This blog is meant for use by members of the Association for news and views. Send comments / suggestions / views to e-mail Id: aiaipasp.ors@gmail.com

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Spending of 50% Amount on Hindi Advertisement

To view please Click Here.

No Change in the Rate of Personal Income-Tax and The Rate of Tax for Companies on Income in Financial Year 2015-16

Surcharge @12% Levied on Individuals, HUFs, AOPs, BOIs, Artificial Juridical Persons, Firms, Cooperative Societies and Local Authorities Having Income Exceeding Rs 1 Crore
The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in his Budget Speech in Lok Sabha today proposed no change in the rate of personal Income-tax. He announced the tax proposals with no change in the rate of tax for companies in respect of the income earned in the financial year 2015-16, assessable in the assessment year 2016-17.

However, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley proposed to levy a surcharge at the rate of 12% on individuals, HUFs, AOPs, BOIs, artificial juridical persons, firms, cooperative societies and local authorities having income exceeding Rs 1 crore. Surcharge in the case of domestic companies having income exceeding Rs 1 crore and upto Rs 10 crore is proposed to be levied @ 7% and surcharge @ 12% is proposed to be levied on domestic companies having income exceeding Rs 10 crore.

Shri Jaitley further proposed that in the case of foreign companies the surcharge will continue to be levied @ 2% if the income exceeds Rs 1 crore and is upto Rs 10 crore, and @ 5% if the income exceeds Rs 10 crore.

It is also proposed to levy a surcharge @ 12% as against current rate of 10% on additional income-tax payable by companies on distribution of dividends and buyback of shares, or by mutual funds and securitization trusts on distribution of income.

The education cess on income-tax @ 2% for fulfillment of the commitment of the Government to provide and finance universalized quality based education and 1% of additional surcharge called ‘Secondary and Higher Education Cess’ on tax and surcharge is proposed to be continued for the financial year 2015-16 for all taxpayers.

***


DSM/YSK/SK
(Release ID :116165)

Source:-PIB

Benefits to Middle Class Tax Payers in the Budget 2015-16

Payments to the Beneficiaries Including Interest Payment on Deposit in Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme to be Fully Exempt
The Union Minister of Finance Shri Arun Jaitley in his Budget Speech in Lok Sabha today proposed rationalization of various tax exemptions and incentives to reduce tax disputes and improve tax administration. He said, with a view to encourage savings and to promote health care among individual tax payers, it is proposed to increase the limit of reduction of health insurance premium from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 and for senior citizen this limit is increase from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000.

For senior citizen above the age of 80 years, not eligible to take health insurance, deduction is allowed for Rs 30,000 toward medical expenditure.  Deduction limit of Rs 60,000 on expenditure on account of specified diseases is enhanced to Rs 80,000 in the case of senior citizens.

Additional deduction of Rs 25,000 is allowed for differently-abled persons, increasing the limit from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. It is also proposed to increase the limit of deduction from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.25 lakh in case of severe disability.

            The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley also proposed to provide that investment in Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme will be eligible for deduction under section 80C of the income-tax and any payment from the scheme shall not be liable to tax.

Limit on deduction on account of contribution to a pension fund and the new pension scheme is proposed to be increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.

            Additional deduction of Rs 50,000 will be allowed for contribution to the new pension scheme u/s 80 CCD increasing from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
Details of tax deductions proposed are as follows:

·         
Deduction u/s 80C 

Rs 1,50,000
·         
Deduction u/s 80CCD
Rs 50,000
·         
Deduction on account of interest on house property loan (Self occupied property)
Rs 2,00,000
·         
Deduction u/s 80D on health insurance premium
Rs 25,000
·         
Exemption of transport allowance
 Rs 19,200

Total
Rs 4,44,200



***
DSM/YSK/SK


(Release ID :116169) 

Postal Network Spread Across the Country to be Used for Increasing Access to Formal Financial System

The Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely presenting the Union Budget 2015-16, here today, said that the government is committed to increasing access of the people to the formal financial system. In this context, Government proposes to utilize the vast Postal network with nearly 1,54,000 points of presence spread across the villages of the country . The Minister hoped that the Postal Department will make its proposed Payments Bank venture successful so that it contributes further to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. 

