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

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The written exam for Postman / Mail Guard and MTS is scheduled on 14/Dec/2014.

    • The written examination for Postman / Mail Guard and MTS of Odisha Postal Circle which was earlier scheduled to be conducted on 19.10.2014 and postponed indefinitely will now be held as per the following schedule:- 

    • Date and Time of written test (Postman / Mailguard)14/Dec/2014 Morning
      Date and Time of written test (MTS)14/Dec/2014 Afternoon


      • Please visit  http://odisha.postalcareers.in/ for further details and downloading admit cards(Perhaps Admit Cards can be downloaded in the 1st Week of December-2014). 

India Post collects over Rs 280 crore via Cash-on-Delivery for e-commerce firms

Within a year of joining the e-commerce bandwagon as a distribution channel, government entity India Post has transacted business worth Rs 280 crore in the Cash-on-Delivery (CoD) segment alone for firms like FlipkartSnapdeal and Amazon.

While the amount of revenue generated for itself could not be ascertained, government officials said India Post is very keen on developing its e-commerce related services as a major revenue model going ahead.

"India Post collected over Rs 280 crore from consumers and gave it to e-commerce firms, since CoD facility was started in December 2013. The department with its huge network can serve as the best agency for not just delivering products, but also collecting money," a government official said.

However, this is a small chunk of the overall market size for e-commerce in India, which runs into billions of dollars already and is growing at a fast pace every year.

CoD has emerged as one of the most sought after services for e-commerce entities and 50-75 per cent of orders are placed with various online retailers with this payment option, while the remaining opt for credit card or bank payments.

In India, customers tend to prefer CoD as the online payment modes are yet to catch up in many parts of the country while many people are not comfortable with advance payments for products purchased online.

India Post's cash handling services like core banking solutions, money transfer and a robust account system can further help e-commerce firms in collecting cash from users in urban as well as rural areas, the official said.

India Post has about 1.55 lakh post offices, making it the world's largest postal network. On an average, a post office serves 21.21 sq km area and about 7,175 people.

Another official said various e-commerce firms have been using India Posts CoD facility since it was introduced. Firms like Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon, Shopclues, Naaptol, Telebrands and Homeshop18 are some of them.

India Post has set up booking counters in the premises of some customers like Amazon and Naaptol, while for Snapdeal it is exploring setting up of e-commerce booking kiosks in post office locations.

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has also said previously that India Post is best suited to offer delivery services to e-commerce players, given its wide reach across rural, urban and semi-urban areas.

The Minister has directed officials from the Department of Posts to focus on opportunities in e-commerce sector.

India Post is also ramping up its infrastructure to grab a major chunk of the distribution, delivery or logistics, which will touch about $9 billion by 2021. According to market experts, e-commerce business in India was about $6 billion in value in 2012 and is expected to touch $76 billion by 2021 of which distribution, delivery and logistics constitutes around 12 per cent.

Source:-The Economic Times

CHQ News:- Meeting with Member (P)

GS and his team met Member (P) on 28/11/2014 and discussed the following pending issues. Member (P) assured to look into it. 

S. No.
Pending issues
1
Non holding of supplementary DPC 2013-14 and DPC for the promotion to the PS Gr. B cadre for 2014-15
2
Issue of seniority list of Inspector Posts cadre since 2000 onwards
3
Reduction of quota of General Line in PS Gr. B Examination from 6% to 3%
4
Revision of monetary ceiling of briefcase / ladies purse for official purpose
5
Grant of Honorarium to part time IO/PO for conducting inquires under Rule-10 of GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011  revision of financial powers delegated to CPMG for sanction of the Honorarium.
6
Request for grant of GP Rs. 5400/- to the ASPs after completion of 4 years of regular service in GP of Rs. 4800/- earned under MACP Scheme
7
Issue of revised Recruitment Rules for the post of Assistant Manager in MMS
8
Non holding of PS Gr. B Examination for the year 2013 and 2014
9
Vigilance enquiry in the death case of Ms Mohini Gupta Ex-ASP Ajmer(Rajasthan circle)

Saturday, November 29, 2014

CVC withdraws circular that encouraged whistleblowers, even if complainants were anonymous

By , ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission has withdrawn a 12-year-old circular that urged government departments to investigate allegations of corruption if there was prima facie evidence, even if complaints were submitted by anonymous people or those using pseudonyms. The circular was meant to protect whistle blowers, revelation of whose identity could prove detrimental and deter them from bringing to light cases of corruption.

