No. Q-25/11/2022-PE-I-DOP Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (PE-I Section)
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110001 Dated: 16th November, 2022
To, All Heads of Circles.
Subject: Merger of PA (SBCO) and PA (FPO) with PA (PO) regarding.
Madam/Sir,
As you are aware, the proposal for merger of PA (CO/RO)/(SBCO)/(FP0) with PA (PO) was under consideration of this Directorate for quite some time.
2. In this regard, it has been decided, with the approval of the Competent Authority, to merge the PA (SBCO) and PA (FPO) with PA (P0) with effect from 01.01.2023. The detailed modalities for merger of PA (SBCO) and PA (FPO) with PA (PO), formulated in consultation with Personnel Division (SPN Branch), are attached as Annexure-A and Annexure-B respectively.
3. However, the PA (COIRO) shall remain a separate cadre.
4. Further, modalities regarding merger of LSG and HSG posts of SBCO and FPO with Postal Operative Side would be conveyed in due course.
5. If the Circles face any issue related to merger of posts, the matter may be referred to ADG (PE-I), and issues pertaining to merger of personnel, seniority, Rule 38 of Postal Manual Vol. IV and other related issues may be referred to Director/ADG (SPN) directly.
End: as above.
Yours faithfully, (Tarun Mittal) Asstt. Director General (PE-I)
Parallel Processing of Exit and Annuity components for the benefit of NPS Subscribers
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
CIRCULAR
PFRDA/2022/32/ASP-EXIT/03
14 Nov 2022
To All NPS Stake Holders
Subject: Parallel Processing of Exit and Annuity components for the benefit of NPS Subscribers
PFRDA provides digitally enabled exit solutions for its Subscribers through Aadhaar / Two Factor Authentication (2FA). Under NPS, the Subscribers at the time of exit can avail of a defined amount as a lump sum and the balance amount has to be utilized for the purchase of immediate Annuity from the empanelled Annuity Service Providers (ASP). ASPs are Life Insurance Companies under the regulatory ambit of the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
2. Hitherto, Subscribers under NPS at the time of their exit submit the online/offline withdrawal form (Annexure A) to the associated intermediaries viz nodal offices, POPs etc. The NPS withdrawal form is quite exhaustive and contains all the required information for issuing an Annuity and processing the lump sum. Post-processing of the withdrawal, the eligible amount is paid as a lump sum to the Subscribers’ Bank Account and the information of those Subscribers is shared with ASPs for processing the Annuity request. ASPs engage with the Subscribers for obtaining the application for the issue of Annuity i.e. Proposal form and complete the other formalities. In the existing process, the Subscribers submit the exit form to the intermediaries of PFRDA and apply for an annuity to the ASPs selected by them.
3. PFRDA engaged with IRDAI on simplifying the process of issuing an Annuity by considering the NPS withdrawal form as the Annuity Proposal and the same was agreed by IRDAI after due consultation with the Insurance industry. The communication issued by IRDAI on Immediate Annuity Products dt. 13.09.2022 is provided at Annexure B.
4. The benefits of the coordinated action by both financial regulators are manifold towards the benefit of Subscribers & stakeholders as described below:
a. Ease of Annuity and speed of its issuance
b. Parallel Processing of Lump sum payment and Annuity issuance
c. Payment of Retirement Income through Annuity immediately after one’s retirement and hence uninterrupted income flow to the retirees ensured.
d. Ease of Old Age Income Support.
e. Ease of doing business for the associated stake holders.
5. All Subscribers are hereby informed that at the time of initiation of the exit request, the completely filled proposal form along with the specified supporting documents including KYC (Refer Page no. 5 of Annexure A) 1s to be uploaded in the respective CRA system through their login credentials. The nodal officers, POPs & NPST are advised to ensure the same for the benefit of Subscribers.
6. Based on the response and feedback on the common proposal from the stakeholders & subscribers, PFRDA proposes to make the upload of the Withdrawal form/document mandatory at a future date.
7. In order to facilitate ease of living for all senior citizens including NPS Retirees who are receiving periodical annuity payments, Aadhar-enabled authentication for life verification certification viz Jeevan Praman (Govt. of India’s initiative on bio metric enabled digital service for pensioners) shall be provided.
This circular is being issued to protect the interests of subscribers and to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the National Pension System and pension schemes to which the Act applies.
Digitally signed by K MOHAN GANDHI Chief General Manager
BSNL Holiday List 2023: Holidays for BSNL Employees
BSNL Holiday List 2023
File No. BSNLC0-A/14(14)/2/2020-ESTAB
Dated:09.11.2022
To Heads of Telecom Circles/ All Heads of metro Districts/ All Heads of Administrative Unit, BSNL.
Subject: Holidays to be observed in BSNL Offices during the year 2023- reg.
