The upper age limit as on 01.08.2018 for Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2018 is 32 years. This upper-age limit is relaxable for reserved category candidates.
As per the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T) on crucial date for determining age limits for competitive examination conducted in parts by the UPSC/SSC vide OM No. AB.14017/70/87-Estt.(RR) dated 14th JULY, 1988, the cutoff date for Civil Services Examination is decided.
The rule is equally applicable to all the candidates. Therefore the question of being unfair to some does not arise.
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 Rajya Sabha today.
Performance review for Central Government Employees
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2436
ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018
Review of Work Performance
VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK
SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH
HARISH CHANDRA MEENA
HARISH CHANDRA MEENA
Will the Minister of
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct the performance review of Central Government officers;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of complaints received by the Government against the Government officers of various departments/Ministries for under performance and delay in work;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to identify such dull officers and the action taken/proposed to be taken against such officers;
(d) whether the Government has decided to evaluate the performance of IAS officers at the higher level on the basis of their approach towards weaker sections of the society and the draft appraisal forms in this regard have been finalised and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether a letter has been written to Chief Secretaries of States and UT Governments in this regard and if so, the details thereof and the timeframe fixed for implementing the procedure of appraisal?
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) to (c): Review of performance of Government servants is an ongoing process under Fundamental Rule 56(j) and Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, which provide that the performance of a Government servant on attaining a specified age or qualifying years of service is to be reviewed and he/she can be retired in public interest.The instructions on the procedure to be adopted and various aspects to be kept in view while conducting periodical review under provisions of the said rules have been issued from time to time.
As per available information provided by cadre controlling authorities, performance of a total of 25,082 Group ‘A’ and 54,873 Group ‘B’ officers has been reviewed up to May 2018; and provisions of Fundamental Rule 56 (j)/ relevant rules were invoked/ recommended against 93 Group ‘A’ and 132 Group ‘B’ officers out of these.
(d) and (e): Confidential Rolls (CRs) / Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) of IAS officers are written for each financial year or as may be specified by the Government in the form and as per the schedule prescribed in the All India Services (Performance Appraisal Report) Rules, 2007.The appraisal form of IAS officers, inter alia, provides for comments on the overall quality of officers including areas of strength and his attitude towards weaker sections.
Discontinue Overtime Allowance (OTA) for categories other than operational staff and industrial employee
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2339
ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018
Discontinuation of OTA
NAGARAJAN P.
CH. MALLA REDDY
Will the Minister of
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has decided to discontinue Overtime Allowance (OTA) for categories other than operational staff and industrial employees;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the grant of OTA proposed to be linked with the biometric attendance and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has also decided not to revise the rate of OTA for the operational staff and they would continue to get the amount as per its order issued in 1991; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?
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) to (e) : Yes Madam, in pursuance of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission and given the rise in the pay over the years, the Government has decided to discontinue Overtime Allowance (OTA) for categories other than operational staff and industrial employees who are governed by the statutory provisions. Each Ministry/Department is mandated to prepare the list of “operational staff” in accordance with a common definition as incorporated in the Office Memorandum dated 19.6.2018 (copy enclosed as Annexure). The rate of OTA has not been revised and payment of the same has been linked to biometric attendance.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1652
ANSWERED ON: 27.07.2018
Pay Commission Reports
RAJENDRA AGRAWAL
Will the Minister of
FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the reports of successive Pay Commissions have been increasing the burden on Government finances/exchequer in partially accepting their recommendations for increase in wages and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the last Pay Commission has suggested productivity linked pay hike to the deserving employees to eliminate below average or mediocre performance and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether such periodic hikes in wages resulting from Pay Commission recommendations trigger similar demands from the State Government/public utility employees, imposing burden on already strained State finances and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government is considering an alternative for increasing the salaries and allowances of Central Government employees and pensioners in future instead of forming Pay Commission and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) The financial impact of the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission, as accepted by the Government, is normally pronounced in the initial year and gradually it tapers off as the growth in the economy picks up and fiscal space is widened. While implementing the recommendations of the last Central Pay Commission, i.e., the Seventh Central Pay Commission, the Government staggered its implementation in two financial years. While the recommendations on pay and pension were implemented with effect from 01.01.2016, the recommendations in respect of allowances after an examination by a Committee have been implemented with effect from 01.07.2017. This has moderated the financial impact of the recommendations. Moreover, unlike the previous 6th Pay Commission, which entailed substantial impact on account of arrears, the impact in the year 2016-17 on account of element of arrears of revised pay and pension on the present occasion of the 7th Central Pay Commission pertained to only 2 months of the previous financial year of 2015-16.
