No. AB.14017/44/ 2011-Estt. (RR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
New Delhi
Dated the 5th September, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Modified Flexible Complementing Scheme – regarding qualifications for Scientists.
Reference is invited to the instructions on Modified Flexible Complementing Scheme for Scientists issued in this Department OM No. AB.14017/37/2008-Estt.(RR) dated 10th September, 2010 based on the recommendations of the 6th CPC. The guidelines prescribe the qualifications for Scientists as under :-
Scientists and Engineers
Persons who possess academic qualification of atleast Master’s Degree in Natural/Agricultural Sciences or Bachelors Degree in Engineering/Technology/Medicine and hold scientific posts defined in the guidelines.
2. References have been received in this Department seeking clarifications as to whether M.Sc. (Electronics) and M.Sc. (Applied Electronics) falls within the applicable qualifications of Modified FCS. The issue has been examined by this Department in consultation with Department of Science and Technology. It has been decided to include degrees of M.Sc (Electronics) and M.Sc. (Applied Electronics) as subjects under Engineering equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) July 2013
According to a press release issued today by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment the All-India CPI-IW for July, 2013 rose by 4 points and pegged at 235(two hundred and thirty five). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 1.73 per cent between June and July compared with 1.92 per cent between the same two months a year ago.
The largest upward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing 1.99 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Rice, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Milk, Onions, Chillies Green, Potato, Tomato & other Vegetables. Electricity Charges, Firewood, Bus Fare, Petrol, etc. are responsible for the rise in index. However, this was compensated to some extent by Groundnut Oil, Primary and secondary School Fees putting downward pressure on the index.
The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 10.85 per cent for July, 2013 as compared to 11.63 per cent for the previous month and 9.84 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 14.10 per cent against 14.86 per cent of the previous month and 11.27 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.
At centre level, Giridih recorded the highest increase of 16 points each followed by Kodarma (11 points), Durgapur (10 points) and Jharia, Surat, Ghaziabad and Godavarikhani (9 points each). Among others, 8 points rise was registered in 7 centres, 7 points in 6 centres, 6 points in 10 centres, 5 points in 6 centres, 4 points in 7 centres, 3 points in 8 centres, 2 points in 6 centres, and 1 point in five centres. On the contrary, Faridabad reported a decline of 6 points followed by Madurai (5 points), Coonoor (3 points), Tiruchirapally (2 points) and 5 other centres by 1 point each. Rest of the 7 centres’ indices remained stationary.
The indices of 38 centres are above All-India Index and other 38 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Jabalpur and Ghaziabad centre remained at par with all-India index.
The next index of CPI-IW for the month of August, 2013 will be released on Monday, 30 September, 2013. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.gov.in.
BASE YEAR UPDATION OF CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS (CPI-IW) 2013-14=100
Background of CPI-IW series:
The CPI-IW series on scientific lines was first introduced with base 1960=100 which was based on the results of Family Living Survey conducted in 1958-59 at 50 industrially important centres. The series was then, updated on base 1982=100 and a revision in 1999-2000 has further updated the base on 2001=100. The current series of CPI-IW with base year 2001=100 covers 78 industrially important centers spread across the country.
Need for Base Updation:
The consumption pattern of the working class population undergoes change over a period of time and therefore, it becomes necessary that the consumption basket is updated from time to time to account for these changes and to maintain the representative character of the index. The need for frequent revision of base on account of fast changing consumption pattern of the target group has been recommended by International Labour Organisation, National Statistical Commission, National Commission on Labour and also Technical Advisory Committee on Statistics of Prices and Cost of Living. Also this recommendation was strongly reiterated by the Index Review Committee set up under the Chairmanship of Prof. Chadha which inter-alia stated that the intervening gap between the two series should not exceed 10 years. Labour Bureau accordingly, has proposed to revise the base year of the existing CPI-IW series 2001=100 to a more recent base year preferably, 2013-2014=100.
Scope and Coverage
The current series of CPI-IW with base 2001=100 was constructed on the basis of employment data in seven sectors namely, Registered Factories, Mining, Plantations, Ports & Docks, Public Motor Transport, Electricity Generation & Distribution Establishments and Railways sector. The current series comprises of a basket of about 370 items and 289 price collection markets spread across 78 centres of the country. In the existing series, the Working Class Family Income & Expenditure Survey was conducted during 1998-99 by the NSSO and a sample size of 41040 family budget schedules and 15960 house rent schedules (i.e. about a total of 57000 schedules) were canvassed from 78 industrially important centres of the country. The price collection work was done by the Labour Bureau and the main survey work of income & expenditure data collection was conducted by NSSO.
In line with the recommendations of Index Review Committee (IRC), the possibilities of extending the scope of the new series to two more additional sectors i.e. Handloom and Construction sectors are being considered. However, Labour Bureau expects an increase in the number of centres from existing 78 centres to around 88-95 centres approximately. Consequently, the total number of family budget enquiry schedules and house rent schedules to be canvassed would increase to 70,000 schedules approximately.
