Agreements with Banks for easy deposit & withdrawals of EPF Contributions
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has tied up/entered into agreement with ten banks to collect EPFO dues and to make payments of Provident Fund (PF) withdrawals, pension and insurance to EPFO beneficiaries. These banks are State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank, Allahabad Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank.
The main objective of the multi banking arrangement is to provide more options to the employers to remit the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contribution directly from their bank accounts. This will not only make the transactions cost effective but also ensure real time transfer of funds through net banking.
This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, today.
In implementation of Government’s decision on the recommendation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC), orders have been issued vide Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare O.M. No. 38/37/16-P&PW(A) (i) dated 04.08.2016 for revision of provisions regulating pension/gratuity/ commutation of pension/family pension/disability pension/ex-gratia lump-sum compensation, etc. in respect of the employees retiring on or after 01.01.2016.For revision of pension of pre-2016 civil pensioners, the 7th CPC recommended the following two formulations:
(i) Notional Pay of employees who retired prior to 01.01.2016 may be fixed in the Pay Matrix on the basis of the Pay Band and Grade Pay at which they retired, by adding the number of increments he/ she had earned in that level while in service, to the minimum of the corresponding level in the matrix. Fifty percent of the total amount so arrived at shall be the revised pension.
(ii) The pension, as had been fixed at the time of implementation of the 6th CPC recommendations, may be multiplied by 2.57 to arrive at an alternate value for the revised pension.
7th CPC recommended that the pensioners may be given the option of choosing the formulation which is more beneficial to them. Orders were issued for revision of pension as per Formulation (ii) above vide Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare O.M. No. 38/37/16-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 and the pension disbursing authorities were advised to make payment of revised pension accordingly without waiting for the revised pension payment authority. A Committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare was constituted to examine the feasibility of Formulation (i). The Committee observed that Formulation (i) as recommended by the 7th CPC might be difficult to implement in a large number of cases and this method may also cause anomalies.
In implementation of the recommendations of the aforesaid Committee, orders have been issued vide Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare O.M. No. 38/37/16-P&PW(A) dated 12.05.2017. It has been provided that the revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016 in respect of all Central civil pensioners/family pensioners may be revised by notionally fixing their pay in the pay matrix recommended by the 7th CPC in the level corresponding to the pay in the pay scale/pay band and grade pay at which they retired/died by notional pay fixation under each intervening Pay Commission based on the Formula for revision of pay. 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 shall be the revised pension and 30% of this notional pay shall be the revised family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2016. Higher of the two Formulations i.e. the pension/family pension already revised in accordance with this Department’s OM dated 04.08.2016 or the revised pension/family pension as worked out by notional pay fixation method, shall be the revised pension/family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016.
There were around 55.51 lakh pensioners/family pensioners (including defence pensioners/family pensioners) as on 31.03.2016. All Pension Sanctioning Authorities have been advised to accord top priority to the work of revision of pension and issue revised Pension Payment Authority in implementation of the above orders expeditiously.
There is no proposal for creation of any other organisation for pension related issues.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question by Adv. Narendra Keshav Sawaikar and Shri P. Nagarajan in the Lok Sabha today.
Premature Closure of Public Provident Fund (PPF) account – DOP
SB Order No. 07/2017
F.No 32-01/2016-SB(Pt.)
Govt. of India
Ministry of Communication
Department of Posts
(F.S. Division)
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
Dated: 24.07.2017
To,
All Head of Circles/Regions
Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi
Subject : Premature Closure of Public Provident Fund (PPF) account- clarifications.
Sir/Madam,
The undersigned is directed to say that vide memorandum dated June 18, 2016 and subsequent corrigendum issued vide notification dated June 27, 2016, Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division) and SB Order No.11/2016 dated 04.11.2016 has permitted premature closure of a PPF account after completion of five year On specified grounds. However, such premature closure of a PPF account is subject to the condition that the interest payable on a prematurely closed PPF account shall be at a rate which shall be lower by one percentage points that the rate applicable to the PPF scheme from time to time.
2. Ministry of Finance (DEA) (Budget Division) has been receiving reference from banks seeking clarification of the following points:
(1) Whether the requirement of payment of a fee of Rs. 50 for each year of default along with arrear subscription of Rs. 500 for each year for regularizing discontinued account prescribed in para 7(2) of the PPF Scheme, 1968 shall be applicable for premature closing a discontinued PPF account; and
(2) Whether the reduction of one percentage point in interest rate on premature closure of a PPF account which has completed 15 years and has been extended under para 9(3A) of the PPF scheme, shall be applicable from the date of extension of the account or from the date of initial opening of the account.