Shri Jaitley said that to bring parity in regulation of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) with other financial institutions in matters relating to recovery, it is proposed that NBFCs registered with RBI and having asset size of Rs. 500 crore and above will b considered for notifications as ‘Financial Institution’ In terms of the SARFAESI Act, 2002. 


DSM/SS 
(Release ID :116162) 


Source:- PIB

Friday, February 27, 2015

CHQ News:- GS writes to Director (Staff) for vacancy position for PS Gr. B Examinations 2013 and 2014

No. GS/AIAIPASP/PS Gr.B-Exam 13-14/2015              dated  :       27/2/2015.

To,
Shri Rajkumar,
Director (Staff),
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001.

Sub :          Vacancy position for PS Gr. B Examinations 2013 and 2014.

Respected Sir,

IP/ASP Association would like to draw your kind attention to its letter of even number dated 28/1/2015 vide which it was requested to furnish the details of vacancies reserved for ensuing PS Gr. B Examination for the year 2013 and 2014, but as on date no information is received from Directorate.   

It is to bring to your kind notice that Directorate vide Memo No. A.34012/01/2015-DE dated 15/1/2015 has circulated calendar of departmental examinations scheduled to be held in the year 2015 wherein it is mentioned that PS Gr. B Examination 2013 and 2014 are scheduled on 21/6/2015 and 18/10/2015 respectively.

DPCs for the promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B for the vacancy year 2013 and 2014 have already been convened on 10/10/2013 and 26/2/2015 respectively.

It is therefore once again requested to kindly intimate the details of number of vacancies reserved for PS Gr. B Examination for the year 2013 and 2014 at the earliest.

Yours sincerely,

sd/- 
(Vilas Ingale)
General Secretary

Retirement on Superannuation and assumption of charge

Shri Pramod Ku. Nanda, Superintendent, Postal Stores Depot, Bhubaneswar-751007 is retiring on 28/02/2015(A/N) on superannuation. However 28/02/2015 being Saturday, formally he made over the charge today the 27th February, 2015(A/N). 

On the occasion of his retirement from Govt. Service, All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Posts , Odisha Circle Branch bids him a respectful farewell and wishes him a good-health and peaceful life in his post-retirement days

Shri P.C. Mohapatra assumed the charge of Superintendent, Postal Stores Depot, Bhubaneswar-751007 today the 27th February, 2015(A/N).

Posting in PS Group-B Cadre

Shri Ajit Ku. Dash, a PS Group-B Officer (under orders of transfer from Assam Circle) on modification of orders of posting as SPOs, Balangir Division dated 07-10-2014  is allotted to Berhampur Region for posting as SRM, RMS ‘BG’ Division, Berhampur vide C.O. Memo No.ST/2-4(2)/2013 dated 24/02/2015. 

Addendum to SB Order No.2/2015- "Sukanya Samridhi Account"



Promotion and allotment of Postal Service, Group 'B'officers to Junior Time Scale (JTS) of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' ( Pay Band-3: Rs. 15,600-39,100 + GP: Rs.5,400/-)

To view Department of Posts (Personnel Division) Order No. 4-2/2014-SPG Dated 26-02-2015 please Click Here.

Transfers / postings of the JTS/STS officers of Indian Postal Service (IPoS), Group 'A'

To view Department of Posts (Personnel Division) Order No. 4-2/2014-SPG dated 26-02-2015 please Click Here.

Link pay of Government workers with productivity, recommends finance panel

By Surojit Gupta, TNN


The 14th Finance Commission has suggested linking pay with productivity with a focus on technology, skills and incentives, a move aimed at raising the productivity of government employees. 

The panel has recommended that in future additional remuneration be linked to increase in productivity. 

The Seventh Pay Commission is expected to submit its recommendations by August and it has been asked to look at the issue of raising productivity and improving the overall quality of public services in the country. 

The Sixth Pay Commission had also said that steps should lead to improvement in the existing delivery mechanism by more delegation and de-layering and an emphasis on achieving quantifiable and concrete end results. Emphasis is to be on outcome rather than processes, it had said. The earlier Pay Commissions had also made several recommendations to enhance productivity and improve administration. 