Committees:
i) Standing Tripartite Committee
The Index Review Committee (IRC) headed by Prof. G.K. Chadha recommended for constitution of a Standing Tripartite Committee (STC) of all the stakeholders. Accordingly Ministry of Labour & Employment constituted a Standing Tripartite Committee (STC) vide order No. Y-12011/5/2010-ESA(LB), dated 12th January, 2011.
The Terms of Reference of the STC formed are as follows:
The Standing Tripartite Committee will
{i} examine the various aspects of the base year revision of Consumer Price Index Number Series for Industrial Workers {CPI-IW} including the selection of Centres, sample size, sampling design, methodology for deriving the weighting diagram and linking factor;
{ii} examine the method of price collection procedures and machinery of price collection;
{iii} examine the centre specific weighting diagrams for all the centres, selection of base year, compilation of base year prices, trial indices; and
{iv} consider any other relevant issue{s}/matter as may be necessary.
Secretarial assistance to the Standing Tripartite Committee will be provided by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour. The Committee may also enlist the assistance of subject matter experts within and/or outside the Government and may co-opt members according to necessity.
There is no proposal to increase the retirement age of central government employees from the existing 60 years to 62 years, minister of state for personnel V Narayanasamy told Parliament.
“As per rules, every government servant shall retire on attaining the age of 60 years,” the minister said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. “At present, there is no proposal to increase the age of retirement of government employees,” he added.
However, when asked later by TOI whether such a proposal could be considered ahead of Lok Sabha polls, especially following the recent decision of the Chhattisgarh government to extend retirement age for state employees to 62 years, Narayanasamy said he “cannot speak for the future”.
There are about 50 lakh central government employees working in various departments, including the railways, across the country.
There has been speculation lately about the Centre’s plans to raise the superannuation age for its employees as part of a move to defer payouts in the form of pensions and other payments to check the fiscal deficit.
The Chhattisgarh government, which raised the retirement age of state employees vide a Cabinet decision on Tuesday, has told TOI that it would save Rs 600 crore by deferring payment of pension liabilities to those retiring henceforth, by two year.
The Centre had in 1998 raised the retirement age of its employees to 60 from 58 years.
The Chhattisgarh government, which on Tuesday decided to raise retirement age of state employees from 60 years to 62 years, will save around Rs 600 crore by deferring pension liabilities of those retiring henceforth by two years.
State government officials did not reveal the additional salary bill that would accrue on behalf of extension in retirement age, but vouched for financial viability of the decision. “Chhattisgarh, being a new state, faces an acute shortage of officers at the senior level, which it has been making up by giving extensions to superannuated officers, contractual appointments and overburdening top officers with multiple charges. By retaining senior-level officials for two more years, we hope to cut these additional costs and add efficiency to government’s functioning,” said a senior officer.
No. 11/2/2013-IR (Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi,
Dated the 14th August, 2013
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Disclosure of personal information under the RTI Act, 2005.
The Central Information Commission in one of its decisions (copy enclosed) has held that information about the complaints made against an officer of the Government and any possible action the authorities might have taken on those complaints, qualifies as personal information within the meaning of provision of section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act, 2005.
2. The Central Information Commission while deciding the said case has cited the decision of Supreme Court of India in the matter of Girish R. Deshpande vs. CIC and others (SLP (C) no. 27734/2012) in which it was held as under:-
“The performance of an employee/Officer in an organisation is primarily a matter between the employee and the employer and normally those aspects are governed by the service rules which fall under the expression ‘personal information’, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or public interest. On the other hand, the disclosure of which could cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of that individual.” The Supreme Court further held that such information could be disclosed only if it would serve a larger public interest.
3. This may be brought to the notice of all concerned.
End: As above.
(Manoj Joshi)
Joint Secretary (AT&A)
Original Order :
http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02rti/11_2_2013-IR-Pt.-14082013.pdf
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office Shri V Narayanasamy has said that rtionline web portal is another milestone in the regime of RTI that will further promote participation of our citizens in the process of governance and policy making decisions of the Government.Speaking at the launch of the portal in New Delhi today he said though presently this facility has been provided to Central Ministries, DoPT will consider extending this facility to the subordinate and attached offices of Central Government also. The Minister also appealed to the State Governments to consider developing similar facility of filing online RTI applications. Referring to the RTI Act as one of the biggest achievements of our democracy, Shri Narayansamy said that it has empowered the citizenry in an unprecedented manner to participate in nation building by promoting transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
The rtionline web portal has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) at the initiative of Department of Personnel and Training. The url of this portal is https://rtionline.gov.in.
This is a facility for the Indian Citizens to file RTI applications online and first appeals and also to make online payment of RTI fees. The prescribed fees can be paid through Internet banking of State Bank of India and its associate banks as well as by Credit/Debit cards of Visa/Master, through the payment gateway of SBI linked to this site.This facility is available for all the Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India.