In accordance with Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training) O.M. No. 12/5/2022-JCA dated 16th June 2022, it has been decided by the Competent Authority that the holidays as specified in the Annexure -I to this O.M. will be observed in all the BSNL Offices located at Delhi / New Delhi during the year 2023. In addition, each employee will also be allowed to avail himself/herself of any two holidays to be chosen by him/her out of the list of Restricted Holidays in Annexure – II. As per corrigendum circulated vide O.M. of even no. dated 11.07.2022 (copy enclosed), Restricted Holiday on account Basant Panchami/Sri Panchami(SL.No.4 in Annexure ) has been shown to falling on 26th January, 2023 (Saturday), may be read as falling on 26 January, 2023 (Thursday)
2. BSNL Administrative Offices located outside Delhi / New Delhi shall observe the following holidays compulsorily in addition to three holidays as per para 3.1 below:
1. REPUBLIC DAY 2. INDEPENDENCE DAY 3. MAHATMA GANDHIS BIRTHDAY 4. BUDDHA PURNIMA 5. CHRISTMAS DAY 6. DUSSEHRA (VIJAY DASHMI) 7. DIWALI (DEEPAVALI) 8. GOOD FRIDAY 9. GURU NANAK\’S BIRTHDAY 10. IDU\’L FITR 11. IDU\’L ZUHAA 12. MAHAVIR JAYANTI 13. MUHARRAM 14. PROPHET MOHAMMAD\’S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)
3.1. In addition to the above 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays shall be decided from the list indicated below by the Circle Heads of Territorial Circles in consultation with the Circle Staff Welfare Board and the representative Union and keeping in view the recommendation of the Central Government Employees Coordination Committee in the State Capitals. The final list applicable uniformly to all BSNL offices within the territorial jurisdiction of the concerned State shall be notified accordingly and a copy endorsed to the Corporate Office within a period of 4 weeks of issue of this letter and no change can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates as indicated.
3.2 No substitute holiday should be allowed if any of the festival holidays, initially declared, subsequently happens to fall on a weekly off or any other non-working day or in the event of more than one festival falling on the same day.
4 The list of Restricted Holidays appended to this O.M. is meant for BSNL Offices located in Delhi / New Delhi. The Heads of Territorial Circle in consultation with the Circle Staff Welfare Board and the representative Union and keeping in view the recommendations of the Central Government Employees Co-ordination Committee in the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance. However, the 9 occasions left over, after choosing the 3 variable holidays in para 3.1 above, are also to be included in the list of restricted holidays.
5.1 For offices in Delhi / New Delhi, any change in the date of holidays in respect of ldu\’l Fitr, Idu\’l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, depending upon sighting of the Moon, would be declared by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions after ascertaining the position from the Govt. of NCT of Delhi (DCP, Special Branch, Delhi Police).
5.2 For offices outside Delhi / New Delhi, the Heads of Territorial Circles are authorized to change the date of holiday, if necessary, based on the decision of the concerned State Governments/ Union Territories, in respect of Idu\’l Fitr, ldu\’l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad.
5.3 It may happen that the change of date of the above occasions has to be declared at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement could be made through P.I.B/T.V. /A.I.R. / Newspapers and the Heads of Territorial Circles may take action according to such an announcement without waiting for a formal order, about the change of date.
6. During 2023, Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Sunday, November 12, 2023 (Kartika 21). In certain States, the practice is to celebrate the occasion a day in advance, i.e., on \”Naraka Chaturdasi Day\”. In view of this, there is no objection if holiday on account of Deepavali is observed on \”Naraka Chaturdasi Day (in place of Deepavali Day) in the BSNL Offices in a State if in that State that day alone is declared as a compulsory holiday for Diwali for the offices of the State Government.
7. BSNL Offices which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments would observe upto 16 holidays in a year including three national holidays viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi\’s birthday, as compulsory holidays. The remaining holidays / occasions may be determined by respective Heads of Circle themselves for the year 2023, subject to para 3.2 above.
(Keshav Kumar ) Assistant General Manager (Estt.II)
F. No. S.11011/11/2016-CGHS(P)/EHS Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Department of Health & Family Welfare (EHS Section)
Dated, the 28th October, 2022 Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Revision of rates of subscription under Central Government Health Scheme due to revision of pay and allowances of Central Government employees and revision of pension/ family pension on account of implementation of recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.
In partial modification to this Ministry’s O.M. of even number dated gth January, 2017, the undersigned is directed to say that entitlement of wards in private hospitals empanelled under CGHS as contained in Para 3(B) of the O.M. ibid stands revised as under with effect from the date of issue of this O.M. :
Sl.No.
Corresponding Basic Pay drawn by Officer in 7th CPC per month
Ward Entitlement
1
Upto Rs. 36,500
General
2
Rs.36,501 to Rs.50,500
Semi-Private
3
Above Rs. 50,500
Private
2. This issues with the concurrence of the Department of Expenditure vide their I.D. Note No. 18(1)/EV/2016 dated 11th May, 2022 read with I.D. Note dated 6th October, 2022.
Amount and conditions for grant of pension under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021
F. No. 38/01(05)/2022-P&PW(A) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003 Dated: 26.10.2022
Office Memorandum
Subject: Amount and conditions for grant of pension under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension has notified the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 in supersession of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972. In accordance with sub-rule (1) of Rule 44 of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021, a Government servant, becomes eligible for grant of a pension on retirement under rule 33 (Superannuation Pension), rule 34 (Retiring Pension), rule 35 ( Pension on absorption in or under a State Government), rule 36 (Pension on absorption in or under a corporation, company or body), rule 37 (Pension on absorption consequent upon conversion of a Government Department into a Public Sector Undertaking), rule 38 (pension on absorption consequent upon conversion of a Government Department into a Central Autonomous Body) or rule 39 (Invalid Pension), after completing a qualifying service of not less than ten years. The pension in all such cases is calculated at the rate of fifty per cent of emoluments or average emoluments, whichever is more beneficial to him, subject to a minimum of nine thousand rupees per month and maximum of one lakh twenty-five thousand rupees per month.
