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

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Attestation form for verification of character and antecedents prior to appointment in Government service

The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has examined the matter related to the proposal for making attestation process citizen friendly. In this regard, it has been decided to place a note on the proposed reforms on the DoPT's website for comments. The comments on the above subject are invited within 15 days.


Source:-PIB

Validity period of OBC Certificate in respect of creamy layer status of the candidates.


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Retirement on Superannuation

Shri R.K. Pradhan, Dy. Manager, Postal Printing Press, Bhubaneswar and Shri P.K. Sahu, SPOs, Aska Division, Aska are retiring today the 31st March, 2016(A/N) on superannuation. 

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

Central Civil Services (LTC) Rules, 1988 - Fulfillment of procedural requirements - reg.

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Post Offices to open till 10 pm on 31st March 2016 to meet Savings Bank rush

To view the Directorate order please Click Here.


Press Release

In order to cope with the financial year ending rush in Post Offices for opening new accounts, the Department has taken the following steps:

1. The Department has invoked the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for opening of new accounts as well as withdrawal by customers as well as Small Savings agents in Offline mode, wherever and whenever the CBS network turns sluggish owing to high-volume transactions. 

2. A Control room has also been set-up in the Postal Directorate and all Circles to monitor POSB Operations in CBS Post Offices. 

3. An SB Order no. 2/2016 to this affect has also been issued 

4. In order to speed up CBS, Server capacity has also been enhanced at the Data Centre Facility. 

5. Additionally, all the Post Offices across the country shall conduct POSB transactions upto 2200 hrs on 31st March 2016

After slowdown, postal services in Chennai partially restored

Chennai: After more than 20,500 post offices on Monday suffered a major slowdown nationally, India Post's Chennai office said its core banking network was partially restored on Wednesday, in the region. Serpentine queues could be seen in front of city post offices as people unsuccessfully tried to make last minute tax saving deposits.


While there has always been a year-end rush to claim tax benefits on investments, this time the problem was heightened by the four-day Easter holiday and the Centre's decision to lower interest rates on small saving schemes effective April 1.


Chennai region post master general Mervin Alexander said they saw a large number of customers wanting to invest in the postal saving scheme after it the announcement that March 31 depositors could benefit from the existing interest rate instead of the revised one in April. At an all-India level, India Post did not foresee the rush and the core-banking system crashed in many post offices in states, including Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.


TOI reported on Monday that the post offices' troubles arise from the fast rollout of core banking platform across the country, which has been facing problems as it had not yet stabilized.


Mervin Alexander said the withdrawals will take some time as the glitch is being looked into and the customers will have to opt for cash from postal ATM's.

Source:-The Times of India

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Trade unions call nationwide strike on September 2 to protest againt amendments in labour laws

 Central trade unions today said they will go on one-day nationwide strike on September 2 to protest against unilateral amendments in labour laws and the governments' indifference towards their 12-points charter of demands. 

At the National Convention, they gave the call for all India general strike on September 2, 2016 under their joint declaration. 

Leaders of the central trade unions including INTUC, AITUCHMSCITUAIUTUCTUCC,SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF participated in the convention and signed the joint declaration. 

However, RSS backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh did not turn up for the convention and is not part of the declaration. 

The unions have asked their members to organise a day- long mass Dharna/Satyagraha in state capitals and industrial centres on August 9 (Quit India Day) ahead of the Strike. 

They have also decided to organise joint conventions and campaigns in June-July in states, districts and at industry level and take initiative to involve peasants, agriculture labour and mass of the people in the campaign. 

According to declaration, totally ignoring the united opposition of the workers, the government has been moving fast to demolish existing labour laws thereby empowering the employers with unfettered rights to "hire and fire" and stripping the workers and trade unions of all their rights and protection provided in laws. 

"As follow up to the PMO's written communication to the Chief Secretaries of States, states are bing directed to carry out Rajasthan type pro-management amendments in labour laws. The Labour Secretary has issued executive order on January 12, 2016 granting exemption to so called start-up Enterprises from inspection and application of 9 major labour laws, thereby legitimizing violations," it said. 

Unions also expressed their reservations against proposed Small Factories Bill which provides that major 14 labour laws will not apply to factories employing up to 40 workers. 

Similarly, they opposed that Labour Code on Wages Bill and Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill saying that "under the cover of amalgamation, these bills seek to make registration of unions almost impossible, making retrenchment and closure almost free for the employers class." 

"These bills have been put in public domain totally ignoring the trade unions thereby violating the provisions of ILO Convention 144 on tripartite consultation. All these amendments are meant to exclude 90 per cent of workforce from application of labour laws thereby allowing the employers to further squeeze and exploit the workers," it said.

