A web-based portal viz. Vidya Lakshmi (www.vidyalakshmi.co.in) was launched on the occasion of Independence Day i.e. 15th August, 2015 for the benefit of students seeking Educational Loans. The Portal has been developed and maintained by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited (NSDL e-Gov) under the guidance of Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
Earlier the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget for 2015-16 inter-alia had proposed to set-up a fully IT based Student Financial Aid Authority to administer and monitor Scholarship as well as Educational Loan Schemes, through the Pradhan Mantri Vidya Lakshmi Karyakram (PMVLK) to ensure that no student misses out on higher education for lack of funds. The launch of the aforesaid Portal is a first step towards achieving this objective,
Vidya Lakshmi Portal is a first of its kind portal providing single window for Students to access information and make application for Educational Loans provided by Banks as also Government Scholarships. The Portal has the following features:
Information about Educational Loan Schemes of Banks;
Common Educational Loan Application Form for Students;
Facility to apply to multiple Banks for Educational Loans;
Facility for Banks to download Students’ Loan Applications;
Facility for Banks to upload loan processing status;
Facility for Students to email grievances/queries relating to Educational
Loans to Banks;
Dashboard facility for Students to view status of their loan application and
Linkage to National Scholarship Portal for information and application for
Government Scholarships.
So far, 13 Banks have registered 22 Educational Loan Schemes on the Vidya Lakshmi Portal and 5 Banks viz; SBI, IDBI Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank & Union Bank of India have integrated their system with the Portal for providing loan processing status to students. This initiative aims to bring on board all Banks providing Educational Loans. It is expected that students throughout the country will be benefited by this initiative of the Government by making available a single window for access to various Educational Loan Schemes of all Banks.
The Government has asked banks to achieve weekly targets set for the purpose of enabling “Jeevan Pramaan” – an “Aadhaar-based Digital Life Certification system for Pensioners so as to cover at least 50% in next 2-3 weeks. Pensioners can approach their paying branches with the PPO, Aadhaar card and bank pass book for trouble-free seeding of Pensioners’ Aadhaar number in their bank account.
Various steps are being taken by the Government to sensitize pensioners and bank branches to link up the Aadhaar number, PPO number and bank account number. All pension disbursing banks observed 1st to 7th August, 2015 as ‘Aadhaar Seeding Week for Pensioners.’ All through the week, priority was given to pensioners visiting the bank branches for seeding Aadhaar number in their bank account. Besides, five camps were organised from 13th to 17th July, 2015 at different locations covering Delhi, NOIDA and Faridabad to facilitate seeding of Aadhaar number in the bank accounts of pensioners. All banks participated in these camps. Facility was also provided by UIDAI for on-the-spot registration for Aadhaar numbers.
Conventionally, pensioners are required to give a Life Certificate to the pension disbursing authority in November, every year – either by presenting themselves before the Branch Manager or by means of a Certificate issued by a Gazetted Officer or other designated authorities.
The “Jeevan Pramaan” – an “Aadhaar-based Digital Life Certification system with an objective to facilitate on-line submission of Life Certificate by pensioners, was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 10th November, 2014. This facility is in addition to the other existing methods of submitting Life Certificates. It is hoped that all pensioners who have Aadhaar numbers will make use of this additional facility of biometric life certification.
With “Jeevan Pramaan” the pensioners and family pensioners need not visit the pension disbursing agency or Gazetted/designated authority for submission of Life Certificates. The Life Certificates may be submitted from personal computers and laptops at home or by visiting a conveniently located Common Service Centre or the nearest branch of any pension disbursing bank. There are about 55,000 branches of pension disbursing banks and 40,000 Common Service Centres throughout the country. Submission of Digital Life Certificate also ensures authenticity of pension payments.
HEADQUARTERS OFFICE
EMPLOYEES’ STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
PANCHDEEP BHAWAN, C.I.G. MARG, NEW DELHI-110002 [email protected]
No Part File Z-17/11/11/1-MiscI14-M-VI
Dated – 18.8.15
To,
1-Director(Medical) Delhi
2-Director (Medical) Noida
3-All Medical Superintendents of ESIC Hospitals ISSMC/SMC.
Subject- Change of uniform pattern of Nursing Personnel of all ESIC Hospital -regarding
Sir/Madam
It is informed that the competent authority has approved the following Uniform pattern for Nursing Personnel working at ESIC Hospitals w.e.f. 1.9.15 :-
1-Fernale (S/N & Sr’/S/N)- Suit or Saree in camel color (In winter-Maroon pullover) .
2-Male (S/N & Sr./S/N) -Shirt in camel colour & Black pant.
Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)
No.E(W)2015/PS 5-1/6
Date: 12-8-2015
The General Manager (P)
Diesel Locomotive Works
Varanasi.
Sub:- Inclusion of married mentally disabled son of serving/retired railway employee in Privilege/Post Retirement Complimentary Pass (PRCP) – clarification thereof.
Rei:- DLW’s letter NoDLW/P/Payment/Railway Board/ Correspondence dated 2406:2015.