2. The above rule further provides that a Government servant who retires on Invalid Pension under rule 39 before completing a qualifying service of ten years shall also be eligible for an invalid pension calculated at fifty per cent of emoluments or average emoluments, whichever is more beneficial to him and the condition of completion of minimum qualifying service of ten years shall not be applicable for grant of pension in his case if he/she fulfils the conditions mentioned in sub-rule (9) of rule 39.
3. In calculating the length of qualifying service, fraction of a year equal to three months and above is treated as a completed six monthly period and reckoned as qualifying service. In the case of a Government servant who has rendered a qualifying service of nine years and nine months or more but less than ten years, his qualifying service for the purpose of this rule shall be ten years and he shall be eligible for pension according
4. All Ministries/Departments arc requested that the above provisions regarding grant of pension under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(R.C Sethi) Deputy Secretary to Government of India
To, All Ministries/Departments/Organisations (As per standard list)
Power to withhold or withdraw pension / gratuity in cases of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021
F. No. 38/01(05)/2022-P&PW(A) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003 Dated: 26.10.2022
Office Memorandum
Subject: Power to withhold or withdraw pension/gratuity in cases of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021.
The undersigned is directed to say that Rule 8 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 has been amended vide Notification No. GSR 770(E) dated 07.10.2022. As per earlier Rule 8 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, the President had the power, in all cases, to withhold/withdraw a pension/gratuity, if in any departmental or judicial proceedings, the pensioner was found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service, including service rendered upon re-employment after retirement.
2. As per the amended Rule 8, approval of President shall be required only for ordering withholding/withdrawing pension or gratuity in the case of a pensioner who retired from a post for which President is the appointing authority and, in other cases, Secretary of the Administrative Ministry or Department shall be competent to order withholding/withdrawing pension or gratuity, if the pensioner is found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service in any departmental or judicial proceedings. Similarly, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India shall be competent to order withholding/withdrawing pension or gratuity in the case of a pensioner who retired from the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, for which an authority subordinate to the President is the appointing authority. Consultation with UPSC will also not be necessary in cases where the President is not the appointing authority
3. A provision for appeal against an order of an authority other than the President has also been made in the amended Rule 8(6A). Provisions for revision/review of the orders by the President have also been made in Rule 8(7) & Rule 8(8), respectively.
4. All Ministries/Departments arc requested that the above amended provisions regarding power to withhold or withdraw pension/gratuity in case where the pensioner is found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits, for strict implementation.
(R.C Sethi) Deputy Secretary to Government of India
Sub: Processing of cases for authorisation of pension/family pension in respect of (i) a Government servant who is not in a position to submit the pension forms on account of any bodily or mental infirmity, and (ii) a Government servant who dies after retirement without having submitted the pension forms.
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has notified the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 in supersession of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972.
2. In accordance with Rule 57(3)(a) and Rule 58 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, where the Head of Office is satisfied that a Government servant, who retires on superannuation or otherwise, is not in a position to submit the pension forms on account of any bodily or mental infirmity, he may allow the spouse of the Government servant or, in the absence of the spouse, the member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant, to submit Form 4 and Form 6. If there is no member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant, a member of the family in whose favour a nomination was made by the Government servant for payment of gratuity, may be allowed to submit the said Forms. In cases where the forms are submitted by the spouse or any other member of the family, the Government servant shall not be entitled to the benefit of commutation of a percentage of pension until he himself subsequently applies for such commutation in accordance with the Central Civil Services (Commutation of Pension) Rules, 1981.
3. In accordance with Rule 59(2) read with Rule 80(5) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, the case for authorisation of pension, gratuity and family pension in respect of a Government servant, who has died after retirement without submission of pension forms, is required to be processed in the following manner:
(1) The Head of Office shall allow the spouse of the deceased Government servant or, in the absence of the spouse, any other member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant to submit the claim in Form 10 along with Form 4 and an undertaking to the Bank in Format 9. If there is no member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant, a member of the family in whose favour a nomination was made by the Government servant for payment of gratuity, shall be allowed to submit Form 6 in place of Form 10 and the said member of the family shall indicate, the details of his or her Bank Account in Form 6.
(2) The Head of Office shall fill up Form 7 for payment of pension and retirement gratuity in respect of the deceased retired Government servant and he shall also make an indication in Form 7 to the effect that the case pertains to a retired Government servant, who did not submit Form 6 and other documents before his death and if a claim for family pension has been submitted in Form 10, the Head of Office shall also issue a sanction in Format 13 for authorisation of family pension to the eligible member of the family.