The 14th Finance Commission's recommendations assume significance at a time when theNarendra Modi government has focused its attention to improve the delivery of public services and is taking steps to use technology to improve efficiency. 

The Union government has taken several steps to shore up the bureaucracy and has changed the way attendance is measured in government offices. 

"Further we recommend that Pay Commissions be designated as Pay and Productivity Commissions with a clear mandate to recommend measures to improve productivity of an employee," said the 14th Finance Commission headed by former Reserve Bank of India GovernorYV Reddy

The Reddy panel said productivity per employee can be raised through the application of technology in public service delivery and in public assets created. 

"Raising the skills of employees through training and capacity building also has a positive impact on productivity. The use of appropriate technology and associated skill development require incentives for employees to raise their individual productivities," the Reddy led panel said. 

"A Pay Commission's first task, therefore, would be identify the right mix of technology and skills for different categories of employees. The next step would be to design suitable financial incentives linked to measureable performance," the panel said. 

An internal study by the Commission showed that the expenditure on pay and allowances (excluding expenditure for Union territories) more than doubled for the period 2007-08 to 2012-13 from Rs 46,230 crore to Rs 1.08 lakh crore.

Source:-The Economic Times

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Adhoc Promotion in PS Group-B Cadre

Shri P.C. Mohapatra, ASP(I/C), Cuttack East Sub-Division on his promotion to PS Gr- B cadre on temporary and ad-hoc basis is allotted to Bhubaneswar HQ Region and posted as Superintendent, PSD, Bhubaneswar-751007 vide C.O Memo No. ST/2-4(3)/2015 dated 25-02-2015.

Shri Pramod Ku. Nanda, Superintendent, PSD, Bhubaneswar-751007 is retiring on Superannuation on 28/02/2015(A/N). 

Rail Budget 2015: Highlights

1. No increase in rail fares

2. Investment of Rs 8.50 lakh crore envisaged over the next five years 

3. 17,000 toilets to be replaced by bio-toilets; stress on 'clean Railways' 

4. Railways allots 67% more funds for passenger amenities 

5. Nationwide 24*7 helpline announced (24*7 helpline 138 will be effective from 1/3/2015; Toll free No. 182 for security complaints) 

6. Railways to raise finances via SPVs, partnerships 

7. Private agencies to be asked to set up waste-to-energy conversion plants 

8. Railways can play prime role in poverty elimination 

9. Chronic underinvestment has led to poor development of Railways 

10. Railways to go through transformation in five years; to increase track capacity by 10 per cent to 1.38 lakh km 

11. Rs 2000 crore for Coastal Connectivity Program; to commission 1,200 km fresh lines this year 

12. ISRO, RDSO, IIT Kanpur to help provide facilities for safety at unmanned level crossings 

13. 9 hi-speed corridors announced; work on Mumbai-Ahmedabad fast train feasibility study expedited 

14. SMS alert for arrival-departure services; reserved ticket booking window raised to 120 days 

15. Four-point goal: Improved customer experience, safer travel, better infra, financially self-sustainable 

Source:-The Economic Times

Validity of Self Attested Documents

It is a constant endeavour of the Government to simplify procedures by introduction of self certification. For this, all Central Ministries / Departments as well as State Government / UTs have been requested to review the existing requirement in this regard and make provision for self certification, wherever possible. Response from 25 States / UTs has been received indicating action taken by them. 

Different organizations prescribe different criteria for attestation, subject to statutory and legal provisions. As per its mandate, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances has been requesting them to adopt self-certification, wherever possible, as a measure of administrative reform. 

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Narendra Kumar Kashyap in the Rajya Sabha today. 
*****


KSD/PK/BK/RS 
(Release ID :115958)

Source:-PIB

Want to buy World Cup stamp souvenirs? Visit philatelic bureau

Kolkata, Feb 26 (PTI) For cricket enthusiasts, all roads now lead to the philatelic bureau of the city's General Post Office.

With the India Post procuring over one lakh souvenir sheets of stamps on the ongoing Cricket World Cup, recently released by the New Zealand postal, lovers of the game, young and old, flocked to the place.

India Post targets 50-fold growth in e-commerce revenue

 Internet retailers may have been the bane of the brick-and-mortar retail trade and a pain for the old order of things, but for one relic from the past, they are a proving to be a veritable godsend.