3. The matter has been examined by Ministry of Finance (DEA) (Budget Division) and the points are clarified as under vide memorandum F. No.3/2/2014-NS dated 07.07.2017:-
(i) The requirement of payment of a fee of Rs. 50 for each year of default along with arrear subscription of Rs. 500 for each year. Prescribed under para 7(2) of the PPF Scheme is for regularizing a discontinued account and is not applicable for the purpose of closing the account prematurely. Hence, the subscriber is not required to deposit either the fee of Rs. 50 for each year of default. or arrears of subscription for closing the account prematurely; and
(ii) If a PPF account that has already completed 15 years and has subsequently been extended under the provision of para 9(3A) of the PPF Scheme is closed prematurely before the completion of the current 5 year block period, the reduction in interest rate by 1 percentage point shall be applicable from the date of the commencement of the current 5 year block period and not from the date of initial opening of the account.
4. It is requested to circulate these changes to all concerned for information and necessary guidance. Same may also be placed on the notice board of all Post Offices in Public area.
5. This issue with the approval of Competent Authority.
Railway Order : Option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if Opted for, in context of RS(RP) Rules, 2016 – regarding.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
Ministry/of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
(Railway Board)
PC-VII No. 25
File No. PC-VII/2016/I/6/2
RBE No. 79/2017
New Delhi, dated : 31.07.2017
The General Manager/CAOs(R),
All India Railways & Production Units,
(As per mailing list)
Sub : Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if Opted for, in context of RS(RP) Rules, 2016 – regarding.
Consequent to implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, various doubts have arisen over the issue of relevancy of provisions of FR 22(l)(a)(1) as well as the methodology of fixation of pay on promotion to a post carrying duties and responsibilities of greater importance, of a Government Servant in case he opts for pay fixation from the Date of Next Increment (DNI).
2. It was advised to all the Zonal Railways vide Board’s letter of even no. dated 09.03.2017 that the issue has already been referred to Ministry of Finance. Now a detailed clarification over the issue has been issued by Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training (MoPPG&P/DoP&T) vide their O.M No. 13/02/2017-Estt.(Pay-I) dated 27.07.2017 (copy enclosed).
3. The clarifications issued by MoPPG&P/DoP&T vide their OM. dated 27.07.2017 will be applicable mutatis mutandis in Railways w.r.t. RS(RP) Rules, 2016.
Promotion to Government Employees belonging to SC / ST
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1700
ANSWERED ON : 26.07.2017
Promotion in Government Services
KAUSHAL KISHORE Will the Minister of
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has discontinued with the practice of granting promotion to Government employees belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; and
(b) 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) & (b): As per extant instructions, reservation to the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is provided in the matter of promotion when promotion is made- (a) through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination in Group B, Group C and Group D posts; (b) by selection from Group B post to a Group A post or in Group B, Group C and Group D posts; and (c) on the basis of seniority subject to fitness in all Groups. Reservation in all the above cases is given at the rate of 15 per cent for the Scheduled Castes and 7.5 per cent for the Scheduled Tribes. Reservation in promotion is not given in the grades in which the element of direct recruitment, if any, exceeds 75 per cent.
However, as desired by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Contempt Petition No.314/2016, instructions in pursuance were issued by Department of Personnel and Training on 30.9.2016 not to rely upon Office Memorandum of 10.08.2010 for implementation of own merit concept in promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Due to this, there may be administrative difficulties while considering cases for promotion of employees, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, where selections in promotion have already been made on own merit or are to be made by applying own merit by the concerned cadre controlling authority.
BSNL Employeess Union (BSNLEU) is continuously demanding that the Night Free Calling facility. This facilty is already implemented for the retired officials. Union demands to implement the same facility to the serving employees also.
The GM(Admn.) told com.Swapan Chakraborty,Dy.GS and com.John Verghese, AGS, today that, the file has gone to the Management Committee, for it’s approval.
Soon BSNL will provide the free night calling facility to all BSNL Serving Employees
Revision of Additional Relief on death/disability of Government servants covered under NPS
No. 28/03/2017-P&PW(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG. and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, LokNayak Bhavan
New Delhi, dated the 30th May, 2017
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Revision of Additional Relief on death/disability of Government servants covered under NPS in pursuance of Govt, decision on the recommendation of the 7th CPC – reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to Railway Board’s letter No. 2016/F(E)III/1(1)/7 dated 01.05.2017 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the additional. benefit on provisional basis has been extended to the Government employees covered under NPS vide OM. No. 38/41/06-P&PW(A) dated 05.05.2009 in the event of death or invalidation from service on disability. This OM. provides that the the Govt. employees covered under NPS who are discharged on invalidation disablement or the family of such employees who have died during service would be extended the benefit of invalid pension, or family pension in accordance with Rules 38, 49, 50 and 54 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 and CCS(EOP) Rules as the case may be.