(3) The Head of Office shall send Form 4, Form 7, Form 10 or Form 6, as the case may be, Format 9 and Format 13 (if applicable) with a forwarding letter in Format 10 to the Accounts Officer for authorisation of pension, retirement gratuity and family pension, if applicable.
(4) The Accounts Officer shall authorise the pension, retirement gratuity and family pension (if applicable) in Part-II of the Pension Payment Order and he shall also authorise the Head of Office to make payment of arrears of pension for the period from the date following the date of retirement up to the date of death to the member of the family who is authorised to receive family pension. If there is no member of the family eligible to receive family pension, the arrears of pension shall be paid to the member of the family who has been authorised to receive retirement gratuity.
(5) If a family pension has been authorised to a member of the family, the Accounts Officer shall forward a copy of the Pension Payment Order along with the undertaking to the Bank in Format 9 to the Central Pension Accounting Office, for issuing a Special Seal of Authority and for disbursement of family pension.
4. All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding processing of cases for authorisation of pension/family pension in respect of (i) a Government servant who is not in a position to submit the pension forms on account of any bodily or mental infirmity, and (11) a Government servant who dies after retirement without having submitted the pension forms, may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(अशोक कुमार सिंह) अवर सचिव, भारत सरकार फोन: 23310108
To
All Ministries/Departments/Organisations (As per standard list).
Timelines for completion of various activities in the process of authorisation of pension and gratuity on retirement on superannuation of a Government servant: DOPPW O.M
सं. 11(15)/2022-P&PW(H)-8363 (1) भारत सरकार पेंशन और पेंशभोगी कल्याण विभाग
Sub: Timelines for completion of various activities in the process of authorisation of pension and gratuity on retirement on superannuation of a Government servant.
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has notified the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 in supersession of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972. Chapter X of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 deals with the procedure for determination and authorisation of the amounts of pension and gratuity on retirement of a Government servant.
2. The process of authorisation of pension and gratuity involves various activities to be performed by different offices/authorities. Timelines have been prescribed in the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 for completion of each of these activities. The details of the offices/authorities involved, the action to be taken by each of these offices/authorities and the timeline for completing these actions are summarised below:
Preparation of list of Government servants due for retirement– As per Rule 54, every Head of Department (HOD) is required to have a list prepared by 15th day of every month, of all Government servants who are due to retire within the next fifteen months of that date.
Intimation to the Directorate of Estates regarding issue of “No Demand Certificate’– As per Rule 55, complete details regarding the Government accommodation are required to be obtained from the Government servant at least one year before retirement and send these details, within 10 days to the Directorate of Estates for issuing a “No demand certificate’ in respect of the period preceding eight months of the retirement of the Government servant. If the Government servant is/was not in occupation of any residential accommodation, HOO shall issue the ‘No Demand Certificate’ on the basis of a declaration from the Government servant in this regard and after verification of the records and no separate ‘No Demand Certificate’ from the Directorate of Estates shall be necessary in such cases.
Preparation for processing of pension case– Elaborate procedure has been laid down in Rules 56 and 57 for preparatory work for processing of pension case on superannuation during the period of one year before retirement. This includes verification of service, making good the omissions, imperfections or deficiencies in the service book. In order to ensure that the emoluments during the last ten months of service have been correctly shown in the service book, the Head of Office shall verify the correctness of emoluments only for the period of twenty-four months preceding the date of retirement of a Government servant, and not for any period prior to that date. At least, eight months prior to the date of retirement of the Government servant, the HOO shall furnish to the retiring Government servant a certificate regarding the length of qualifying service and the emoluments/average emoluments to be reckoned for retirement gratuity and pension and advise the retiring Government servant to submit/fill the required pension Forms
The Government servant shall submit the completed Forms not later than six months prior to his date of retirement.
Completion of pension case.-Detailed procedure for completion of pension papers (i.e. Form 7) by the HOO has been laid down in Rule 59 and 60. The HOO is required to send the pension case to the Pay & Accounts Office with a covering letter in Format 10, within two months from the date of receipt of pension forms from the Government servant.
Authorisation of pension and gratuity by the Accounts Officer– On receipt of pension case the Accounts Officer shall apply the requisite checks and issue the pension payment order not later than two months in advance of the date of the retirement of a Government servant on attaining the age of superannuation. The Accounts Officer shall indicate in the PPO, the name of the spouse of the Government servant, if alive, as family pensioner. The names of the permanently disabled child or children and dependent parents and disabled siblings Accounts Officer shall also be indicated in the PPO, the as family pensioners, if there is no other member of family to whom family pension may become payable before such disabled child or children or dependent parents or disabled siblings.
Issue of Special Seal of Authority and disbursement of pension– The Accounts Officer shall forward a copy of the Pension Payment Order to the Central Pension Accounting Office, within two months from the date of receipt of pension papers from the HOO. The CPAO shall issue the Special Seal of Authority and forward the same to the Pension Disbursing Authority along with the copy of the Pension Payment Order within twenty one days from the date of receipt of the Pension Payment Order. The Pension Disbursing Authority shall thereafter take action to disburse the pension to the retired Government servant on the date on which it becomes due.
3. All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding timelines for processing of a pension under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(अशोक कुमार सिंह) अवर सचिव, भारत सरकार फोन: 23310108
To All Ministries/Departments/Organisations (As per standard list).
