Average Monthly Travel on Official Duty
For Journey by Own Motor Car
For Journeys by other Modes of Conveyance
Existing rates (in Rs.)
Revised rates (in Rs.)
Existing rates (in Rs.)
Revised rates (in Rs.)
201-300 km
1680
2100
556
695
301-450 km
2520
3150
720
900
451-600 km
3105
3881
960
1200
601-800 km
3646
4558
1126
1408
>800 km
4500
5625
1276
1595
(ii) Conveyance Allowance to Railway Medical Officers: ln partial modification to Board’s letter No F(E)l/2020/AL-7/1, dated 10.01.2022 (RBE No. 03/2022), the revised rates will be as following:-
Sl. No.
Mode of Conveyance
Maximum Rates (in Rs. p.m.)
Minimum Rates (in Rs. p.m.)
Existing rates
Revised rates
Existing rates
Revised rates
(i)
For those who maintain their own Motor Car
7150
8938
350
438
(ii)
For those who maintain Scooter/ Motor Cycle
2350
2938
175
219
(iii)
For those who do not maintain either Car or Motor Cycle/ Scooter
1950
2438
130
163
(iii) Daily Allowance: In partial modification to Board’s letter No. F(E)l/2017/AL-28/40, dated 08.08.2017 (RBE No. 84/2017), the revised rates will be as following:-
7th CPC Level
Entitlement (in Rs.)
Existing rates
Revised rates
14 and above
1200
1500
12 and 13
1000
1250
9 to 11
900
1125
6 to 8
800
1000
5 and below
500
625
(iv) Special Compensatory Allowances (Subsumed in Tough Location Allowance): In partial modification to Board’s letter No.F(E)l/2017/AL-4/5, dated 11.08.2017 (RBE No. 91/2017), the revised rates will be as following:
S.No
Name of the Allowance
Category
Cell Name
Pay Level in Pay Matrix
Existing Rate per month (in Rs.)
Revised Rate per month (in Rs.)
(I)
Special Compensatory (Remote Locality) Allowance:(I) Special Compensatory (Remote Locality) Allowance places covered under Part-A & B (Annexure I & II)
Tough Location Allowance-I
R3HI
Level 9 and above
5300
6625
Level 8 and below
4100
5125
(II) Special Compensatory (Remote Locality) Allowance places covered under part -C (Annexure III)
Tough Location Allowance-II
R3H2
Level 9 and above
3400
4250
Level 8 and below
2700
3375
(III) Special Compensatory (Remote Locality) Allowance places covered under part -D (Annexure IV)
Tough Location Allowance-III
R3H3
Level 9 and above
1200
1500
Level 8 and below
1000
1250
(II)
Bad Climate Allowance
Tough Location Allowance-III
R3H3
Level 9 and above
1200
1500
Level 8 and below
1000
1250
(III)
Tribal Area Allowance
Tough Location Allowance-III
R3H3
Level 9 and above
1200
1500
Level 8 and below
1000
1250
(IV)
Sunderban Allowance
Tough Location Allowance-III
R3H3
Level 9 and above
1200
1500
Level 8 and below
1000
1250
(v) Mileage Allowance for journeys by road: In partial modification to Board ‘s letter No. F(E)l/201 7IAL-28/41 , dated 24.08.2017 (RBE No. 103/2017), the revised rates of Mileage Allowance at places where no specific rates have been prescribed either by the Directorate of Transport of the concerned State or of the neighboring States, will be as following:-
Existing rates
Revised rates
For journeys performed in own car/ taxi
Rs 24/- per Km
Rs 30/- per km
For journeys performed by auto-rickshaw, own scooter, etc
Rs 12/- per Km
Rs 15/- per km
(vi) Transportation of Personal effects on Transfer/Retirement: In partial modification to Board ‘s letter No. F(E)l/2017/AL-28/4 l , dated 24.08.2017 (RBE No. 103/2017), the revised rates will be as following:-
Guidelines to regulate transfer under Rule–38 of Group ‘C’ officials, Group ‘B’ (Non-gazetted) employees in Department of Posts
No.X-12/6/2021-SPN-II-DOP Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi, dated 06-06-2024
To All Chief Postmasters General.
Subject: – Guidelines to regulate transfer under Rule–38 of Group ‘C’ officials, Group ‘B’ (Non-gazetted) employees in Department of Posts – reg.
Madam/Sir,
I am directed to refer to letter of even no. dated 03.02.2023 on the above-mentioned subject and to bring attention to following provisions / paras of this communication: –
Para A (xii): An official will be eligible for two Inter-Circle and two Intra-Circle transfer during entire service. However, a gap of 3 years shall be mandatory for availing same category of transfer for the second time, but no such gap will be required in case of applying for different category transfer.