For India Post, a 240-year-old straggler long fighting for relevance in a digital economy, the explosive growth in this new-age business has offered it a fresh lease of life and given it the luxury of dreaming big.

These dreams have been bolstered by firms such as Flipkart and Amazon signing up for its services and with the theatre of activity for the fastgrowing ecommerce sector now moving to the country's remote corners.

The Department of Posts is targeting a seemingly implausible 50-fold increase in ecommerce revenues. "With decline in document shipments, ecommerce is our department's new focus," a top official at the Department of Posts, told ET. "We are targetingRs 5,000 crore in revenue from this segment alone in the next 24 months." It won't be an easy task given that in the previous fiscal year to end-March 2014, it earnedRs 10,750 crore in overall turnover.

This year, it is on course to earnRs 100 crore as delivery revenues from ecommerce firms, giving the department's claims a dark ring of incredulity as it is looking at a 50-fold jump in just two years. But officials point out that India Post had managed to expand ecommerce delivery revenues from Rs 20 crore toRs 100 crore in just a year, and given the explosive growth the sector is seeing, an exponential increase in revenues is not impossible. The department started cash on delivery pilots with Amazon in 2013. But the service picked up steam only in 2014, when it signed up players such as Flipkart, Snapdeal and Shopclues.

Karnataka and Haryana currently account for most ecommerce shipments followed by Delhi, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.India's online retail industry is expected to soar to $23 billion (Rs 1.4 lakh crore) by 2018 from about $2 billion in 2013. The overall ecommerce sector, including online travel bookings, is projected at $43 billion by 2018, according to Nomura. To be sure, India Post will not have it easy, competing as it will be with several large logistics firms such as FedExDTDCBlue Dart and DHL as well as a rash of startups such as Ecom Express and Delhivery that have jumped on to the bandwagon.

LEVERAGING ITS VAST NETWORK

India Post, founded as an arm of the East India Company, was a vital strategic institution for decades but its relevance declined dramatically as the rise of the Internet and use of emails for communication made its postcards and inland letters increasingly redundant.

But despite its mainstay business staring at oblivion, the department continued to have several advantages over its competitors, most notably its vast network of 1.5 lakh offices and an army of about 5.5 lakh employees across the country.

India Post has begun leveraging that strength now. It has begun training its postmen in ecommerce-specific requirements, such as accepting cash or card payments on delivery - crucial for online retailers in India - and handling same-day shipments. It also plans to open about 60 socalled fulfilment centres, where goods are stored and sorted before deliveries, across the country this year for its ecommerce business.

For instance in Bengaluru, India Post will invest Rs 1 crore to decentralise packaging and ecommerce parcel services by establishing warehouses across the city, according to MS Ramanujan, Chief Post Master General, Karnataka Circle. To compete with DHL, India Post plans to buy land near the airport to establish a warehousecum-parcel centre, he said.

In Bengaluru and Gurgaon, India Post is already handling about 13,000 and 20,000 shipments, respectively, every day. "We are currently stretched to our limits. Opening ecommerce specific warehouses will lessen the load on post offices," said the official of the Department of Post, quoted earlier.

LESSONS FROM THE WEST

India Post can take heart from the experience of other countries where explosive growth of ecommerce has changed fortunes of their state-run postal departments.

In the West, government postal services have gained the most from the ecommerce sector.

"The US Post is expected to earn half of its revenues from ecommerce package deliveries by 2020. Deutsche Post in Germany and Australia Post have also done well," said Arvind Singhal, head of retail advisory firm Technopak.

Its customers, many of whom are now looking to spread their wings in the hinterland to tap the market potential in India's small towns and villages, have good things to say.

"Given the vastness of our country, India Post plays a key role in offering a seamless experience for our customers who are located in the most remote parts of India," said Neeraj Aggarwal, senior director, supply chain, at Flipkart, which has been working with India Post since last year in addition to its own logistics firm Ekart.

India's ecommerce logistics market is expected to gross overRs 7,200 crore ($1.2 billion) this year.