Sub: Nation-wide Campaign for Submission of Digital Life Certificate – reg.
The undersigned is directed to say that submission of Life Certificate is an important activity to be carried out by pensioners every year in the month of November (with special provision for pensioners aged 80 years and above to submit their Life Certificates mm the month of October) to ensure continuity of their pension.
2. In the traditional mode, pensioners had to present themselves before the Pension Disbursing Authority for physical submission of their Life Certificate which entailed waiting at the bank branches in queues for this purpose. This was found inconvenient for the old, ailing and infirm pensioners. Further, there was no mechanism for the pensioners to get a sluts regarding updation of their Life Certificates in the records of the Pension Disbursing Authority.
3. To enhance “Ease of Living’ of Central Government pensioners, this Department has been promoting Digital Life Certificate (DLC) i.e. Jeevan Pramaan extensively. Initially, submission of DLCs using biometrics was commenced. However, issues regarding authentication processes of DLCs were faced by older pensioners due to non-capturing of finger bio-metrics on account of aging.
4. This Department therefore engaged with MeitY to develop a face-recognition technology system based on UIDAI Aadhaar database whereby it is possible to submit Life Certificate from any Android based smart phone. As per this facility, the identity of a person is established through face recognition technique. The UIDAI server identifies the same and DLC gets generated. This breakthrough technology launched m November 2021 has reduced the dependence of pensioners on external bio-metric devices and has made the process more accessible and affordable to masses by leveraging smartphone-based technology. The SOP regarding the DLC/Face Authentication technique is attached for reference.
5. With a view to spread awareness amongst all the Central Government pensioners as well as the Pension Disbursing Authorities for use of DLC/Face Authentication Technology to submit Digital Life Certificate, DoPPW is launching nation-wide campaign for whole month of November 2022 for their ‘Ease of Living.’
6. The Nation-wide Campaign for DLC may be carried out as per guidelines mentioned below to reach out to the maximum number of pensioners to avail the service as a request to the following stake-holders:-
(i) Role of Banks:
A nodal officer. not below the rank of Assistant General Manager, may be nominated for the Nation-wide DLC Campaign.
Spread awareness, give due publicity to DLC/Face Authentication technique through banners‘ posters placed in digi-huts, ATMs and branches.
Where Doorstep banking services are availed, the Bank Correspondent should use DLO Pace Authentication technique as tar as possible. This technique is beneficial since it avoids paper work and does away with the need to verify physical LCs,
Similarly, dedicated staff at branches should be equipped with an Android phone ta use this technology when pensioners visit the branch for submission of Life Certificate.
Camps should be held by bank branches to enable pensioners to submit their DLCs without delay.
However, where DLC docs not work due to any reason no Pensioner shall be returned and traditional manual LC can be submitted.
(ii) Role of Ministries/Departments:
A nodal officer, nol below the rank of DS-‘Dir, may be nominated by all Ministries/Departments.
Provision should be made for generating Digital Life Certificates using DLC/Face Authentication technique by providing an Android phone to the designated person at every field office for the entire month of the campaign. GLC should be issued for all Central Government pensioners visiting the Ministry Department, field offices, and subordinate organizations.
Wide publicity should be given to this campaign by spreading awareness through banners/social media/whatsapp groups/SMS Messages/through staff unions.
Photographs to be taken for posting of tweets of such campaigns.
In case of request from bed ridden pensioners, an officer shall be deputed for DLO submission.
Weekly PIB notes giving information about the campaign should be published.
(iii) Role of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:
All CGHS Wellness centers/Dispensaries/Hospitals may be directed to set up camps in their premises for submission of Digital Life Certificates using DLO Face Authentication technique/biometric.
A dedicated person should be equipped with an Android phone for issue of Digital Life Certificate of the pensioners visiting the camp.
Pictures taken during the process are to be forwarded to DoPPW.
(iv) Role of Pensioners’ Associations:
Special DLC camps should be organized through the month using DLC/Face Authentication technique
DoPPW officials. in collaboration with Pensioners’ Associations, will visit 37 centers where a large number of pensioners can be facilitated in issuance of their DLCs using DLC/Face Authentication technology.
Pictures are to be taken and posted on twitter and also sent to DoPPW.
(v) Role of IPPB:
A nodal officer may be nominated at a senior level.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to utilize its network of access points in Post Offices and Postmen & Gramin Dak Sevaks to provide doorstep DLC facility to pensioners as per their earlier arrangement.
Pictures are lo be taken and posted on twitter and also sent to DoPPW.
Encl: As Above.
अशोक कुमार सिंह) अवर सचिव, भारत प्रकार फोन: 23310108
Consolidated guidelines on Rotational Transfer Policy for Central Secretariat Service
No. 21/19/2022-CS.I(P) Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances Department of Personnel and Training Government of India
Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 2nd November, 2022
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Consolidated guidelines on Rotational Transfer Policy (RTP) for Central Secretariat Service – Regarding.
The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) is managed centrally in CS.I Division of Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) for all matters relating to appointment, promotion, posting/transfer etc. CSS provides a permanent bureaucratic set up in the Central Secretariat and officers of the service provide continuity in the Central Secretariat. As a part of the cadre management , the officers of the Service can be posted to any Ministry/Department under Central Secretariat and other offices participating in CSS in Delhi and also located outside Delhi.