With reference to above cited letter, it is clarified that in the extant Pass Rules there is no bar in including married invalid child covered under para 1 of General Rules relating to Privilege Passes/PTOs, stipulated below Schedule-II of Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition-1993) of retired railway servants as long as they are fully dependent on the railway servant. It is, however, clarified that this facility is not available for spouse of invalid dependent child. The same would also be equally applicable to such invalid family member/dependent relative in case of serving railway employee-s.
2. Necessary action to dispose off the application received by DLW may be taken accordingly.
3. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Dte of the Ministry of Railways.
(Debasis Mazumdar)
Director Estt.(Welfare)
Railway Board
No. 41/21/2000-P&PW(D)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS WELFARE
LOK NAY AK BHAVAN, KHAN MARKET,
NEW DELHI, DATED THE 12th August,2015
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub:- Issue of Pensioners’ Identity Card to pensioners.
The undersigned is directed to say that the instructions were issued by this Department vide OM No.4112112000-P&PW(D) dated 16.11.2000 for issue of Identity Cards to Central Government pensioners. These instructions were reiterated/Clarified vide this Department’s OMs of even number dated 30.4.2013 and 25.7.2013. It has been observed that various Departments/Offices are either not issuing pensioners Identity Card to the retired employees or the Identity Cards are not in the format prescribed vide this Department’s OM dated 25.7.2013.
2. The matter has been reviewed in this Department. It has been decided that apart from the details already prescribed, the Pensioners Identity Card should include the Aadhaar Number of the pensioner (if available). Accordingly, a revised format for the pensioners Identity Card is enclosed (Annexure-I and Annexure-IT).
3. Further, the following specifications are laid down for the pensioners Identity Card to be issued by the Departments/Offices from which the pensioner retired:
(i) The Pensioners Identity card should be in the prescribed format.
(ii) The Identity Card should be of the standard size of 812 em x 5Y2 cm.
(iii) The Pensioners Identity Card should be printed (and not hand written) on good quality paper ofill-GSM or equivalent.
(iv) The Identity Card would be got laminated by the Department/Office before handing it over to the pensioner.
4. All Departments in the Government of India are requested to issue suitable instructions to the Offices under their control to invariably issue Identity Card to the pensioners in accordance with the instructions issued by this Department.
(Harjit Singh)
Dy. Secretary to the Govt. of India
DIRECTORATE OF POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE
Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications &
Information Technology, Government of India
Chanakyapuri Post Office Complex, New Delhi-11 0021
29-12/2009-LI
Dated 10/08/2015
To
All Heads of Circle
Addl. DG. APS, C/o 56 APO
All Heads of Regions
Director, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy
All Directors PTCs
Sub: Maintenance of pay policies of CRPF & BSF Personnel-reg
As per existing procedure, pay policies in respect CRPF and BSF Personnel are to be procured by the Circles concerned where the unit is located and after acceptance case files of such policies are to be transferred to Delhi Circle for further maintenance. Since, most of the pay policies of Para Military Forces are procured by APS and Core Insurance Solution is not being implemented in APS, there will be a great difficulties in transfer of data from APS (NIC software) to CIS and vice versa.
2. As such, it has now been decided that all pay policies of CRPF and BSF will be procured and maintained by APS only. It is, therefore, requested to transfer all pay policies of CRPF and BSF to APS within one month for further maintenance.
3. It has also been decided that no Postal Circles except Base Circle (APS) should procure flew business from CRPF and BSF with pay policies mode. However, all Circles may procure new business from BSF ~nd CRPF with cash as premium mode only and files may be maintained in office concerned (CPC) which procured the business.
4. Further, Delhi Circle is also requested to refer to CPMG Delhi Circle DO No. L1/1TModernization/APS/Ph-l/rollout/2015 dated 30.04.2015 and also transfer back all pay policies of BSF and CRPF personnel to APS wherein no premium received since acceptance of policies or policies having no 1sl premium received for taking necessary action by APS for getting the premium details updated and further maintenance.
5. This issues with the approval of Chief General Manager (PLI)
F. No: S-11011/02/2014-CGHS (HEC)
Government of India
Ministry of Health 8. Family Welfare
Directorate General of Central Govt. Health Scheme
*****************
Maulana Azad Road, Nirman Bhawan
New Delhi 110 108, dated the 13th August, 2015
OFFICE ORDER
Subiect: Extension of empanelment of Dr. Khanna’s Path Care Pvt. Ltd. Delhi.
With reference to the above mentioned matter, the undersigned is directed to draw attention to the Office Order dated 13.02.2015 vide which suspension of empanelment of Dr.Khanna’s Path Care Pvt. Ltd., A-43, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016 was revoked for a period of six months. Now it has been decided to extend the empanelment of Dr. Khanna’s Path Care Pvt. Ltd , Delhi further till 30.09.2016 i.e. the last date of empanelment of all empanelled HCOs in Delhi/NCR, on same terms & conditions and facilities for which it was empanelled vide OM dated 01.10.2014.
