No.2(13)/2008-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
*****
New Delhi, 4th March, 2011.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Decision of the Government on the recommendations of the sixth Central Pay Commission relating to re-classification of cities/towns for grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA).
The undersigned is directed to refer to para 6 of this Ministry’s O.M. of even number dated 29.08.2008 on the above mentioned subject, vide which the special dispensation for grant of HRA has been allowed to continue to (i) Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida & Gurgaon at “X” class city rates and (ii) Jalandhar Cantt., Shillong, Goa & Port Blair at “Y” class city rates and to state that the special dispensation allowed to Panchkula for grant of HRA at par with Chandigarh vide this Ministry’s O.M. No.2(2)/2001-E.II(B) dated 16.06.2003, shall also continue.
2. In this context, it is also clarified that any other similar special dispensation allowed by this Ministry in the past in respect of other cities for grant of HRA at higher rates and not specifically mentioned in this Ministry’s O.M. of even number dated 29.08.2008, shall continue to apply, if the same has not been superceded/dispensed with or the existing classification of such city has not been revised to a higher classification on account of the population criteria, vide O.M. dated 29.08.2008.
3. These orders shall be effective from 1st September,2008.
4. All other conditions governing grant of HRA under existing orders shall continue to apply.
5. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.
6. Hindi version is attached.
(Anil Sharma)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
F. N0.12/2/2011-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
*****
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 21 st March, 2011.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2011 – Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
It has been decided to declare Thursday, the 14th April 2011, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India.
2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).
3. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned.
(Dinesh Kapila)
Director to the Government of India
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– igecorner.com Indian Government Employees Corner
No.R-11018/1/2010.SS-II
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
************
Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg,
New Delhi, dated the 17th March, 2011.
To
The Central Provident Fund Commissioner,
Employees Provident Fund Organisation,
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan,
Bhikaiji Cama Place,
New Delhi
Subject:- Declaration of rate of interest on EPF interest for the year 2010-11.
Sir,
The undersigned is directed to refer to CPFC’s U0 Note No.Invst.l/3(2)/133/1011/ROI/205 dated 13-10-2010 on the subject mentioned above and to convey the approval of the Central Government under para 60(1) of the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 to crediting of interest @ 9.5% for the year 2010-11 to the account of each member of the Scheme on the condition that the 4.72 crore Member accounts should be updated within a period of six months and if any shortfall in Interest Suspense Account is noticed, then the same should be adjusted in the interest rate to be fixed for the next year (2011-12).
2. You are, therefore, requested to take necessary action accordingly under intimation to the Ministry.
Yours faithfully,
(S.D. Xavier)
Under Secretary to Govt. of India
Over 4.7 crore employees will get 9.5 per cent interest on provident fund deposits for the year 2010-11.
The Finance Ministry on Thursday ratified the hike in provident fund deposits for 2010-11 by 1 per cent to 9.5 per cent. A proposal for the hike was sent by the Labour Ministry in February.
The EPFO had been paying 8.5 per cent interest on PF deposits since 2005-06.
EPFO claims that it will dip into the Rs. 1700 crore of unclaimed deposits lying with it to pay the higher return.
The EPFO’s apex decision making body – The Central Board of Trustees – had earlier decided on a 9.5 per cent rate of return on retirement savings in 2010-11 after it found a surplus of Rs. 1,731 crore.
M/s Eagle Vision Services Private Limited, Rohini, Delhi has been engaged for carrying out the inspection of the residential premises of Directorate of Estates located at Delhi.
No allottee was given notice to vacate the quarter solely on the basis of inspection report. The inspection report of M/s Eagle Vision Services Ltd. is examined in the Directorate. In case subletting is suspected, the Deputy Director of Estates, after affording full opportunity to the allottee to present his case, decides the factum of subletting in a Quasi-Judicial manner. In proved cases of subletting, allotment of quarter is cancelled. The allottee has right to appeal against the order of cancellation.
This information was given by Shri Saugata Roy, Minister of State for Urban Development in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
The Government has sanctioned residential and office accommodation in the State of Chattisgarh for Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) including Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA).
The construction work related to office and residential accommodation for CRPF personnel at Bilaspur (Chattisgarh) has been allotted to Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which is a Government organization. The construction work of CoBRA at Jagdalpur has been allotted to National Building Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC), in consultation with MoUD under the provisions of General Financial Rules 126(4). NBCC is a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD). A Memorandum of Understanding has been executed by CRPF with NBCC which has a provision for penalty in case of delays.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Mullappally Ramachandran in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today
The Government has provided commando training to women personnel of Delhi Police to tackle the law and order situation in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Commando training is being provided to women personnel of Delhi Police with effect from January, 2011 and as many as 461 woman constables of Delhi Police have been imparted commando training during the current year (up to 28.02.2011).
As regards other States, their Police forces have their own training institutes to impart commando training to their women police personnel.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Mullappally Ramachandran in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan (KVS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a national level programme of continuous training of KVS teachers. The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister of State for HRD Dr. D. Purandeswari. Also present were Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Smt. Anshu Vaish, Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU and Shri Avinash Dikshit, Commissioner, KVS. The MoU was signed by Registrar, IGNOU (Shri U.S. Tolia) and Jt. Commissioner (Admn.), KVS (Shri O.M. Prabhakaran).