Para A(xv): Employee can withdraw the request on online portal at any time and they have also been provided with opportunity to decline provisionally approved transfer on online portal within 72 hours of such allotment. However, after expiry of 72 hours timeline and issue of final transfer order, if an employee wish to cancel his approved transfer, he may do so and in such case, employee will deemed to have availed one chance of transfer.
2. In this regard, various references have been received from Postal Circles seeking clarification w.r.t officials who have declined approved transfer after expiry of 72 hours.
3. The matter has been examined and Competent Authority has decided that if an employee declines his approved transfer after expiry of 72 hours timeline and issue of final transfer order, only one chance of Rule–38 transfer shall be deducted and employee can apply for the same category of transfer without any time bar.
4. Accordingly, a gap of 3 years shall not be required for availing same category of transfer if an employee declines his approved transfer after expiry of 72 hours timeline and issue of final transfer order. However, one chance of Rule–38 transfer shall be deducted.
Revised Rates of various allowances upon Dearness Allowance being raised by 50% : Railway Board
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS RAILWAY BOARD
File No. PC-VII/2024/1/7/5/5
New Delhi, date: 04.06.2024
The General Manager/CAOs(R), All India Railways & Production Units, (As per mailing list)
Sub: – Revised Rates of various allowances upon Dearness Allowance being raised by 50%
Ref: Board’s letter bearing RBE No. 26/2024 dated 15.03.2024
Vide Board’s letter under reference, the rates of Dearness Allowance were raised to 50%. Consequently, multiple references have been received from the Staff Federations regarding revision in the rates of various allowances whose rates were slated to be revised upon DA reaching 50%.
2. In view of the same, a list of such allowances whose rates shall be revised with DA reaching 50%, along with the revised rates is enclosed at Annexure-I.
3. The revised rates of these allowances shall be applicable with effect from 1st January, 2024.
4. Clarifications, in any, will be handled by the concerned Dtes handling with such allowances.
4. This issues with the concurrence of the concerned Directorates of Railway Board.
Restriction on Payment of Arrears in Service Increment Cases – Notional Increments and 3 Year Limit: Railway Board
MOST IMMEDIATE COURT CASE MATTER
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAILWAY BOARD)
No. PC-VI/2023/Misc./03-Part(2)
New Delhi, dated: 20.05.2024
The General Managers/ Principal Financial Advisors, All Zonal Railways & Production Units (as per the standard mailing list)
Sub: Grant of notional increment (as due on 1st July/1st January) for the pensionary benefits to those employees who had retired on 30th of June before drawing the same – Clarification reg.
Attention is invited to Board’s letter dated 09.02.2024 whereby it was advised to implement the orders pronounced by various courts of law granting the benefit of notional increment in letter & spirit strictly on personam basis, only in those cases where a contempt petition has been filed by the petitioner subject to any administrative directions received from DOP&T and fulfillment of the condition that the petitioner(s) had completed 12 months of service on the date of retirement on superannuation since the date of accrual of last annual increment.
2. Subsequently, it has come to the notice of this Ministry that Hon’ble Courts/Tribunals are dismissing the new/fresh cases filed by granting the benefit of notional increment to the applicants restricting the payment of arrears to only three (03) years preceding the date of filing of the case instead of payment of entire arrears w.e.f the date of applicability of the notional increment. This principle has been adopted by various Courts/Tribunals relying upon the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in its judgment dated 13.08.2008 passed in Civil Appeal No. 5151-5152 of 2008 titled as Union of India & Ors Vs Tarsem Singh wherein the Hon’ble Court has dealt with the issue of delay and latches / limitation while conferring the relief (copy enclosed).
3. In view of the above, it has been decided that henceforth while implementing the orders pronounced by various Courts/ Tribunals on ‘personam’ basis only in contempt cases, payment of arrears would be restricted only to 3 years preceding the date of filing of the case. These instructions would be applicable with immediate effect and strict compliance thereof should be ensured. Past cases already decided shall not be reopened.
4. It is reiterated that the aforesaid benefit of notional increment shall only be restricted to contempt cases. As regards to other cases/ similarly situated pensioners, necessary instructions would be issued separately on receipt of general policy guidelines/clarification from DOP&T.
Use of Facial Authentication Technology by the EPS pensioners for Digital Life Certificate Submission
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has more than 78 Lakh pensioners, who are required to submit Life certificate every year for continuation of the pension being paid to them. Earlier they had to go to banks to submit physical life certificate which had its challenges resulting into some grievances.
To enhance ‘Ease of Living’, EPFO adopted Digital Life Certificate (DLC) for its pensioners in 2015. EPFO accepts DLCs based on biometric authentication from the EPS pensioners. The submission of a biometric based DLC requires a pensioner to physically visit a branch of any bank, post office, Common Service Centre or an EPFO office as the fingerprint/ iris capture devices are available there.