However, complainants who desire to protect their identity for fear of consequences have the protection of the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution, 2004, where the identity of the complainant would be kept a secret, if complaint is filed to the CVC under this provision. Withdrawal of the circular would mean that any complaint which does not carry the name of complainant or one with a wrong identity would be rejected, irrespective of the seriousness of the allegation or verifiable facts presented with the complaint.

An official claimed this was been done to ensure honest officials were not harassed through anonymous complaints of corruption and also to address perception of policy paralysis in bureaucracy. The circular issued in 2002 had said that government departments or Central Vigilance Officers (CVOs) can look into anonymous complaints after prior CVC concurrence if there were any "verifiable" facts in the complaint. CVC, in a circular to all ministries and CVOs on November 25 has now said the 2002 CVC circular stands withdrawn with immediate effect.

Interestingly, both the government and the Central Vigilance Commission have done U-turns on this issue.

Source:-The Economic Times

Foreign tours/travels as part of Training Programme - approval of Screening Committee of Secretaries(SCOS)

To view Department of Expenditure OM No.  7(1)/E.Coord/2014 dated 25-11-2014 please   Click Here. 

Prior approval of the Screening Committee of Secretaries would be required for all FSTs

Retirement of Shri Manmohan Mohapatra on Superannuation

Shri Manmohan Mohapatra, SRM, RMS 'N' Division, Cuttack is retiring on 30.11.2014(A/N) on superannuation. However 30-11-2014 being Sunday, formally he made over the charge on 28-11-2014(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 agood-health and peaceful life in his post-retirement days

CHQ News:-Merger issue.....updates!!!

On 28/11/2014,  meeting regarding merger of ASP cadre into PS Group B cadre was held in the chamber of DDG (Estt). Following were present.
1.     Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, DDG (Estt)

2.     Shri Harinder Singh Director (Estt)

3.     Shri Tarun Mittal, ADG (PE-1)

4.     Shri Vilas Ingale, General Secretary

5.     Shri Roop Chand, Ex General Secretary

6.     Shri Santosh Kulkarni, Ex CHQ Treasurer

7.     Shri Yadagiri G. Nyalapelli, CHQ Treasurer

8.     Shri P. Ajith Kumar, Asstt. General Secretary-I

9.     Shri Parmanand Kumar, ASP (PMU), Directorate

DDG (Estt) welcomed the representatives of the Association and requested for healthy and fruitful discussion to resolve this vital and long pending issue. The proposal submitted by the Association on 20/11/2013 was discussed in detail. Official side expressed their difficulties in implementing the proposal in toto. It was stated by the official side that there are 2106 posts of Inspector Posts and 1990 posts of ASP in the Department. During the course of discussion, it was proposed to upgrade few posts of ASP in Divisional Office into PS Group B cadre in Group A Postal / RMS divisions, CO/RO etc. as well as to retain the Gazetted status of remaining ASPs in their personal capacity till their retirement / promotion in case of merger of IP cadre and ASP cadre into a single cadre. Inspector, Posts will get Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- after merger at par with Inspectors in CBDT/CBEC as per our demand. Meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

In view of the discussions held in the meeting, official side desired a fresh proposal from the Association. The same will be submitted very soon.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Deputation of Inspector Posts/Assistant Superintendent of Posts in the Directorate

To view please Click Here.

India Post takes up 5,000 crore investment project to utilize e-commerce based opportunity

SILIGURI: E mail, social networking or instant chats. All these Internet based services might have taken blood out of India Post while transforming communication in the country from paper based 'Letters' to electron based 'Data.' But E-Commerce, based upon the same internet is now going to pump in fresh blood to India post's veins prompting it to go for Rs 7,000 crore worth connectivity augmentation project. 

"The e-commerce battle is growing at fast pace throughout the country. And there lies our new opportunity," says Mr. John Samuel, member of Postal Services Board. India Post is taking up a connectivity revamping project worth Rs 7000 Crore to utilize this opportunity. 

"Wide and fast growing coverage of Internet through computer and mobile phones are bringing more and more people from even remote corners to the doorsteps of E Commerce sites. But delivery of the items is an issue where India Post excel's with its 1.5 lakh establishments and time tested connectivity network," he said. 

