People new to city still prefer postal ID cards
CHENNAI, December 24, 2015
EFFORTS ON TO MAKE CARD VALID PROOF FOR PASSPORT
Identity
cards issued at post offices continue to be popular with people who
have recently shifted to the city. On an average, post offices receive
4,000 applications for ID cards every month.
The
cards are used to open bank and postal accounts, get LPG connections,
ration cards and driving licences. However, residents demand that the
cards used for address proof must be delivered soon. “Many people who
migrated from north-eastern states apply for the cards. But, we do not
provide cards to people who do not have proper accommodation. We ask for
authorisation letter from house owners and our postal staff members
also go on a verification drive,” said a postal official.
It
is also an accepted ID proof to produce during train travel. Sources in
the Transport department said they accept postal ID cards as an address
proof document. But, the applicant also has to attach an affidavit as
it is not listed as accepted document in the government procedure.
Efforts are on to have postal ID cards accepted as a valid document to get passports.
Since
the launch of the service in 2008, nearly 3.5 lakh cards have been
issued in Chennai city region. Customers need to pay Rs.270 to get ID
cards and Rs.600 under tatkal system.
The
card is valid for three years. While cards applied under tatkal process
are delivered in a fortnight, customers complain that they have to wait
for more than a month under the regular process.
A
consumer activist said the service needs to be popularised in suburban
areas. “The department must also introduce a system to alert customers
about expiry of the validity period. The procedure to renew the card
must be hassle free and done at a less cost,” he said. Officials said
the cards are now delivered through registered posts.
Source : http://www.thehindu.com
Surpluss.in partners with India Post to expand delivery service
ET Bureau | 24 Dec, 2015, 03.33PM IST
KOLKATA:
Surpluss.in has partnered with India Post to expand its delivery
service across the nook and corner of the country, including providing
cash on delivery option.
"The partnership with India Post as our delivery partner will provide wider reach and network. This alliance would give a huge boost to our delivery services," said Surpluss.in executive director Tarun Bhardwaj.
"The partnership with India Post as our delivery partner will provide wider reach and network. This alliance would give a huge boost to our delivery services," said Surpluss.in executive director Tarun Bhardwaj.
Surpluss.in is an e-commerce firm which is into the recommerce space or sells surplus, refurbished and unboxed products. Apart from consumer electronics and mobiles, Surpluss.in operates in a host of categories like lifestyle, healthcare, home decor and jewelerry.
Bhardwaj said the recommerce industry is pegged at Rs 1.15 lakh crore and is expected to accelerate by 2020. Recently, the company also partnered with OnEMI to offer EMI option to customers.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
India Post 'well poised' to take on competition
MUMBAI:
India Post is confident that with its wide network of branches it is
'well poised' to take on competition from its peers in banking sector.
Speaking at a seminar on Financial Inclusion organised by ET Edge, A K Dash, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra said, "We have 1,55,000 branches and 1,30,000 in rural areas so we are well poised."
The Department of Post, is one of the 11 candidates that have received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to float a payment bank.
The
Department of Post will float a 100% subsidiary to be known as India
Post Payments following an approval from the Cabinet. "Once the payment
bank comes, which we expect sometime next year, then we will look at
partnering with some technology partners and maybe some other banks who
will have different products than what a payments bank can offer," said
Dash. India Post has received proposal from close to 20 banks for
partnership, sources said.
Payments banks are not permitted to to give loans but can accept deposits up to Rs 1 lakh. They are allowed to sell third party products like mutual funds and insurance. While issuing the in-principle licence for small banks and payments banks, the RBI has said that the move is aimed at reaching out to the unbanked population in the formal financial sector.
Stating that India Post has a big advantage, Dash said that the rural postmaster is someone who knows everyone and is trusted. "The postmaster and the postman steals the trust and they also know the people in the village so that will be very useful for finding out and having the deposits, having the payments system and selling third party products," he said.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
RBI extends deadline to exchange pre-2005 notes to June 30
MUMBAI:
Reserve Bank today extended the deadline for exchanging pre-2005
currency notes of various denominations, including Rs 500 and Rs 1,000,
by another six months to June 30, 2016.