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Purandeswari said that there is a need for continued professional development of teachers to meet the demand of quality in education. She appreciated the launch of the IGNOU-KVS training initiative. She added that this step is of immense significance in view of the importance of teacher training in the light of the Right of Education Act.
The target group for this training includes primary teachers, graduate teachers and post-graduate teachers. Under the present collaborative programme, the teachers of KVS would be required to undergo 6 months training including at least 15 days face to face programme with pre-training assessment and post training follow up, feed back cum assessment. The training would focus on content upgradation of teachers with respect to their own special subject areas. They would also be given in-depth training on new knowledge and its relevance to their work. Teachers would relearn new and innovative classroom management techniques and strategies for improving quality of teaching. A team of Experts would draw up a detailed training design, which would be periodically reviewed. Feedback on the training would be taken for continuously upgrading the quality of the programme. The duration of the programme will be six months. The training would be conducted in English and Hindi medium.
The Methodology for the training programme would be:
• Face to face interaction
• Self learning
• Audio video support
• Teleconferencing with a two-way audio and one-way video facility.
• Self-learning printed course material packages
• Assignment for assessment and feedback
• Practicals at designated institutions
• Work-related field projects/functional assignment as per programme requirement.
• Telecast of video and audio programmes on National Network of Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani
• Resource support through eGyankosh
The teachers would have to undergo an evaluation. Certificates upon completion of programme would be provided by IGNOU. A JCC consisting of representatives from IGNOU and KVS would be formed by the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU and the Commissioner, KVS to prepare appropriate modalities of Training Programmes and its smooth conduct.
The Central Government has introduced the New Pension System (NPS) with effect from January 1, 2004. The new pension system covers, at present, new entrants to Central Government services (excluding Defence Forces) and is expected in due course to be available to all other citizens of India. Under the new pension system, CRA will be required to maintain subscriber accounts and issue a unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) to each subscriber. In this system, deductions towards NPS will be made from subscriber’s salary on monthly basis and equal amount of contribution will be made by the Government. The accumulated amount will be reflected in his/her Permanent Retirement Account while he/she is working and shall use the accumulations at retirement to procure a pension for the rest of his/her life. Subscribers in this system shall enjoy certain facilities and rights including portability across jobs and locations, choices of selection of Pension Funds and investment schemes, freedom to switch between service providers and nationwide access.
NSDL has built necessary infrastructure for providing CRA services to various stakeholders. CRA has gone operational from June, 2008. CRA would manage NPS Contribution Accounting Network (NPSCAN) related data until it is separated from the CRA applications. The NPS is expected to evolve over a period of time to include unorganized sector, self employed persons and any other citizen of India on a voluntary basis. The record keeping function of unorganized sector shall be decided by PFRDA / GoI independently in due course.
Role of CRA in NPS system
a)The recordkeeping, administration and customer service functions for all subscribers of the New Pension System will be centralised and performed by the CRA.
b)The CRA will issue unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) to each subscriber, maintain database of all PRANs and record the transactions related to each subscriber’s PRAN
c)The CRA shall be responsible for receiving funds and instructions from subscribers through the nodal offices, transmitting such instructions and funds to the appointed Pension Fund Managers, trustee Bank, Annuity Service Provider effecting switching instructions received from subscribers
d)The CRA will provide periodic consolidated Statement Of Transaction (SOT) to each subscriber and discharge such other duties and functions as may be determined by the guidelines, directions and regulations issued by the PFRDA from time to time
e)The CRA will be responsible to maintain absolute confidentially of all records, data and information. CRA shall produce all this information as and when called for by PFRDA
f)The CRA will be responsible for timely transfer of subscriber contributions information, timely allocation of these funds by PFs, and accurately crediting and reporting allocation of units into each PRAN.
Main Features and Architecture of the New Pension System
The new pension system would be based on defined contributions. It will use the existing network of bank branches and post offices etc. to collect contributions. There will be seamless transfer of accumlations in case of change of employment and/or location. It will also offer a basket of investment choices and Fund managers. The new pension system will be voluntary.
The system would, however, be mandatory for new recruits to the Central Government service (except the armed forces). The monthly contribution would be 10 percent of the salary and DA to be paid by the employee and matched by the Central Government. However, there will be no contribution from the Government in respect of individuals who are not Government employees. The contributions and returns thereon would be deposited in a non-withdrawable pension account. The existing provisions of defined benefit pension and GPF would not be available to the new recruits in the central Government service.
In addition to the above pension account, each individual can have a voluntary tier-II withdrawable account at his option. Government will make no contribution into this account. These assets would be managed in the same manner as the pension. The accumlations in this account can be withdrawn anytime without assigning any reason.
Individuals can normally exit at or after age 60 years from the pension system. At exit, the individual would be required to invest at least 40 percent of pension wealth to purchase an annuity. In case of Government employees, the annuity should provide for pension for the lifetime of the employee and his dependent parents and his spouse at the time of retirement. The individual would receive a lump-sum of the remaining pension wealth, which she would be free to utilize in any manner. Individuals would have the flexibility to leave the pension system prior to age 60. However, in this case, the mandatory annuitisation would be 80% of the pension wealth.
There will be one or more central record keeping agency (CRA), several pension fund managers (PFMs) to choose from which will offer different categories of schemes.
The participating entities (PFMs, CRA etc.) would give out easily understood information about past performance & regular NAVs, so that the individual would able to make informed choices about which scheme to choose.