To minimize difficulties among elderly on account of having to physically visit a bank/ post office etc. the MeitY and UIDAI developed the Face Authentication Technology (FAT) whereby face recognition technology can be used for proof of life certificate. EPFO adopted this technology in July, 2022. This introduced a completely new method of submitting DLCs by the pensioners from their homes making the process more accessible and affordable for the pensioners. They could simply use any Android based smartphone to complete the process thus avoiding hassles of travelling to banks, post offices etc in old age.
This method allows the identification of a pensioner by a facial scan using a smartphone camera from the convenience of their homes. This authentication is carried out against UIDAI’s Aadhaar database using UIDAI’s Face Recognition App.
Since its launch at EPFO, Facial Authentication Technology based DLCs have been submitted by 2.1 lakh pensioners in 2022-23, that rose to 6.6 lakh in 2023-24 which reflects a growth of 200% year-on-year in the use of this technology. It is also noteworthy that the 6.6 lakh FAT based DLCs in 2023-24 comprise almost 10% of the total DLCs received during the year. Taken together around 60 Lakh DLCs were received from the pensioners during the last financial year.
The use of facial authentication method requires installation of two applications, viz. “Aadhaar Face RD” and the “Jeevan Pramaan” in their smartphones. The operator authentication for these applications are carried out through Aadhaar linked mobiles numbers. Detailed guidelines are provided in the Apps to ensure a successful face scan. Once the scan is completed, the DLC submission is confirmed on the mobile screen along with the Jeevan Pramaan ID and PPO number, completing the process conveniently from home.
The use of this innovative and convenient technology for the purpose of EPS pensioners’ DLC was embedded in EPFOs software in July, 2022. Detailed instructions were issued to all the field offices to ensure that the new method is made popular among more and more pensioners. The process is regularly explained to the pensioners not only in the field offices but also during Nidhi Apke Nikat programme being held in all districts throughout India since January, 2023. A detailed video on using this technology is available on official YouTube handle of EPFO @SOCIALEPFO.
EPFO is confident that the convenience of this method will bring ease of living for more and more pensioners.
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (2016=100) – February, March & April, 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 indices for the months of February, 2024, March, 2024 and April, 2024 are being released in this press release.
The All-India CPI-IW for February, 2024 increased by 0.3 point and stood at 139.2 (one hundred thirty nine point two). The All-India CPI-IW for March, 2024 decreased by 0.3 point and stood at 138.9 (one hundred thirty eight point nine). The All-India CPI-IW for April, 2024 increased by 0.5 point and stood at 139.4 (one hundred thirty nine point four).
Year-on-year inflation for the month of February, 2024 stood at 4.90% as compared to 6.16% in February, 2023. Year-on-year inflation for the month of March, 2024 stood at 4.20% as compared to 5.79% in March, 2023. Year-on-year inflation for the month of April, 2024 stood at 3.87% as compared to 5.09% in April, 2023.
Y-o-Y Inflation based on CPI-IW (General)
All-India Group-wise CPI-IW for February, 2024, March, 2024 and April, 2024:
EPFO Launches New Software Facility for PF Members to update their details online
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization is one of the World’s largest Social Security Organizations in terms of the clientele and the volume of financial transactions undertaken. Presently, around 7.5 Crore members are actively contributing to the Provident Fund, Pension & Insurance Schemes each month.
In the first 2 months of this Financial Year alone around 87 lakh claims had been settled in the form of social security benefits like advances for housing, post matriculate education of children, marriage, illness, final Provident Fund settlements, pension, insurance etc.
The member claim these benefits online which has been made possible through a robust computer software application, which validates the data of the member in the Universal Account Number (UAN).
Therefore, the consistency of the data of the member in the records of the EPFO is of paramount importance to ensure that the services are provided online seamlessly and to the correct member duly avoiding any risk of erroneous payments or frauds.
The integrity of the data in the Member Profile is thus being ensured by a Standard Operating Process (SOP) issued by the EPFO on 22nd August, 2023. It has now been operationalized by EPFO in a digital online mode. The members may request for change/rectification in the Member Data like Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Parent Name, Marital Status, Nationality, Aadhaar, etc online and upload the relevant prescribed documents.
All such requests get routed to the PF offices across the country through the respective employers. Members have started filing their requests using this new facility out of which around 40,000 are already approved by the field offices of EPFO. The requests land at the employers’ end, who after verification recommend it for approval. They have received around 2.75 lakh such requests till now.
A proper KYC and matching member profile facilitates EPFO in providing instant services like auto settlement of advances, auto transfer of PF account, e-nomination etc. to the member without the need for any physical visits to any office.