The Reserve Bank had, in June 2015, set the last date for public to exchange pre-2005 banknotes notes as December 31, 2015.
"RBI, on a review, decided to extend the date for the public to exchange their pre-2005 banknotes till June 30, 2016," it said in a statement.
However, RBI added that from January 1, 2016, such facility will only be available at identified bank branches and Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank.
Soliciting cooperation from members of public in withdrawing these bank notes from circulation, RBI has urged them to exchange pre-2005 bank notes at the identified bank branches or Issues Offices of the Reserve Bank, convenient to them.
Over 164 crore pre-2005 currency notes of various denominations, including of Rs 1,000 were shredded in offices of Reserve Bank in 13-month period ending January, as per official data.
The face value of the shredded currency notes was around Rs 21,750 crore.
As many as 86.87 crore pieces of Rs 100, 56.19 crore pieces of Rs 500 and 21.75 crore pieces of Rs 1,000 were shredded.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Lok Sabha approved hike of wage ceiling for Bonus to Rs 21,000 and Bonus calculation ceiling to Rs 7,000
The
Lok Sabha has approved amendments to the Payment of Bonus Act that
seeks to make more workers eligible for bonus by raising the pay
eligibility limit of employees to Rs 21,000 per month from Rs 10,000.
Railways hikes tatkal ticket charges for AC, sleeper class
The government has increased the tatkal ticket booking charges by up to
33 per cent. The Indian Railways has increased the tatkal booking
charges for travel in sleeper class, AC-III tier, AC-II tier and
executive class and will come into effect from December 25.
The announcement came immediately after the winter session of Parliament
concluded on Wednesday. The second class (general) tatkal charges will
remain unchanged.
The revised charges :
» The minimum tatkal charges for sleeper class have been raised from Rs.
90 to Rs. 100 and the maximum charge from Rs. 175 to Rs. 200. The
amount will vary depending upon the distance travelled.
» The hike in travel charges in AC compartments is even more. The
minimum tatkal charges in AC-III have increased from Rs. 250 to Rs. 300
while the maximum charges have gone up from Rs. 350 to Rs. 400
» The minimum charges for AC-II tier have been increased from Rs. 300 to
Rs. 400, and the maximum charges have been hiked from Rs. 400 to Rs.
500.
» Passengers travelling in the executive class will need to pay Rs. 400
instead of Rs. 300 as the minimum tatkal booking charge and Rs. 500
against the earlier sum of Rs. 400 as maximum cost.
» The tatkal booking for second class sitting will remain the same at
Rs. 10 as minimum and Rs. 15 as maximum charge, depending on the
distance.
Reallotments and Promotions in ASP Cadre
Circle Office Hyderabad has ordered the following Reallotments and Promotions in ASP Cadre vide CO memo dated 23-12-2015.
Click here to view CO memo dated 23-12-2015.
New Nomenclature to LDC and UDC designations in Central Govt offices
Designations
like Lower Division Clerk (LDC) and Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in
central government's employee hierarchy have been replaced with new
nomenclature.
The posts of UDC and LDC under Central Secretariat Clerical Service
(CSCS) have been rechristened as Senior Secretariat Assistant and Junior
Secretariat Assistant, respectively, an order issued by the Department
of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.
Minimum Pensions fixed by Govt., recommended by various committees, complaints regarding anomalies
Minimum Pensions fixed by Govt., recommended by various committees, complaints regarding anomalies: Lok Sabha Q&A
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3564
ANSWERED ON: 21.12.2015
Minimum Pensions
HARISH DWIVEDIWill the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-
(a)the minimum pension fixed by the Government for the employees retired
from the Government departments, corporations and Semi-Government
departments;
(b)the minimum pension recommended by the various committees constituted so far by the Government;
(c)whether the Government has received complaints regarding anomalies in minimum pension scheme; and
(d)if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a): The minimum pension fixed for retired Central Government employees
is Rs. 3,500/- per month with effect from 01.01.2006. For pensioners,
including those retired from public sector corporations and other
establishments, to whom the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 framed
under the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions
Act, 1952 applies, provision of a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per
month has made with effect from 01.09.2014.