2. In order to manage transfer/ posting of the officers of the CSS in a definite framework, a Rotational Transfer Policy (RTP) has been in existence for quite some time. As various amendments in the policy have since been made at different times, it is felt to consolidate the same and accordingly , the consolidated guidelines with certain amendments on RTP in CSS have been drawn up and annexed herewith for information and compliance.
(P.B. Sahu) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
To:
All Cadre Units of CSS through website of DoPT.
Consolidated Guidelines on Rotational Transfer Policy (RTP) for Officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
1. Grouping of Ministries/ Departments
(i) Ministries/ Departments have been divided into two groups — Group `A’ and Group ‘B’ vide Annexure-I. If an officer has served his tenure in Group ‘A’, he/she will be eligible for transfer to Group ‘B’ and vice versa.
(ii) However, an officer posted in Group ‘A’ Ministry/ Department may also opt for posting to another Ministry/ Department in Group ‘A’ on promotion. On his posting in the new Ministry/ Department in Group ‘A’, tenure will be counted afresh for future transfer under RTP.
2. Tenure
The minimum tenure required in a particular Ministry/ Department to be eligible for transfer from one cadre to another is as under:
(i) On promotion, an officer at any level shall be posted out of the Ministry/ Department if he/she has served in the same Ministry/ Department in any capacity for a period exceeding the prescribed tenure for the promotion post.
(ii) If the officer is due for superannuation within two years, he/she will be retained in the same Ministry/ Department against an existing vacancy of the promotional post. In case of no vacancy of the promotional post, then the officer will be transferred to another Ministry/ Department.
(iii) If the officer is due for superannuation within six months on promotion, he/she will not be transferred as in such a short period one cannot be expected to contribute usefully in another Ministry/ Department. Further, such a transfer may result in delay in finalisation of pension papers. Such an officer will be retained in the same Ministry/ Department against an available vacancy of the promotional post. In the absence of a vacancy, the post held by him/her will be upgraded on personal basis by keeping one post in another Ministry/ Department vacant so as not to exceed the cadre strength. On retirement, the post will revert to its original level.
4. Officers exempted from transfer under RTP
(i) Officers of all grades within two years of superannuation will be exempted from rotational transfers.
(ii) Officers likely to be promoted within one year shall be exempted from the RTP as on promotion officers are transferred if they have completed the prescribed tenure for the promotional post.
5. Offices exempted under RTP
Officers serving in PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, O/o Solicitor General & Attorney General, Addl. Solicitor General will be exempted under RTP. It is considered necessary that these offices may be allowed to retain officers of choice beyond the prescribed tenure under RTP. However, before issue of transfer orders under RTP, these offices will be notified about the officers matured for transfer and if the office concerned decides to retain any of the officers also keeping in view the willingness of the officers concerned, it will inform DoPT and such officers will be exempted from RTP. This exercise will be repeated every year.
6. Surrender of Officers
(i) Unilateral surrender or relieving of officers on any ground is not allowed as surrender or relieving of an officer poses several problems to the Cadre Controlling Authority. If an officer is not performing, Ministries/ Departments concerned are expected to initiate appropriate action either to penalize or to reform the officer. Moreover, the officer surrendered/ relieved has to be posted somewhere and it will be difficult for the Ministry/ Department, where he/she is posted to work with such an officer. If situation warrants that an officer has to be surrendered/ relieved, then a request should be made to DoPT with detailed reasons and DoPT will consider the request on merits, whether to transfer the officer or not.
(ii) If despite the instructions, any Ministry/ Department surrenders an officer unilaterally, then such surrender would be presumed to have been made along with the post and the sanctioned strength of the concerned Ministry/ Department would be reduced accordingly and no replacement would be provided to the cadre unit concerned for one year. After expiry of one year, the position will be reviewed for restoration of the post and posting of an officer.
7. Posting of Officers on return from Deputation/Long Leave/Long Term Training
(i) An officer of any grade is required to report to CS.I Division (DoPT) on his/her return from deputation/long leave/long term training and will be posted to any Ministry/ Department based on the administrative exigencies. In such cases, this posting will be treated as a fresh tenure. In case it is decided that an officer is to be posted back to the same Ministry/ Department he last served, then his tenure will be limited to the balance period of the tenure prescribed for the grade subject to the availability of the vacancy and subject to the condition that at least one year of balance tenure is left.
(ii) Period of leave/ training exceeding six months will be treated as long leave/ long term training for the purpose of posting under RTP.
(iii) Officers to be retained on promotion in the same Ministry/ Department in terms of the RTP would be adjusted first and only thereafter officers returning from deputation, long leave or training would be considered for retention, subject to availability of vacancy.
(iv) In all cases not covered under existing provisions like merger and winding up of Departments/ Ministries etc., the posting to Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ of the officer would be determined as follows:
(a) If balance term in a particular Group available is 2 years or more, then the officer would be posted to the Group in which the erstwhile Department/ Ministry was categorized.
(b) If balance term in a particular Group available is less than 2 years, then the officer would be posted to the Group where his/her entire service is less.