(b) The Seventh Central Pay Commission in Para 5.1.46 of its Report proposed withholding of annual increment in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the benchmark either for Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) or regular promotion within the first 20 years of their service.
(c) The service conditions of employees of State Governments fall within the exclusive domain of the respective State Governments who are federally independent of the Central Government. Therefore, the concerned State Governments have to independently take a view in the matter.
(d) No such proposal is under consideration of the Government.
Cooling off period of one year for re-employment of retired Government officials [Loksabha QA]
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2318
ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018
Re-Employment of Retired Government Officers
(SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG)
KAMLESH PASWAN
Will the Minister of
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that as per the rules regarding re-employment of retired Government officials, there is a cooling off period of one year;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any check is being made regarding its implementation by all the Ministries especially by the Indian Armed Forces; and
(d) the action being taken by the department to cancel such appointments by private sector companies which are employing retired Government officials immediately after retirement?
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): There is no provision of cooling off period of one year for re-employment of retired Government officials.
(b) & (c): In view of reply to part (a), question does not arise.
(d): As per rules, if, a pensioner who, immediately before his retirement was a Group ‘A’ officer (including officers belonging to All India Services), wishes to accept any commercial employment before the expiry of one year from the date of his retirement, he shall obtain the previous sanction of the Government to such acceptance by submitting an application in the prescribed form. The rules also provide that if such a pensioner takes up any commercial employment at any time before the expiry of one year from the date of his retirement without prior permission of the Government, it shall be competent for the Government to declare that he shall not be entitled to the whole or such part of the pension and for such period as may be specified.
LTC to visit any place in JK, NER and Andaman and Nicobar Islands against the conversion of their one home town LTC
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2395
ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018
LTC to Employees
KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH
SUDHEER GUPTA
T. RADHAKRISHNAN
GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR
VIJAY KUMAR S.R.
S. RAJENDRAN
BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO
Will the Minister of PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East Region and Andaman and Nicobar Islands against the conversion of their one home town LTC;
(b) if so, the period for which the said facility will be available;
(c) whether the Government proposes to extend the said facilities after expiry of the completion of said period to boost tourism in such States;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the same; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expand such facilities to their employees in other States?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b) : Yes Madam. All eligible Central Government employees can avail LTC to visit any place in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East Region and Andaman and Nicobar Islands against the conversion of their one home town LTC. The currency period of the said scheme is up to 25th September, 2018.
(c) to (e) : The proposal to extend the present scheme of Home Town LTC conversion to visit any place in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East Region and Andaman and Nicobar Islands is under active consideration of the Government.
There is no proposal to extend such facilities for visit to any other State.
Date of next increment – Promoted or Granted financial upgradation including upgradation under the MACP scheme
F.No.4-21/2017-IC/E.III(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi
Dated 31st July,2018
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Date of next increment- Rule 10 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2016
The undersigned is directed to invite attention to Rule 10 of CCS (RP) Rules 2016 which provides, inter alia, that there shall be two dates for increment namely 1st January and 1st July of every year, instead of the provision of one date of increment on the 1st July during the 6th Pay Commission pay structure. The Rule further provides that an employee shall be entitled to only one annual increment either on 1st January or 1st July depending on the date of appointment, promotion or grant of financial upgradation. The Sub-Rule (2) thereof provides that increment in respect of an employee appointed or promoted or granted financial upgradation including upgradation under MACP during the period between the 2nd day of January and 1st day of July (both inclusive) shall be granted on 1st day of January and the increment in respect of an employee appointed or promoted or granted financial upgradation including upgradation under MACP during the period between 2nd day of July and 1st day of January (both inclusive) shall be granted on 1st day of July.