(b): The Sixth Central Pay Commission had recommended pension of Rs.
3,330/- per month in respect of employees retired from the Central
Government.
The minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month under the EPS, 1995
implemented by the Central Government was one of the recommendations of
the Expert Committee constituted by the Government. Apart from this, the
Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha under the chairmanship of
Shri Bhagat Singh Koshiyari in its 147th Report had recommended to
increase Government share of contribution under EPS, 1995 from 1.16 per
cent to 8.33 per cent to support the minimum pension level of Rs. 3000/-
per month. However, it was not found feasible for implementation.
(c) & (d): No complaints regarding anomalies in minimum pension in
respect of Central Government employees have been received by the
Government.
However, representations, grievances and complaints have been received
from various quarters that the monthly pension to pensioners under EPS,
1995 have not increased to Rs. 1,000/- per month even after the
notification in respect of pensioners who had taken short service
pension, commutations or return of capital. Some grievances also relate
to the fact that pension has not increased for those drawing more than
Rs. 1,000/- per month.
Consequent upon implementation of the minimum pension to pensioners
under EPS, 1995 vide notification number GSR 593(E) dated 19.08.2014,
the pension of all member/widow(er)/disabled/ nominee/dependent parent
pensioners whose original pension was less than Rs. 1,000/- per month
had been fixed at the minimum of Rs. 1,000/- per month. In cases where
members had preferred option for Commutation, Return of Capital and
Short Service Pension and have already availed these benefits as per
choice exercised by them at the time of making pension claim, the
deductions on account of these options would continue to apply on the
minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/- per month that has now been fixed. In
such cases, the pension amount would be less than Rs. 1,000/- per month
even after implementation of the said notification
The World Bank Has Shown Keen Interest To Financially Support The Proposed India Post Payment Bank
The World Bank has shown keen interest to financially support the
proposed India Post Payment Bank, having approached the department of
posts (DoP), say sources.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had in October approved the proposals of
11 applicants, including the DoP, to start a payments bank. These
entities may offer most of the services offered by commercial banks,
except for loans and credit card products.
"The World Bank wants to part-finance the project. We are having
discussions at the inter-departmental and ministry level and would come
out with a final decision early next year," said a senior official in
the department.
In October, the Bank had said the decision on the 11 new payments banks
should expand penetration of banking in the rural areas, helping to
transform the rural remittances market.
The Bank is still seeking some clarity on the DoP issue, said its
spokesperson. "There has been only one exploratory meeting with the
postal service," the person added.
According to officials in the ministry of communications, which oversees
DoP, the latter is weighing options on the partners to choose for the
project. It is also in the process of finalising a consultant for the
project, the tender for which would be opened on January 6. And, waiting
for Public Investment Board clearance from the finance ministry,
expected next month.
"It's only after the consultants do their research that we'd decide whom we want to partner with," said a senior DoP official.
The department has 155,000 branches in the country. In the first phase, it plans to start payment banking services across 500 post offices.
The ministry has said as many as 17 banks and financial institutions --
including Deutsche Bank, IDBI, Barclays, YES Bank, ICICI Prudential and
HDFC -- are seeking an alliance with the proposed India Post Payment
Bank. "They want to use the postal network by entering into tie-ups for
delivery of services such as loans, monthly instalments, collections,
insurance, mutual funds and premiums, among other things," added the
official.
Recently, Japanese business conglomerate Hitachi had also said it was
keen to partner DoP for payments bank solutions. In a meeting with
communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad this month, Yutaka Saito,
president of Hitachi, had discussed the possibility.
PTI
Expenditure towards Salary of Central Government Employees on implementation of 7th Pay Commission will be around 25000 Cr and not Rs.1 lakh Crore as projected by media reports says Confederation
Confederation of
Central Government Employees and Workers, Karnataka State has come up
with a detailed report on actual expenditure involved out of 7th Pay
Commission recommendations.