Source:-The Economic Times

Process of Accepting RD Transactions of MPKBY and PRSS Agents

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Revision in Interest Rates of Small Savings Schemes - SB Order No. 01/2016

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SB order 2/2016 regarding acceptance of POSB business in case of Finacle is not accessible or slow (invoking of BCP)

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Monday, March 28, 2016

Civil Service officers present memorandum to Dr Jitendra Singh on 7th CPC report

A delegation of Civil Service officers representing the “Confederation of Civil Service Associations” called on the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here and sought his intervention for implementing the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) report, so as to address their long standing grievance of discrimination vis-a-vis certain other All-India Services.

In a memorandum presented to the Minister yesterday, members of the delegation acknowledged that the 7th CPC, while recommending the status-quo, had addressed their long pending demand for "parity" with other services. But, the memorandum alleged that the main cause of resentment among the non-IAS Civil Service Officers was that all the senior level posts covering majority of Departments, be it technical or administrative, are today manned by IAS Officers, which is the main cause of grievance among the non-IAS Civil Service Officers. The memorandum called for giving equitable treatment to all the Services so that the gap between the IAS and other Services does not widen and lead to, what they described as, chaotic situation.

The memorandum claimed that the majority view in the 7th CPC was in favour of changing the status-quo on the issue of pay disparity also. They said, at present, there is a clear edge enjoyed by the IAS and Indian Foreign Service over other Services in terms of additional increments.

The memorandum requested that disparity in Pay may kindly be removed altogether. In addition, it also requested that the new system of cadre restructuring be adopted and a comprehensive cadre review may be undertaken by all Services so that officers can get promoted in time.

The memorandum also requested that in the Committee of Secretaries, appointed by the Government to examine the report of the 7th CPC, such members should be appointed who represent all different sections of stakeholders and may function with neutrality.

Dr Jitendra Singh gave the delegation a patient hearing and said that he will forward their case to the Union Finance Ministry. 

Source:-PIB

Declaration of Assets and Liabilities by Public Servants under section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 - Filling of Returns by public servants on or before 15th April, 2016 - regarding.

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i.The first return as on 1st August, 2014 under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 should be filed on or before the 15th April, 2016.

ii. The next return as on 31st March, 2015, under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 should be filed on or before the 15th April, 2016. 

iii. The annual return as on 31st March, 2016 under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 should be filed on or before 31st July, 2016.

iv.The annual return for subsequent years as on 31st March every year should be filed on or before 31st July of that year.  

Review of Recruitment Rules - regarding.

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Notifying of Recruitment Rules within ten weeks time period after the same are approved by the Union Public Service Commission - regarding.

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Small savings rate cut: Who gains, who loses

The cut in the interest rates on small savings schemes has jolted investors. Though targeted schemes such as the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana and the Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme and the hugely popular Public Provident Fund have seen modest cuts of 60-70 basis points (see graphic), the interest rates on some other instruments have been cut by 100-130 basis points (100 basis points = 1%).

Small savings rate cut: Who gains, who loses

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Source:-The Economic Times

GS reminds to Secretary (Posts) for settlement of pending issues

No. CHQ/AIAIPASP/Pending/2015                               Dated :       28/3/2016

To,
Ms. Kavery Banerjee, 
Secretary,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001.

Subject : Informal meeting with Hon’ble Secretary (Posts) with the representatives of IP/ASP Association.  

Respected Madam,  

               IP/ASP Association writes to draw your kind attention to the following concerns which were raised in the meetings with your honour and Member (P). This association will feel obliged your intervention on how best to get these settled at the earliest.

S. No.
Pending issues
1
Issue of combined seniority list of Inspector Posts cadre since 2001 onwards
2
Issue of revised Recruitment Rules of PS Gr. B cadre
3
Reduction of quota of General Line in PS Gr. B Examination from 6% to 3%
4
Holding of DPC for the promotion the cadre Dy. Manager MMS
5
Issue of revised Recruitment Rules for the post of Assistant Manager in MMS
6
Holding of PS Gr. B Examination for the year 2013, 2014 and 2015
7
Inter Circle Rule 38 transfer cases of Inspector Posts cadre
8
Holding of periodical meeting with Hon’ble Secretary (Posts)
9
Completion of appointment formalities of  candidates nominated by Staff Selection Commission for appointment as Inspector Posts on the basis of Combined candidates Level Examination 2013 and 2014
10
Vigilance enquiry in the death case of Ms Mohini Gupta Ex-ASP Ajmer (Rajasthan)
          
          The association is concerned about the slow pace of settling these issues which otherwise also part of the duty bestowed to the official/officer dealing to the cases. The pending issues can only be settled in much better way on your kind and dynamic approach for resolving the issues concerning IP/ASPs. Hence, early directions are requested.