No.25014/1/2013-AIS-II
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and pension
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block, New Delhi
dated 17/08/2015
To
All the Chief Secretaries of State Governments / UTs.
Subject: Revision of pension/family pension of pre-2006 pensioners of All India Services.
Sir,
I am directed to refer to the above mention subject and to say that in compliance to the judicial pronouncement, the Department of Pension & Pensioners vide its O.M. No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 30/07/2015 has decided that the pension/family pension of all pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners may be revised in accordance with their Department’s O.M. NO. 38/37/08/-P&PW(A) dated 28/1/2013 w.e.f. 01.01.2006 instead of 24.9.2012. The applicability of the provisions of the aforesaid O.M. dated 30/07/2015 to All India Services pensioners of pre-2006 has been considered by this Department and it is decided that provisions of the aforesaid O.M. of Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare shall be applicable miutatis-mutandis to All India Service pensioners of pre- 2006.
Yours Faithfully
(Rajiv Jain)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
The Seventh Pay Commission, headed by justice A.K. Mathur, has sought a one-month extension from the finance ministry and is preparing to submit its report by the end of September. The commission is unlikely to recommend the lowering of the retirement age as rumoured earlier or push for lateral entry and performance-based pay.
The commission, set up once in every 10 years to review pay, allowances and other benefits for central government employees, was appointed by the previous government on 28 February 2014 and was asked to submit its report in 18 months, which falls on 31 August.
“There are some data points that are missing, which we hope to get by this month end. We are trying to submit the report by 20 September,” an official of the commission said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Sixth Pay Commission had submitted its report a little ahead of its deadline on 24 March 2008. The revised pay scales were implemented retrospectively starting 1 January 2006, while recommendations relating to allowances were implemented prospectively.
The finance ministry apprehends that salary and pension expenditure will both rise by around 16% in 2016-17 as a result of the implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations. This may allow capital expenditure to grow by no more than 8% during the year, leaving little room to aggressively push for an infrastructure build-up.
“The Pay Commission impact may have to be absorbed in 2016-17. The phase of consolidation, extended by one year, will also be spanning out in this period. Thus, in the medium-term framework, the fiscal position will continue to be stressed,” the finance ministry said in the 2015-16 budget presented in February.
The official cited earlier said the Pay Commission report needs to be effective from 1 January 2016, or by April 2016 at the latest.
“It will be the government’s prerogative when to implement it. But beyond 1 January 2016, there will be arrears. But then, the government will be subject to criticism. Earlier, they had hidden behind Pay Commissions giving late reports,” he added.
However, the official said the commission is likely to maintain the status quo on the retirement age of central government employees, currently 60 years. “We are not going to either recommend lowering or raising the retirement age. If we lower the age limit, the pension burden will bust the government’s medium-term fiscal targets,” he added.
Asked whether government has sent any directives to the commission on the kind of hike it can afford, the official said the message it has got broadly is to keep the hikes low. “Merge the basic with dearness allowance, don’t stretch it beyond—that is the message. But that is a good message for the government to send. But there is no pressure otherwise. In fact, there is a lot of cooperation,” he said.
The official said merging basic pay with dearness allowance, which is mandatory, would itself mean a 155% rise for central government employees. “We have to decide how much to give above that. So, it will look good if you compare basic to basic,” he added.
On whether the commission will recommend performance-based pay bands, he said it will make some feasible recommendations, though he couldn’t guess if the government would accept them. The Sixth Pay Commission had also recommended performance-based pay revisions, but the government is yet to implement them.
“Eighty-eight percent of central government employees are industrial and non-industrial workers working with railways, post, paramilitary and army. So, performance-based pay revision is the wrong instrument for them. Biggest growth in government services is in paramilitary forces, where staffs in Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force have gone up by 75-80% in the last 10 years. By the time we have dealt with them, the bureaucracy is an afterthought. It does not affect anything,” he added.
D.K. Joshi, chief economist at rating agency Crisil Ltd, said the government is expected to be restrained in its pay hikes this time around, given the low inflation level and tepid growth momentum. “The last two Pay Commissions had significantly bumped up demand and fiscal deficit. But the government is unlikely to be populist this time. It has already showed restraint in the hike in minimum support prices for farmers,” he said.
However, Joshi said the Pay Commission will have a permanent income effect as well as a one-time impact through the payment of arrears, which will lead to increase in demand for consumer durables.
The Hon’ble Supreme court had, Inter-alia, allowed the prayer in a Writ Petition (Civil) No. 521/2002 titled as P. Ramakrishnam Raju Vs Union of India & Others vide judgment dated the 31st March, 2014 directing that “for pensionary benefits, ten years practice as an advocate be added as qualifying service for Judges elevated from the Bar with effect from the 1st April, 2004, the date on which section 13A was inserted by the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 2005 (46 of 2005).” In view of the above order, Government has approved appropriate amendment to the High court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. Accordingly, notice for introduction of “The High Court and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2015” in the current session of the Parliament has been given.
This information was given by Union Minister of Ministry of Law & Justice, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