Comrades,
There are various reports in the media about the impact of the 7th
PayCommission recommendations on the common man and the government
resources at large, the reports suggest that amount of ₹one lakh crores
of public money has been spent for implementation of the 7th Pay
Commission recommendations for 35 lakhs central Government employees,
Perhaps the strongest criticism of PayCommission awards is that they
play havoc with government finances and also state government demand
support to implement the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. At the
aggregate level, these concerns are somewhat exaggerated and which is
totally wrong.
Let us examine the 7th Pay Commission report vide para no 3.65 and 3.66
and the website of Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of
Expenditure Pay Research Unit for Brochure on Pay and Allowances of
Central Government Civilian Employees visit website http://finmin.nic.in/pru/BROCHURE/PayAllowance2013-14E.pdf
The 7th Pay Commission report para number 3.65 and 3.66
3.65 The total expenditure on pay and allowances for civil personnel of
Central Government in the recent years is brought out in Table 9.
Table 9: Expenditure on Pay and Allowances
Year | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
Amount(₹crore) | 51,664 | 80,110 | 1,07,402 | 1,07,550 | 1,17,565 | 1,29,599 |
As a percent of GDP | 1.04 | 1.42 | 1.66 | 1.38 | 1.33 | 1.30 |
The Commission has obtained details of expenditure from each
Ministry/Department for up to FY 2012-13. Of the total expenditure on
pay and allowances of Rs.1,29,599 crore for the financial year 2012-13.
3.66 The expenditure per capita on pay and allowances for Civil Central
Government personnel for FY 2012-13 was Rs.3.92 lakh per annum i.e
Rs.32666/- per month.
Add 35% DA for the period 1/4/2013 to 1/1/2016 average salary of Civil
Central Government personnel as on 1/1/2016 at 125% DA which works
around Rs.37500/- per month (Rs.4.50 lakhs per annum ) without 7th CPC
recommendations . i.e., Rs.1.57,000 crores.
Add average 16% wage increase due to 7th Pay Commission which works out
to Rs 43500/- per month (₹5.22 lakhs per annum) with 7th Pay Commission
implementation .
Total Expenditure for 35 lakhs for Civil Central Government personnel
for FY 2016-17 is around Rs.1,83,000 crores In respect of pensions
expenditure for 55 lakhs pensioners amount is around Rs.81,000/ crores
as on 1/1/2016. which is against the revenue receipts of Rs.19 lakh
crores. The percentage of revenue receipt and wages is just around 13%
of the total revenue is spent on the wages and pension for the Central
Government personnel. In fact it is just at 1.3% of the GDP.
This clearly shows that that the increase in impact for the government
of India finances is just additional Rs.25,000/- crores not additional
Rs.1,00,000/- crores as per the media reports.
The 7th Pay Commission recommendations’ impact need not give jitters to
the government because the rise in government wages will amount to only
0.4 per cent of GDP.
One more aspect is that technically, the recommendations of a Central
Pay Commission are only for Central Government employees and States are
not bound to follow suit. Indeed, up to the 1980s, States constituted
their own Pay Commissions and prescribed their own pay scales, based
upon their fiscal capacity.
Let us not be carried over by the media or press reports, hence we
should educate each and every employee for struggle and so that a decent
wage hike is achieved.
Comradely yours
(P.S.Prasad)
General Secretary
Government mulls gratuity to employees under National Pension System
NEW DELHI: Government is considering a proposal to provide gratuity to
its employees covered under National Pension System (NPS) on
retirement, Parliament was informed today.
"As per the amendment, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules are not applicable to the government employees appointed after December 31, 2003," said Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
On introduction of NPS from January 1, 2004, the rules governing gratuity was changed, he said.
However, the benefit of death or retirement gratuity had been extended to the central government servants, covered by New Pension Scheme on provisional basis from May 5, 2009, he added.
"This was in respect of Central government employees covered by NPS in cases where a government servant is retired on invalidation not attributable to government duty, death in service not attributable to government duty; where government servant is discharged from service due to disease or injury attributable to duty and death in service," he said.
In another reply, Sinha said Pension Fund and Regulatory and Development Authority has decided to facilitate offering eNPS through validation of PAN card details and KYC confirmation from the bank for the bank account of an active users.