E Commerce giant Alibaba in China or Amazon in US largely depend on their respective Postal Service. It's true that the same can happen in India too. But, "We need to bring in some change in our own attitude at certain corners and modernize our connectivity, physical as well as electronic," accepted Mr. Samuel. 

India Post is now taking up a new-age IT project, at an approximate cost of Rs. 4909 crores. In addition, another Rs 2000 crore is being spent to add up vehicles to its nationwide fleet to ensure 'delivery on time,' a must for the E Commerce organizations.

Source:-The Economic Times

Allotment of seats for Induction training of IP (Departmental) from 19.01.2015 to 18.04.2015 (13 weeks) at PTC Saharanpur(UP)

Sl. No.
Name of the Circle
Seats Allotted

1
Andhra Pradesh
2
2
Chhattisgarh
2
3
Himachal Pradesh
1
4
Kerala
4
5
Madhya Pradesh
7
6
Maharashtra
6
7
North East
1
8
Odisha
3
9
Punjab
1
10
Rajasthan
3
11
Uttar Pradesh
2

Total
32

Pre-implementation activities towards preparedness of Branch Post Office for Rural ICT implementation:-



      I.        The BO should have table to place the Handheld Device and for charging the device.

    II.        The electrical power connection is required to charge the Solar UPS wherever power is available. In the locations where electrical power is not available, the UPS will be charged from Solar Panel.

  III.        The locations where electrical power connection is there, it should have proper earthing and with one or two plug points along with on/off switch.

   IV.        The above site preparation is to be done before the roll out starts for the particular Division.

     V.        The data on BO such as the name of the BPM, contact details, address of the BO with land marks etc. may be updated and kept ready.

   VI.        The availability of the network connectivity (Vodafone/ BSNL / Airtel etc.) at the BO location may also accessed and the best signal available in the BO may be identified and kept in order to facilitate the Vendor with details to drive best out of the project. If the network signal is not available, we have to identify as Off-line BO.

 VII.        Similarly identification of the BOs where the solar UPS is not required due to installation problems of the solar panel or good power availability for more than 6 hours daily, has to be also done.  

To view the format for collection of desired information in respect of Branch Post Offices please Click Here.

The complete information in respect of all BOs is to be uploaded to the specific webpage domain name (to be circulated shortly) on the India Post website by 30-12-2014.


Source:-Department of Posts (RB Division) Letter No.01-07/2014-RB dated 27-11-2014. 

Alignment of Service Rules with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.

To view Department of Personel and Training OM No.11013/2/2014 Estt (A.III) dated 27/11/2014 please Click Here.

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 - Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit J and K.

To view Department of Personnel and Training OM No.31011/7/2014-Estt.(A-IV)  dated 28/11/2014 please Click Here.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Renaming / Change in Functional email IDs of Berhampur, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack City Postal Divisions of Odisha Circle

Sl. No.
Region
Division/Equivalent
Types
Functional email ID
1
Berhampur
Berhampur
Postal
2
Bhubaneswar HQ
Bhubaneswar
Postal
3
Bhubaneswar HQ
Cuttack City
Postal

Filling up of vacancies on deputation in Centre for Excellence in Postal Technology.

To view please Click Here.

Aadhaar based authentication of Life Certificate for pensioners.

To view Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare OM No. 1/19/2014-P&PW (E) DATED 25-11-2014 please Click Here.

Central Civil Services (Conduct) Second Amendment Rules, 2014.

To view please Click Here.

In the Central Civil Services (Conduct), Rules, 1964, for rule 3C, the following rule shall be 'substituted, namely :-

`3C. Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women, - (1) No Government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any woman at any work place.
(2) Every Government servant who is incharge of a work place shaii take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment to any woman at the work place.
Explanation. - (I) For the purpose of this rule, -

(a) "sexual harassment" includes any one or more of the following acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) namely : -

(i) physical contact and advances; or
(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) making sexually coloured remarks; or
(iv) showing pornography; or
(vi) any other unwelcome physical, verbal, non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.

(b) the following circumstances, among other circumstances, if it occurs or is present in relation to or connected with any act or behaviour of sexual harassment may amount to sexual harassment : -
(I) implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in employment; or
(ii) implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in employment; or
(iii) implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; or
(iv) interference with her work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment for her; or
(v) humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

(c)"workplace" includes,-

(i) any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch or unit which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the Central Government;
(ii) hospitals or nursing homes;
(iii) any 'sports institute, stadium, sports complex or competition or games venue, whether residential or not used for training, sports or other activities relating thereto;
(iv) any place visited by the employee arising out of or during the course of employment including transportation provided by the employer for undertaking such journey;
(v) a dwelling place or a house.'. 

Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Third Amendment Rules, 2014.

To view please Click Here.

In the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, in rule 11, in the Explanation, after item (viii), the following item Shall be inserted namely :-

"(ix) any compensation awarded on the recommendation of the Complaints Committee referred to in the proviso to sub-rule (2) of rule 14 and established in the Department of the Government of India for inquiring into any complaint of sexual harassment within the meaning of rule .3 C of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.". 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Re intorduction of sale of Kisan Vikas Patra - Procedure Regarding

To view please Click Here.

Taxes you have to pay when you get a gift

By Parizad Sirwalla 

"The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance" - Brian Tracy. 

Having said that, let's accept that we all are equally pleased to receive worldly presents as well. And as we live in this materialistic world where gift exchanges are often in cash or kind, let us not forget about the taxman who keeps a close eye on all such transactions. 

While gifts from certain people or presents received on certain occasions are non-taxable, you will have to pay a cut to the taxman at other times. Here is what the Income Tax Act has to say on getting gifts. 

TAX-FREE PRESENTS 

Gifts received from certain specified relatives are not taxable. Here, according to the I-T Act, 'relatives' mean the spouse of the individual, siblings of self or spouse or parents, any lineal ascendant or descendant of the individual as well as the spouse and the spouses of all these persons. Also, if the gift is received by a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), any member of the said family is regarded as a specified relative for the HUF. 

1. Gifts received on Marriage-Individuals receiving gifts on his / her marriage are not liable to pay tax on such gift whether received from relatives or non-relatives. However, the gifts received by the parents or other relatives of the individual getting married are not tax exempt.

2. Inherited Gifts - Any gift received under a will or by way of inheritance, or in contemplation of death of the payer is not taxable in the hands of the recipient. 

3. Gifts from specified institutions: A gift received from a specified local authority would not be taxable. Similarly, a gift received from a duly registered specified trust/ institution (e.g. registered religious or charitable trust) or from any specified fund / foundation/university / hospital or medical institution (e.g. the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, the National Foundation for Communal Harmony, etc.) is not taxable. 

THE TAXABLE PRESENTS 

As per the I-T Act, cash or specified moveable property such as shares, securities, jewellery, paintings, sculptures, any work of art or immoveable property ( land, building or both) received by an individual or a HUF is considered taxable. 

1. Cash - If aggregate amount is equal to or less than Rs 50,000 then nothing is taxable. In case the value exceeds INR 50,000, the whole amount will be taxable. 

2. Immovable Property: 

TaxabilityImmovable property transferred without consideration Immovable property transferred for a consideration For the receiverWhere the stamp duty value of the property exceeds Rs 50,000, then such stamp duty shall be treated as income.Where the stamp duty value exceeds the consideration by more than Rs 50,000, then the differential amount shall be treated as income. 

3. Moveable property - The taxability is same as above except fair market value (FMV) is replaced by stamp duty. The FMV is determined as per the prescribed valuation rules. 

GIFTS RECEIVED FROM EMPLOYER 

Gift, voucher or token received by an employee or member of his household on ceremonial occasion or otherwise from the employer, is not taxable provided the value thereof is less than Rs 5,000 during a financial year. The ceremonial occasion could be birthday, anniversary of employee, festivals, etc. 

If the value of such gift/ voucher/ token is Rs 5,000 or more, the full amount is treated as taxable salary in the hands of employee. Further, any gift received in cash or convertible in money (cash cheque) from employer shall be fully taxable income in the hands of the employee. 

INCOME EARNED FROM GIFTS - CLUBBING PROVISIONS 

An important point to note is that even though the gift received may not be taxed in the hands of receiving individual, in view of the abovementioned exceptions, the income subsequently earned from such gift might be taxable either in the hands of the individual gifting the item or the person receiving it. For instance, any income arising from the asset transferred by an individual to his/ her spouse other than for adequate consideration is taxable income. Such income is then clubbed in the hands of spouse who gifted the asset. 

The bottom line then, in the joy of giving and receiving, lies in not forgetting about the tax implications. Some caution is advised as the section on 'gifts' under the Income Tax Act is a tricky one. 

(The author is Partner and National Head - Global Mobility Services, Tax, KPMG in India)

Source:-The Economic Times