2. Any order for revision of pension /family pension sanctioned under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 and CCS(EOP) Rules, would also be equally applicable to the Govt. servants covered under NPS, who have been extended the benefits of old pension scheme in terms of OM. dated 05.05.2009.
(S. Chakrabarti)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Shri Sanjay Prashar,
Deputy Director Finance(Estt.)III,
Railway Board,
Ministry of Railways,
Rail Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
office of the Additional Director central
Govt. Health Scheme
Nongrim Hills, Shilong – 793 003
NO. CGHS/ESTT/RECTG/6I/1089-99
Dated: Shillong, the 28th July,2017.
NOTIFICATION
Sub : Opening of Central govt. Health Scheme, wellness Center (allopathic) at Agartala
This is for information to all eligible Central Govt. employees / pensioners and other stake holders that, a central Govt. Health scheme (CGHS) wellness centre sanctioned vide Govt. of India, Min. of Health & Family welfare, CGHS (P) Division order No. S.11045/1/2013/HEC, New Delhi dated 17th November 2014 willbe functioned by 1st of August 2017 at quarter no. T/V/1,Kunjaban Extension, New capital complex, Agartala to provide compiehensive medical facilities.
The scheme will cover the Agartala city and all eligible Central Govt. employees and their dependent family members, Central Govt. pensioners and their dependents and others eligible as per CGHS guideline residing in Agartala city.
The beneficiaries will be able to avail the CGHS facilities through the Wellness Centre during the office hours i.e from 7:30 am to 02:00 pm in all working days except Sundays & holidays.
Minimum educational qualification for recruitment of staff from open market in Level-1 of the pay matrix of 7th CPC
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
RBE No. 73/2017
No. E(NG)II/2017/RR-1/12 (3192238)
New Delhi, dated 27.07.2017
The General Manager (P),
All Zonal Railways/Production Units,
(As per standard mailing list).
Sub: Minimum educational qualification for recruitment of staff from open market in Level-1 of the pay matrix of 7th CPC.
Attention is invited to instructions issued, vide this Ministry’s letter under RBE No. 129/2013 dated 09.12.2013, laying down qualification for recruitment of staff from open market to posts in Pay Band-1 of Rs. 5200-20200 having Grade Pay Rs.1800/. (now Level-1 of the pay matrix of 7th CPC), through all modes, against direct recruitment quota as 10th pass or ITI or equivalent or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.
2. The qualifications have further been reviewed and it has been decided by Board that the minimum educational qualification for recruitment of staff in Level-1 of the pay matrix of 7th CPC (earlier Grade Pay RS. 1800/-) in Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and S&T departments from open market, through all modes, will henceforth be as under:
10th pass plus National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT
OR
10th pass plus ITI
3. For all other departments of the Railways, the minimum educational qualification will continue to be the same as mentioned in para-1 above.
4. Cases already under process will continue to be dealt in terms of earlier instructions.
Please acknowledge receipt.
S/d,
(Neeraj Kumar)
Director Estt.(N)-II
Railway Board
With a view to bring contribution under Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952 to be paid by employer and employee at par with other savings instruments like the National Pension System, Contributory Provident Fund etc., an agenda item for lowering the rate of contribution from the present 12 per cent to 10 per cent was deliberated in the 218th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) held on 27.05.2017. All employees’ and employers’ representatives and State Government representatives were against reducing the rate of contribution from 12 per cent to 10 per cent.
The details of action taken by Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) against the defaulting establishments to protect the interest of workers covered under the said Act are as under:
(i) Real time default management system has been implemented to reduce remittance default by establishments.
(ii) Action under section 7A of EPF & MP Act, 1952 against the defaulting establishments for assessment of dues.
(iii) Action under section 14B of the Act for levying of damages for belated deposit of dues.
(iv) Action under section 7Q of the Act for levy of interest for belated remittances.
(v) Action for recovery as provided under sections 8B to 8G of the Act.
(vi) Action under section 14 of the Act for filing prosecution against the defaulters before the competent court of law.
(vii) Action under section 406/409 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the employer for non-payment of employees’ share of contribution deducted from the wages/salary of the employees but not deposited in the fund.
This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, today.