             With respectful regards,
Yours sincerely,

Sd/- 
(Vilas Ingale)
General Secretary

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Soon, you can cancel your train tickets just by a phone call

Come April and cancelling a confirmed train ticket would only be a phone call away. 

Indian Railway is set to launch a facility next month for the hassled passengers who find it hard to reach its counters within the stipulated time to cancel their confirmed tickets and claim refund. 

"One has to dial 139 giving details of the confirmed ticket for cancelling it and the sender will get a one-time password (OTP). Passenger has to reach the counter the same day and reveal the OTP to claim refund," said a senior Railway Ministry official. 

After the change in refund rules, a lot of passengers are now finding it difficult to reach counters to cancel the reserved tickets within the stipulated time and as a result they are losing money. 

According to the new refund rules, railways has doubled the ticket cancellation charge with the aim of helping genuine passengers get confirmed tickets. 

"The refund rules were revised to discourage touts and ticketing agents who engage in black marketing of tickets," said the official, adding "however, it has also resulted in inconvenience in some genuine cases. So we are now providing the 139 facility for cancellation." 

Coming to the aid of harried passengers, railways will launch the cancellation facility through 139 service so that one does not have to rush to the counter to cancel confirmed tickets. 

The tickets which are booked online can be cancelled on the ticketing websites. The 139 facility is for those who bought tickets from counters. 

The software is ready and the facility is likely to be formally launched in the second week of April.

Source:-The Economic Times

I-T Department wants you to declare all interest income in your ITR

In a circular released on Tuesday, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has warned the taxpayers who do not declare all their interest income in their ITRs to correct their ways. They have been asked to re-file and rectify their returns for FY 2013-14 onwards.

You'll have to declare even those interest incomes where Form 15 G/H have been filed and the total exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax, that is, Rs 2.5 lakh. Only interest income up to Rs 10,000 exempted under Section 10 may be left out. The deadline for this is 31st March 2016. If missed, you will be liable to pay a Rs 5,000 penalty under avoid penalty Section 271F of the I-T Act.

While form 26AS reflects only those payments on which tax has been deducted, the department can track your other deposits and interest payments received without deduction of tax too via information received from banks and other financial institutions. "Information regarding interest earned by individuals and business entities on term deposit is filed with the Income Tax Department by banks including co-operative banks and other financial institutions and state treasuries, etc," said the circular.


In an online survey conducted by economictimes.com last August, 30% of the 2,168 respondents believed that interest of up to Rs 10,000 from bank FDs is tax free in a year. However, as per the rules,the exemption under Section 80TTA is only for the interest on the savings bank accounts. What oneearns from on fixed deposits and recurring deposits is fully taxable. You also need to declare all those interest income where TDS has been deducted or you have filed Form 15 G/H. 

Source:-The Economic Times

National Award Presentation Ceremony for outstanding business performance in PLI




Personal information under RTI Act

The Department of Personnel and Training have been impressing upon the public authorities to disclose maximum information proactively, so that public at large need not file RTI applications to seek information held by the public authorities.

In this regard, it was brought to the notice of the public authorities from time to time that they may not disclose personal information of an individual as it does not serve any public interest.

Some of the stakeholders have objected to disclosure of personal information as it would put the lives of the information seekers at risk.

Based on directions from High Court of Kolkata in the matter of Shri Avishek Goenka Vs UOI and in the interest of stakeholders, the DOPT is inviting comments from the stakeholders on draft OM within 15 days.  These comments may be sent to Shri R.K. Girdhar, US (RTI) through e-mail only at usrti-dopt@nic.in.


Source:-PIB

Inclusion of Interest Income in the Return of Income filed by Persons liable to Pay Tax

Information regarding interest earned by individuals and business entities on term deposit is filed with the Income Tax Department by banks including co-operative banks and other financial institutions and State treasuries etc. Form 26AS reflects only those payments on which tax has been deducted and it can be viewed by the individual tax payer by logging in to www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. The information about interest payments without deduction of tax is also filed by the payer with the Department.

Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) hereby informs the persons earning interest income that interest credited/received on deposits is taxable unless exempt under Section 10 of the Income-tax Act. Such interest income should be shown in the return of income even in cases where Form 15G/15H has been filed if the earning is not exempt under Section 10 of the Income-tax Act and the total income of the person exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax.

Tax payers are advised to collect correct details of interest received or credited and

·         file their return of income for assessment year 2014-15 (if not filed already) on or before 31.03.2016 in case their total income exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax.
·         revise their return of income for assessment year 2014-15/2015-16 if the return already filed does not include taxable interest income.
·         file return of income for assessment year 2015-16, if  not filed so far by including taxable interest income if any, on or before 31.03.2016 and avoid penalty u/s 271F.