2. The proviso to Sub-Rule 2 of Rule 10 of CCS (PR) Rules, 2016 provides that the next increment after drawal of increment on 1st day of July 2016 shall accrue as on 1st day of July 2017.
3. A number of references has been received in the Ministry of Finance seeking clarification whether, in case of an employee promoted on 1st July 2016, whose pay was fixed on 01/07/2016 in terms of the rules governing fixation of pay on promotion, the next increment may be allowed on 1st January 2017 or on 1st July 2017.
4. The matter has been considered. During the regime of pay structure obtaining immediately prior to 01/01/2016, when the annual increment was admissible uniformly on 1st July every year, the increment was admissible on 1st July, provided the condition of 6 months’ service was fulfilled. Thereafter, the next increment used to be given after a period of 12 months.
5. Accordingly, keeping in view the principle followed during the period before 1.1.2016 immediately prior to coming into force of the CCS(RP) Rules,2016 which has been modified in the revised pay structure in terms of Rule 10 thereof by way of 2 dates of increment on 1st January and 1st July, it is clarified that in case an employee is promoted or granted financial upgradation including upgradation under the MACP scheme on 1st January or 1st July, where the pay is fixed in the Level applicable to the post on which promotion is made in accordance with the Rule 13 of the CCS(RP) Rules,2016, the first increment in the Level applicable to the post on which promotion is made shall accrue on the following 1st July or 1st January, as the case may be, provided a period of 6 months qualifying service is strictly fulfilled. The next increment thereafter shall, however, accrue only after completion of one year.
6. This order is issued in consultation with the office of C&AG in its application to employees working in Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
7. Hindi version of this order is also attached.
S/d,
(Ram Gopal)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Regarding Night Duty Allowance (NDA) — recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission
No.I/5(E)
Dated: 30/07/2018
The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
Sub: Revision of the rates of Night Duty Allowance (NDA) — recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission-reg.
Ref: Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2017/HW-1 dated 08/03/2018 (RBE No.36/2018).
Kind attention of Railway Board is invited to the instructions issued vide letter dated 08/03/2018 (RBE No. 36/2018) wherein hourly rato3f Night Duty Allowance have been revised as follows pursuant to implementation of the recommendations of 7th CPC:-
The hourly rate of NDA shall be equal to (Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance/2000) to eligible categories of non-Gazetted Railway Staff with proviso that the rate should be worked out separately for each employee who work during the period from 22 hours to 06 hours and weight age of 10 minutes for every hour of duty performed between the above hours.
2. In this connection, Federation desires to bring to the notice of Railway Board that pursuant to the implementation of 6th CPC recommendations, the rates of Night Duty Allowance in respect of Railway employees classified as ‘Continuous’, ‘Intensive’, ‘Excluded’ and ‘Essentially Intermittent’ given effect from 01/09/2008 vide Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2008/HW-2 dated 16/12/2008 (RBE No.199/2008) have been revised from time to time, while the last revision was made vide letter No. E(P&A)II-2016/HW-1 09/06/2016 (RBE No. 61/2016). The revised rates made effective w.e.f. 01/01/2016 have been contained in Annexures ‘A’ & w `B’ of RBE No. 61/2016. These rates for Night Duty Allowance were fixed on the pay drawn by the employee in the respective Pay Band.