This system provides for online reply of RTI applications/ first appeals, though reply could be sent by regular post also. This system works as RTI MIS also. The details of RTI applications received through post could also be entered into this system. The citizens can also check the real time status of their RTI applications/first appeals filed online.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified that the Aadhaar Card is a valid proof for opening of a bank account under the Know Your Customer (KYC) scheme.
RBI vide its circular dated 28.09.2011 has advised banks to accept the Aadhar letter issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as an officially valid document for opening bank accounts without any limitations applicable to small accounts. Further, the RBI has also advised the banks vide its circular dated 10.12.2012 that if the address provided by the account holder is the same as that on Aadhaar letter, it may be accepted as a proof of both identity and address.
This was stated by Shri Namo Narain Meena, MoS in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
FINANCE (PENSION) DEPARTMENT
G.O.No.349, Dated: 12th August, 2013
Pension – Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 – Amendment to rule 9 of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 – Orders – Issued.
Read the following:-
G.O.Ms.No.31, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (N) Department, dated: 23.02.2012.
ORDER:
In para 3 of the Government order read above, among others, it has been ordered that the disciplinary cases of the pensioners who belong to State service alone be sent to the Government and other cases shall be dealt with by the Heads of the Department concerned.
2. Based on the above said Government Order, the following amendment is made to Rule-9 of Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 and accordingly the following Notification will be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Extraordinary, dated: 12.8.2013.
NOTIFICATION
In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby makes the following amendments to the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978:-
AMENDMENTS
In the said Rules, in rule 9, –
(1) in the marginal heading, “ for the expression “Government”, the expression “competent authority” shall be substituted;
(2) in sub-rule (1), –
(a) in clause (a), –
(i) for the expression “The Government reserve to themselves”, the expression “The competent authority reserves to itself” shall be substituted;
(ii) for the first proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided that before passing an order under this clause, if the pensioner does not agree to such withholding or withdrawal of the pension, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission shall be consulted by the Government. In respect of pensioners who belonged to service other than the State Service, the Head of the Department concerned shall refer the case to the Government and the Government, after consulting the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, shall intimate the views of the Commission to the Head of the Department concerned for issue of final orders. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission
need not be consulted in cases where the pensioner agrees to withholding or withdrawal of the pension but a copy of the orders passed by the competent authority in such cases shall be sent to the said Commission:”;
(b) in clause (b), –
(i) for the expression
“the Government shall also have the right of ordering recovery”, the expression “the competent authority shall also have the right of ordering recovery ” shall be substituted;
(ii) for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided that before passing an order under this clause, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission shall be consulted by the
Government in respect of pensioners belonged to State Service and in respect of pensioners who belonged to service other than State Service, the Head of the Department concerned, after arriving at the amount of recovery, shall refer the case to the Government and the Government, after consulting the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission shall intimate the views of the Commission to the Head of the Department concerned for issue of final orders.”;
(2) in sub rule(2), –
(a) in clause (a), for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely: –
“Provided that where the departmental proceedings are instituted by an authority subordinate to the Government, that authority shall submit a report recording its findings to the Government in case of pensioners who belonged to the State Service;
(b) in clause (b), in sub-clause (i), the expression “in respect of pensioners who belonged to State Service” shall be added at the end;
(2) in sub-rule (5), for the expression “Where the Government decide”, the expression “Where the competent authority decides” shall be substituted;
(3) after sub-rule (6), the following sub-rule shall be added, namely:-
“(7) For the purpose of this rule, the term ‘competent authority’ shall mean the Government in respect of the pensioners who belonged to State Service and the Head of the Department concerned in respect of other pensioners.” .
(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)
K. SHANMUGAM,
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.
Original Order :
http://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/gos/fin_e_349_2013_0.pdf
The current Pension Rules provide that after the death of pensioner and his/her spouse a fresh Pension Payment Order would be issued for children and dependent parents for grant of family pension to them. Difficulties were being faced by disabled children/siblings and old parents in getting the family pension sanctioned after the death of the employee/pensioner.
The Government has therefore decided that an employee/pensioner/family pensioner may at anytime make a request to the Appointing Authority for advance approval to the grant of family pension for life to a permanently disabled child/sibling or dependent parents. On the basis of this approval, authorisation shall be made in the original Pension Payment Order (PPO) at the time of retirement or by issuing a revised authority. The permanently disabled child/sibling/ dependent parents will receive family pension at the appropriate time, i.e., after the death of employee/pensioner and/or after the death/ineligibility of any other member in the family who was eligible to receive family pension prior to the disabled child/sibling/dependent parents.
Where there are other eligible prior claimants to family pension, the names of disabled child/children/dependent parents/permanently disabled sibling will be added to the PPO issued to the preceding eligible family pensioner. Family pension to these permanently disabled child/children/siblings/dependent parents will be payable after the death/ineligibility of the prior claimant, as the case maybe.
Detailed instructions are available in OM No. 1/27/2011-P&PW(E), dated July 01, 2013 at the website of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare www.persmin.nic.in.