For more details, you may contact your Assessing Officer or Toll free number        1800-180-1961.

Source:-PIB

Ministry of Railways Enhances Senior Citizen Quota

Ministry of Railways Undertakes Rationalization of Lump¬sum Rates for Merry¬go¬round (MGR) System 

In terms of a Rail Budget Announcement 2016-17 by Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Following two services were  launced:-
1.      Enhanced Senior Citizen Quota
2.      Rationalization of Lumpsum freight rates for Merry-Go-Round (MGR)

These services were launched today i.e.23 march 2016 by Member Traffic  Railway Board Sh Mohd. Jamshed in  a programme held in Rail Bhawan today.
Following are details of services -

EARMARKING OF SENIOR CITIZEN QUOTA
Ø  This concept was introduced in 2007 vide Commercial Circular No. 40 of 2007 dated 18.04.2007.
Ø  A combined reservation quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper, AC­3 tier and AC­2 tier classes was earmarked for the following category of passengers when travelling alone :­
a)      Senior Citizens
b)     Female Passengers 45 years of age and above; and
c)      Pregnant women

Ø  In 2015, the existing quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class was enhanced to four lower berths per coach. (Commercial Circular No. 15 of 2015 dated 13.03.2015) 

Ø  The condition of providing this quota only when travellingØ alone was relaxed vide Commercial Circular No. 51 of 2015 dated 31.08.2015 and now the facility of booking ticket under this quota is available even when in a single application two passengers are in combination of Senior Citizens/Female Passengers above the age of 45/Pregnant women. 
Ø  It has now been decided to enhance this quota to six lower berths per coach in Sleeper class and three lower berths per coach in 3AC and 2AC classes.
Ø  It has also been decided that in Rajdhani, Duronto andØ fully AC Express trains, this quota in 3AC class will be four lower berths per coach as against three lower berths per coach in case of normal Mail/Express trains.
  

 RATIONALIZATION OF LUMP­SUM RATES FOR MERRY­GO­ROUND (MGR) SYSTEM
PURPOSE: -
Ø  In order to provide an economical and reliable alternative short lead traffic, a revise scheme with rationalized lump­sum ratesfor Merry­-Go­-Round has been formulated. 
CONDITIONS : -
Ø  The MGR Terminals at both ends shall be privately owned. 
Ø  Rail  track  between  the  two  terminals  will  be  provided  by  the  customer. 
Ø  Railways willprovide locos, wagons, brake­-vans and other  rolling stock as per requirement for running of the rakes under  MGR system.  
Ø  Terminals at both ends will operate round the clock. 
Ø Lumpsum rates charged under the MGR System would depend upon the number of rakes loaded per day and the lead of traffic. 
 BENEFITS :  -
Ø For  18  km  lead, the revised  MGR rates would be  around Rs.47 per  ton  (BOXN  wagons)  for  2-­3  trips  per  day  as  compared  to  road rates of Rs. 72 per ton for the same lead.
Ø Singareni  Collieries  Ltd.  had  committed  to  give  around  3­-4  million tonnes of additional traffic with the rationalized rates in  the next financial year. 
Ø The rationalized rates shall come into force from 01.04.2016.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Uploading of RTI Replies on the respective websites of Ministries/Departments.

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Dearness allowance hiked by 6%, to benefit 1 crore employees, pensioners

On the eve of Holi festival, the government today hiked dearness allowance(DA) by 6 per cent, benefiting over 1 crore central government employees and pensioners. 

The hike, which will cost the exchequer an additional Rs 14,724.74 crore annually, will take effect from January 1, 2016, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the meeting of the Union Cabinet which took the decision. 

The burden on exchequer would be Rs 6,795.5 core towards central government employees and Rs 7,929.24 crore towards pensioners during 2016-17, he said. 

The DA, which will benefit, 50 lakh central government employees and 58 lakh pensioners, will go up from the existing 119 per cent to 125 per cent. 

Dearness allowance is paid as a portion of basic pay of employees to neutralise the impact of inflation. Pensioners get dearness relief. 

The central government revises DA twice in a year on the basis of one year average of retail inflation for industrial workers as per a pre-determined formula. 

In September last year, DA was increased to 119 per cent from 113 per cent with effect from July 1, 2015. 

In April last year, the government had hiked DA by 6 percentage points to 113 per cent of the basic pay with effect from January 1, 2015.

Source:-The Economic Times

CHQ News: Acknowledgement of resolution regarding inclusion of 'chain vacancies' --Implementation of guidelines issued vide Directorate letter No. 25-10/2014-SPG dated 09-07-2014

CHQ News:- Acknowledgement of Resolution on Grant of special allownace for IP/ASPs working in RO/CO - regarding

Minutes of Four Monthly Meeting with the Chief Postmaster General.

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