According to consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, ecommerce firms will need about 15 million sq ft of warehouse space by 2017, up from about 1.7 million sq ft available now. "Getting manpower for last-mile delivery and high expectations of same-day delivery due to technology integration are major challenges for us," said an official at a large ecommerce logistics player, declining to be identified. Shrinking air cargo space and rising costs have also put pressure on private companies to increase shipment rates. "I don't see shipment costs going down in 2015," said Mohit Tandon, cofounder at Gurgaon-based logistics startup Delhivery. India Post claims an advantage here, too.

Source:-The Economic Times

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

How Trains Stop

Feature
Railways
*Sachinder Mohan Sharma
Passenger profile on IR
Indian Railways carried about 8.4 Billion passengers in the year 2012-13 which is more than the total population of the world. These passengers clocked about 1.1 trillion passenger kilometers. About 53% of these passengers are suburban and the balance are long distance passengers.
How trains come to a stop?
We always wonder how trains run and how they are stopped. It is easy to understand how a car comes to a stop when the driver applies the brake using the brake pedal. Cars use hydraulic brakes whereas most of the trains in India use pneumatic brakes or air brakes as they are commonly called. These coaches are generally marked with an A or AB with the coach number. The trains can be stopped by the driver or by the passengers by alarm chain pulling (ACP).
In the Air Brake system, compressed air is used for operating the brake system. These brakes can be the conventional types or directly mounted on the bogies of the coaches. The latest design is the Disc Brake System (DBS) found in LHB coaches and is similar to what is found in automobiles. The atmospheric air is compressed in the locomotive upto 10 kg/cm2 and supplied at a pressure of 6/5 kg/cm2 to the train. It is carried across the whole length of the train through two pipes at the bottom of the coaches. When the brakes are applied the pressure in the 5kg pipe (the brake pipe) gets depleted proportionately and this causes the air to enter the brake cylinders which push a piston. The brake blocks are connected through a linkage and the piston movement causes them to stick to the wheels and stop the train by friction. The loss in pressure is made good by the air in the 6kg/cm2 pipe called the feed pipe. In case of disc brake system the pads attached to the discs are used to stop the train.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo5Aah2DlXFLTbbDxdAb3YdsWPRIEKMCKxilKp7IvGtJhTS8z_C4Q1qZCdaz9Cp4HcscFb-vQadW2hae2sBxWdzfzoA2S_npzZhyqsgWTt5QkCBlEHrkXXoxtzQsLT57wdNPso0dRu-SV/s1600/airbrake1.jpg
DBS is micro processor controlled and an advanced version of Air Brake system. It is essential for high speeds of 160kmph plus. It is superior in terms of reduced braking distance, higher wheel life due to reduced frequency of wheel turning, and reduced maintenance, less braking noise and higher efficiency due to simple brake rigging. The main characteristics of DBS are 02 discs mounted on each axle as shown in picture below:
MVC-724F
http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2015/feb/images/img2015022503.jpg
Disc Brake Systm 
              Emergency Brake Handle




 When the passenger pulls the alarm chain shown above located near the seat it causes the pressure in the brake pipe to fall down giving an indication to the driver and stopping the train. A valve on the coach called the PEASD (passenger emergency alarm signal device) operates and the sound of the escaping air can be heard from the coach. Also a light near the door glows and indicates the location of the affected coach.

What does an unscheduled stoppage of a train by ACP mean to the public?
Have you ever wondered why trains are often delayed? Analysis shows that ACP contributes to 4% of the punctuality loss cases on Indian Railways. Imagine the social costs of the time delays to about 1500 passengers in a train when one pulls the chain for a valid or often illegitimate reason. Apart from this time loss, calculations show that for an extra stoppage of a 24 coach train travelling at 110 Kmph, the locomotive consumes an additional amount of approximately 130 litresof diesel fuel. This amounts to a loss of 8500 rupees as well as the increase in avoidable atmospheric pollution. As responsible citizens we should abstain from using ACP and should sensitize others not to do the same. The penalty for unauthorized use of the alarm chain is Rs.1000 and/or imprisonment up to three months.
Apart from this we need to realize that the train requires about one kilometer to stop due to its sheer momentum. It is for this reason that in spite of the driver being vigilant there are accidents on unmanned level crossings when trespassers break the rules and expect the train to stop immediately on seeing them.
As responsible citizens and enlightened green passengers we should refrain from using the ACP unless there is a dire emergency. It may be worthwhile to contact the railway staff on the train to solve the problem at hand.