8. Posting to the Ministry/ Department earlier worked
An officer who is to be transferred out on promotion from the current Ministry/ Department on completion of prescribed tenure or for want of a vacancy of the promotional post as the case may be, and on rotational transfer may also be allowed option for posting in a Ministry/ Department where he earlier served subject to the condition that there is a gap of period which is equal to tenure prescribed for the post.
9. Preference for posting
(i) Promotion is made against available vacancies. Preferences for posting on promotion, if allowed, shall be accommodated as far as possible within the available vacancies and in the order of seniority.
(ii) The list of officers who are in the approved panel for promotion and to be promoted in the next order will be notified on the website of this Department along with the vacancy position. Officers concerned may furnish three preferences for posting within the available vacancies within 7 days of notification of vacancies.
(iii) Occasions arise that some vacancies are to be filled up immediately on functional needs, and on such occasions, it is not possible to wait for the next promotion order. As such vacancies are filled up by the next officer in the panel approved for promotion and in such cases the question of seeking preferences will not arise.
(iv) Posting on promotion/ transfer will be recommended by a Placement Committee, as per functional need and its recommendations will be approved by the Competent Authority.
(v) The Placement Committee will recommend posting of officers either on promotion or under rotational transfer keeping in view relevant factors viz. vacancies, seniority, preference for posting, past experience, specialized training done, etc. In case of isolated postings involving few officers returning from long leave, long term training, and repatriation from deputation etc., approval of the Competent Authority will be obtained without the Placement Committee procedure to avoid delay in posting of officers.
(vi) For posting of officers to PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and Central Vigilance Commission, as identified by these offices, no willingness will be sought and the officers will be posted to these offices even without their completion of tenure in the Cadre Unit/ Ministry/ Department.
(vii) CS.I Division (DoPT) will share the list of CSS Officers eligible/ covered under RTP with UPSC in each grade and to consider the request of the Commission for retention on case to case basis and in exceptional cases. Retention, so allowed, will be for a period not exceeding 50% of the normal tenure or till the promotion of the officer, whichever is earlier.
(viii) Any Officer who is not clear from vigilance angle and who may/ may not be due for transfer under RTP may be transferred out in case a report is received from the concerned Ministry/ Department. Such an officer will be posted to a non- sensitive post in any Ministry/ Department without seeking his option for posting irrespective of the tenure of his posting in that Ministry/ Department.
10. Outstation Posting
The offices of the Central Ministries/ Departments participating in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) are mostly located in the National Capital Region (NCR). However, there are a few posts of CSS which are located outside NCR in the various regions of the country. The CSS being a transferable service, members of the CSS are liable to be posted to such posts located outside NCR also. Posts of CSS located outside NCR will be filled up as under:
(i) Section Officers’ Grade and Assistant Section Officers’ Grade:
(a) The cadre-unit will fill up the post from amongst the officers of the Ministry/ Department by circulating the post. In case of non-availability of officers within the Ministry/ Department, the cadre unit will approach DoPT. DoPT will circulate the post and invite applications from eligible CSS officers in all the Ministries/ Departments and post the selected officer to the outstation vacancy.
(b) Once posted to an outstation office, an officer in ASO/ SO grade will have tenure of seven years i.e. the maximum proposed up to this level, irrespective of the tenure rendered in the Ministry/ Department at Delhi.
Prescription of an assured tenure in such outstation posting is considered necessary as officers seek outstation posting generally on compelling family circumstances.
(c) If no application is received after circulation by DoPT, the present incumbent will be allowed to continue on the post for one more year after which the post will be re-circulated once a year till a new incumbent is selected.
(ii) Under Secretary and above level posts:
For US and above level vacancies in offices located outside NCR, CS.I Division will invite applications from the willing officers. On the basis of applications received, an officer will be posted with the approval of the competent authority keeping in view the posting profile of the officer/ his family circumstances requiring posting to the particular station etc. The tenure of the officer in the outstation posting will be five years.
(iii) On conclusion of outstation posting, officers of all grades will report to DoPT for further posting provided they had completed the prescribed tenure under RTP i.e. tenure in the Ministry/ Department at Delhi + outstation office of the same Ministry/ Department.
(iv) In the absence of willing officers, DoPT may at its discretion post officers to such outstation postings as CSS carries all India service liability.
11. Mutual Transfer
Request for mutual transfer of officers may be considered by the Department of Personnel & Training subject to the following conditions:
(i) Both of the officers applied for mutual transfer should have completed at least 50% of the tenure prescribed for the post.
(ii) The request has been recommended by the Secretary of the Departments concerned.
(iii) The officers concerned should be clear from vigilance angle.
(iv) Requests for mutual transfers will be considered on case-to-case basis keeping functional considerations in mind.
(v) Tenure on mutual transfer in the new Ministry/ Department will be counted afresh for further transfer under RTP.
12. Transfer on request
Section Officers and Assistant Section Officers on completion of five-year tenure in a Ministry/ Department may on their own volition request for transfer.