Replying to another question, he said there has been a reduction in amount of inflows on account of borrowing from overseas in the form of external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in the recent months.
Indian companies have raised USD 16.2 billion from ECBs between April-November period of the current fiscal as against USD 20.2 billion in the same period last fiscal.
RBI has issued a framework containing guidelines for issuance of rupee denominated bonds overseas in September, he said.
"Under the framework Indian corporates, body corporates Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts can issue Rupee denominated bonds overseas up to a maximum of USD 750 million equivalent per annum under the automatic route," he added.
"As per the amendment, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules are not applicable to the government employees appointed after December 31, 2003," said Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
On introduction of NPS from January 1, 2004, the rules governing gratuity was changed, he said.
However, the benefit of death or retirement gratuity had been extended to the central government servants, covered by New Pension Scheme on provisional basis from May 5, 2009, he added.
"This was in respect of Central government employees covered by NPS in cases where a government servant is retired on invalidation not attributable to government duty, death in service not attributable to government duty; where government servant is discharged from service due to disease or injury attributable to duty and death in service," he said.
In another reply, Sinha said Pension Fund and Regulatory and Development Authority has decided to facilitate offering eNPS through validation of PAN card details and KYC confirmation from the bank for the bank account of an active users.
Replying to another question, he said there has been a reduction in amount of inflows on account of borrowing from overseas in the form of external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in the recent months.
Indian companies have raised USD 16.2 billion from ECBs between April-November period of the current fiscal as against USD 20.2 billion in the same period last fiscal.
RBI has issued a framework containing guidelines for issuance of rupee denominated bonds overseas in September, he said.
"Under the framework Indian corporates, body corporates Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts can issue Rupee denominated bonds overseas up to a maximum of USD 750 million equivalent per annum under the automatic route," he added.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Railway Recruitment Board Non-technical recruitment 2016 for 18252 Posts
Railway Recruitment Board Non-technical recruitment 2016 for 18252 Posts :Indian Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Ministry of Railways has recently released a recruitmentnotification to
fill 18252 vacancies of Commercial Apprentice, Traffic Apprentice,
Goods Guard, Junior Accounts, senior clerk, Traffic Assistant and
Enquiry clerk. Interested eligible candidate who are looking jobs in
Indian Railway can apply online from official websitewww.indianrailways.gov.in from 26 December 2015 to 25 January 2016. RRB employmentnotification more details like age limit, Educational qualification/ selection process/ how to apply/ application fee and other details given below.
Advertisement No: 03/2015
Name of the post and other details:
01. Commercial Apprentice (CA): 703 Posts
02. Traffic Apprentice (TA): 1645 Posts
03. Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerk: 127 Posts
04. Goods Guard: 7591 Posts
05. Junior Accounts Assistant-cum-Typist: 1205 Posts
06. Senior Clerk-cum-Typist: 869 Posts
07. Assistant Station Master (ASM): 5942 Posts
08. Traffic Assistant: 166 Posts
09. Senior Time Keeper: 04 Posts
Total Number of posts: 18252 Posts
Job Location: All India
Educational qualification: Railway Recruitment Board invites applications from the candidates who have passed degree of Graduation in any stream from a recognized University.
Note - Full details of Advertisement like age limit/ educational qualification/ Application fee and other details will be availed on this page from 26 December 2015.
Examination Fee :
(1) GEN/OBC male candidates = Rs.100
(2) SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen / Women/ Minorities/ Persons with Disabilities/Economically backward classes = No examination fee
How to apply: TA, CA, Goods Guard, ASM, Jr. Accountant and other above given posts applications invite online from 26-12-2015 to 25-01-2016 though official websitewww.indianrailways.gov.in
Selection Procedure :
The candidates will be selected on the basis of Written Test only.
Important Dates :
Starting date for online registration - 26 December, 2015
Closing date for online registration - 25 January, 2016
Date of Online Written Examination - March-May, 2016
Advertisement : Click Here
Notification : Click Here (Available soon)
Apply Online : Click Here (Available soon)
Official Website - http://www.indianrailways.gov.in
Note - Full details and apply online link will available from 26 December 2015 so wait and revisit
Hindi Advertisement : Click Here