*Sh. Sachinder Mohan Sharma, Director ME/E&R

Source:-PIB

Result of the Limited Departmental competitive examination for the promotion to the cadre of Postmaster Grade-I held on 20-07-2014 in 21 circles except Chattisgarh Circle

To view please Click Here.

Pan-India MNP from May 3, Trai amends regulation

Mobile subscribers from May 3 will be able to port their numbers anywhere in the country while changing service providers, as telecom regulator Trai has amended the regulation on it. 
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) currently allows consumers to change their service provider while retaining the same number only within a telecom circle, which in most cases, is limited to a State. 

A person, for instance, while shifting from Delhi to Chennai will be able to retain the same mobile number while selecting a service provider. 

In a statement today, Trai said it has "...issued sixth amendment to the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulation, 2009, which will facilitate full Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in the country, with effect from May 3, 2015." 

The Department of Telecom had on November 3 issued amendments to MNP licence agreement stating that MNP is to be implemented across the country within a period of six months from the date of amendment of the licences. 

"Accordingly, the Authority has made the Sixth Amendment to the MNP Regulations effective from 3rd May 2015," Trai said.

Source:-The Economic Times

Amendment to Central Civil Service (Leave) Rules, 1972 - Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (PWD Act, 1995) - regarding

To view Department of Personnel & Training  OM NO. 18017/1/2014-Estt(L)  dated 25-02-2015 please Click Here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Compassionate Appointment

To view please Click Here.

Notification for "Stamp Design Competition"

Department of Posts is holding a Stamp Design Competition. The theme of the competition is Women Empowerment.

To view in detail please Click Here.

Indian Administrative Service (Pay) Amendment Rules, 2014.

To view please Click Here.

Indian Forest Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Amendment Regulations, 2015.

To view please Click Here.

Indian Forest Service (Pay) Amendment Rules, 2015.

To view please Click Here.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Indian Administrative Service (Pay) Amendment Rules, 2014.

To view the Gazette Notification please Click Here.

Resolution-CWC Dated 22-02-2015


“Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide"

The Law Commission of India, in its 210th Report: “Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide” had recommended that Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of IPC needs to be effaced from the statute book because that provision is inhuman irrespective of whether it is constitutional or unconstitutional. Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to accept the recommendation of the Law Commission of India. A draft note, containing, inter alia, the proposal to delete Section 309 from the IPC, has been sent to the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice for drawing up a draft Amendment Bill. 

This was stated by Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary in Lok Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Dr. P. Venugopal. 
****


KSD/PK/BK/RS/sk 
(Release ID :115721)

Source:-PIB

Monday, February 23, 2015

Why salaried taxpayers end up paying more tax than they should

By ET Bureau

You don't have to be an expert to save tax. Even someone with basic knowledge of arithmetic and tax rules can do it.

There are several reasons why salaried taxpayers end up paying more tax than they should. They usually crunch their tax planning into the last few months of the financial year. Last year's budget had raised the deduction under Section 80C to Rs 1.5 lakh a year. Even in the mid-income 20% tax bracket, this can cut tax by Rs 30,600. However, many taxpayers, especially the younger generation, who earn well but blow it all away, find it difficult to take full advantage of this deduction.

Besides Section 80C, there are other ways to save tax as well. A home loan is a very effective tax-saving tool. Even if one is availing of tax exemption for house rent allowance, one can claim deduction for the interest paid on the home loan. Last year's budget had hiked the home loan deduction limit to Rs 2 lakh a year. If the house is given out on rent, there is no limit to the tax deduction that can be claimed.

Then, some companies allow their employees to customise their compensation structure. If you belong to this lucky set, restructure your salary in a way that it becomes more tax friendly. Pack in more tax free allowances and opt for perks instead of cash payments.

If you messed it up this year, resolve to be a smart tax planner in the next financial year. Set up a target for investing in tax saving options from April itself. That way, you will not be burdened with a huge tax saving target at the end of the year. And, maybe, you will be able to afford that diamond ring next year.

Source:-The Economic Times