However, such transfers will be restricted to the Ministries/ Departments in Group ‘A’ i.e. the transfer will be allowed within Group ‘A’ or from Group ‘B’ to Group ‘A’ and shall further be subject to availability of vacancies. On such transfer their tenure in the new Ministry/ Department will be counted afresh and they will be required to serve the prescribed full tenure for the post before they are considered for transfer.
13. Transfer and posting requests from differently-abled officers
Physically handicapped persons suffer from a range of problems on account of mobility. There may be many peculiar issues viz., the location of bus stop/ metro station near their office, the area where they reside and the conveyance they are using to reach office etc., which may have a bearing on the performance of their official duties. Although these are minor issues for persons without disability, these can have a very huge effect on the day to day activities of a disabled person. Requests from such officers will, therefore, be considered for posting on case-to-case basis.
14. Cut-off date and tentative schedule of transfer
(i) The cut-off date for calculating the period of residency in a Ministry/ Department will be 1st July of the year in which rotational transfer is carried out. An officer for being covered under RTP should have completed prescribed tenure as on 1st July of the year. The cut-off date for calculating two years/ six months (in case of promotion/ superannuation) will be calculated as on the last date of the month in which rotational transfer order is issued.
(ii) The rotation under RTP in each grade will be undertaken once in a year.
(iii) To ensure smooth transition from outgoing to incoming staff, rotation will be done phase-wise and grade wise once in a year as under (indicative schedule):
15th May – Deputy Secretaries and above 15th July – Under Secretaries 15th October – Section Officers 15th December – Assistant Section Officers
(iv) Equal number of officers will be transferred and posted to ensure relievers are available for the officers transferred out. This is possible only if the number of officers covered under rotational transfer in both the groups is equal to ensure provision of relievers in place of transferred officers. If there is a mismatch between the number of officers covered under rotational transfer between the Groups, only equal number of officers will be transferred on the basis of higher length of service and the remaining left out officers will be covered in the next round of rotational transfer in the subsequent year.
15. Posting/ transfer of Joint Secretary (in-situ)
(i) The posts of JS in Central Secretariat are entirely filled up under the Central Staffing Scheme (C.St.S). However, CSS Directors empanelled for appointment as JS under Central Staffing Scheme are given in-situ promotion as JS in SAG Grade at their current place of posting till they are placed under C.St.S. with such in-situ promotion restricted to 40 in number.
(ii) If a Ministry/ Department is desirous of utilizing the services of a JS (in-situ) by giving the officer independent charge as JS or otherwise, it may identify an officer from among JSs (in-situ) and inform DoPT. Such an identified officer will be transferred to that Ministry/ Department against an available vacancy in DS/Dir./JS(in-situ) Grade provided he/she is willing for such transfer. In case of such transfer, the tenure prescribed for DS/Dir./JS(in-situ) Grade in a Ministry/ Department and condition of Group will not be attracted.
16. Non-compliance of orders issued by DoPT
In terms of Rule 19 of CSS Rules, 2009, the Department of Personnel and Training shall be the competent authority to transfer a cadre officer of any Grade from one cadre unit to another cadre unit and it shall be the duty of the concerned cadre unit to relieve the officer concerned within 45 days of the transfer order. If not relieved within 45 days, the officer concerned shall be deemed to have been relieved and thereafter the officer shall not be entitled to draw any salary and allowances from the Ministry/ Department from which transferred.
17. Timing of promotion/ transfer orders
DoPT will issue promotion/ transfer orders as far as possible on the last working day of the week (generally Friday) and the officer concerned stands relieved immediately and he/she will be required to join the allocated Ministry/ Department on the first working day of the next week (generally Monday). This will be equally applicable to officers posted in attached offices of the Ministries/ Departments. The onus to join the allocated Ministry/ Department on the basis of order issued by DoPT will be on the officer concerned and it will also be incumbent upon the Ministry/ Department not to release the salary to the officer beyond the stipulated date. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may attract administrative action by the DoPT.
18. Saving clause
Modification/ relaxation in implementation of the provisions of RTP will be considered by the Competent Authority in DoPT.
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Annexure-I
Group-A
S.No
Ministry/Department
1
Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances
2
Agricultural Research & Education
3
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
4
Animal Husbandry & Dairying
5
AYUSH
6
Bio-Technology
7
Cabinet Secretariat
8
Central Information Commission
9
Central Bureau of Investigation
10
Central Vigilance Commission
11
Cooperation
12
Development of North Eastern Region
13
Defence
14
Drinking Water & Sanitation
15
Earth Sciences
16
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
17
Expenditure
18
Fisheries
19
Home Affairs
20
Inter-State Council Secretariat
21
Investment & Public Asset Management
22
Justice
23
Labour & Employment
24
Legal Affairs
25
Legislative Department
26
Lokpal Secretariat
27
Minority Affairs
28
National Disaster Management Authority
29
National Intelligence Grid
30
Panchayati Raj
31
Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
32
Personnel & Training
33
Posts
34
Prime Minister’s Office
35
Public Enterprises
36
Registrar General of India
37
Rural Development
38
Science & Technology
39
Scientific and Industrial Research
40
Social Justice & Empowerment
41
Staff Selection Commission
42
Statistics & Programme Implementation
43
Tribal Affairs
44
Union Public Service Commission
45
Unique Identification Authority of India
46
Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