3. With the issuance of Board’s instructions dated 08/03/2018 consequent upon implementation of the recommendation of 7th CPC, it has been found that the Night Duty Allowance to the staff working in lower pay levels got reduced in comparison with the NDA received by them as per the 6th CPC pay. Federation cites following examples for appreciation:-
Mr. A is drawing Pay at the rate of Rs. 42300 in 7th CPC Pay Level-6 as on 01/07/2017. His Night Duty Allowance comes to Rs. 222 (if DA is taken at the rate of 5%).
Similarly, Mr.B whose pay in Level-6 as on 01-07-2017 is Rs.43600, he gets Night Duty Allowance @ Rs.299, and Mr.C whose pay as on 01-07-2017 in Level-7 is Rs.50,500, he gets NDA Rs.265.
The amount of NDA now being paid to the staff as illustrations cited above, is far less than the NDA which they were receiving on 6th CPC pay i.e 274.70 (for staff in GP 4200/Level-6) and Rs.278.90 for those in (GP 4600/Level-7). Federation however does not agree for reduction of Night Duty Allowance already allowed to staff in various levels, Federation is also of the view that the Railway Board could have atleast maintained at the old rates of Night Duty Allowance in respect of staff whose rates of NDA get lowered by adopting the 7th CPF formula. The orders issued by the Railway Board are therefore unjustified besides causing financial loss to the staff of various pay levels of Group C and needed to be rectified.
NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to review its decision and issue revised instructions duly allowing the rates of Night Duty Allowance already drawn as a result of sanction given pursuant to implementation of 6th CPC Pay Band. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.
Thirty percent add on pay element to the retired/retiring Loco Inspectors for granting pensionary benefits
No. IV/RSAC/Conf/Pt. IX
Dated: 30/07/2018
The Secretary (E), Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
Sub: Thirty percent (30%) add on pay element to the retired/retiring Loco Inspectors for granting pensionary benefits-reg.
Ref: (i) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2015/RS-25 dated 24/05/2017.
(ii) NFIR’s letter No. IV/RSAC/Conf/Part VII dated 28/03/2017 & 07/06/2017.
(iii) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2015/RS-25 dated 26/07/2017 to GS/NFIR.
(iv) NFIR’s letter No. IV/RSAC/Conf./Pt. VIII dated 27/07/2017, 29/08/2017, 15/09/2017 & 19/09/2017.
***********
Federation invites kind attention of the Railway Board to its letters cited under reference and Railway Board’s letter dated 26/07/2017 to NFIR wherein Board wanted to have specific instance where any Zonal Railway has denied 30% pay element for calculation of emoluments for pensionary benefits of any Loco Inspector for taking further necessary action. Responding to Board’ s letter, Federation cited the cases of South Central Railway, South Eastern Railway, East Central Railway and Metro Railway, Kolkata where the Zonal Railways have not taken 30% pay element of 7fil CPC pay in respect of retired/retiring Loco Inspectors for the purpose of granting retirement benefits on the pretext that Railway Board’s instructions are yet to be received. Federation is disappointed to note that through a period of nearly ten months has passed, clarificatory instructions have not yet been issued by the Railway Board.
Further to above, NFIR desires to state that on East Coast Railway, 11 Senior LIs of Khurda Road Division have also been denied the 30% add on to the pay for pensionary benefits.
A specific case of Shri Hari Sarvothama Rao, CLI/Dsl/HQ/SCR retired from service during year 1997 is also cited. At the time of retirement, his Basic Pay was Rs. 11,500 which is equivalent to Rs. 68,000 according to notional pay. Now after adding 30% pay element, the pay comes to Rs. 88,400/2 (pension should be Rs. 44200). But his present pension is Rs. 42,900 which is less by Rs. 1300 per month. This incident reveals that pension revision is not being done correctly in the case of retired Loco Inspectors.
NFIR, therefore, once again requests the Railway Board to issue suitable instructions to the Zonal
Railways and also to the concerned authority handling the pension portal ARPAN for updating the data issue revised PPOs accordingly to the Loco Inspectors who have been retired prior to 01/01/2016 and after 01/01/2016. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
