7th Pay Commission Minimum Pay Comparison With Few States

7th Pay Commission Minimum Pay Calculation: Comparison of Methodology for calculation of minimum Pay of Central Government and a few State Governments as on 1/7/2017

Comparison of Minimum Pay

Comparison of Minimum Pay of Central Government and a few State Governments as on 1/7/2017.

Pay Commission Objective: It is the endeavour of every pay commission to ensure that the pay and allowances of employees should be ‘fair and reasonable’. The pay structure should also motivate the employees to reasonable levels of performance in the tasks assigned to them, so that the general public derive the benefit of their service as intended.

7th CPC of Central Government: The Central Government has been following the practice of pay revision for employees once in ten years. Pay scales of the Central government employees have been revised with effect from 1.1.2016 based on the report of the Seventh Central Pay Commission. The revised minimum pay effective from 01.01.2016 is 2.57 times the pre-revised basic pay. The minimum pay of the central employees has been worked out at Rs.18,000/- per month and represents a real increase of 14.29% of the pre-revised wages. The multiplication factor adopted for revising all the other scales ranges between 2.57 and 2.72 resulting in maximum pay of Rs.2,05,400 corresponding to the highest pre-revised pay scale other than the apex pay scale of Rs.80,000 which is raised to Rs.2,25,000. The Cabinet Secretary’s pay is fixed at Rs.2,50,000.

Employees Associations (Staff side JCM) have also sought minimum pay revision to Rs.26,000 with effect from 01.01.2016.

Pay Revision of various State Governments

Government of Kerala Pay Scales: The revised pay structure introduced by the Government of Kerala witheffect from 1.7.2014 is based on the recommendations of the 10th PayRevision Commission and relates to index level of 239.92 points ofAIACPI (IW). Basic Pay of Group “D” employee is fixed at Rs 16500/-

The rates of increment range from Rs.500 to Rs.2,400. The payment of DA formula is unaltered and continues to be as per the central government formula to neutralise the price rise over and above the 239.92 points twice in a year.

Andhra Pradesh Pay Scales: The revised pay structure formulated by Government of Andhra Pradeshon the basis of the recommendation of 10th Pay Revision Commissionrelates to index level of 220.61 points of AIACPI (IW), Basic Pay of Group “D” employee is fixed at Rs 13000/-

The HRA ranges from 30% to 12% of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs.20,000 depending upon the classification of places and pay.

Karnataka Pay Scales: The revised pay structure formulated by Government of Karnataka on the basis of the recommendation of 6th Pay Revision Commission relates to index level of 276.9 of AIACPI (IW).

Costs of consumable items obtained from the Department of Economics & Statistics, Government of Karnataka are utilised for their calculation.

CLICK HERE FOR REPORT 

http://www.finance.kar.nic.in/6thPay/6thPayComReport.pdf

(For English version read from page number 135 on wards)

The 6th pay commission appointed by the Karnataka Government recommended a 30% increase in the salaries of around 5,20,000 government employees and 73,000 employees from “aided institutions”.

The revision of pay and pension is to come into effect from 1 July 2017 with benefits paid from 1 April 2018. The Group “D” minimum basic pay is fixed at Rs 17000/-.

Methodology for calculation of minimum wage adopted by Pay commissions both Central and State Pay Commissions

Central pay commissions as well as pay commissions in some states have adopted the approach of determining the minimum pay for employees based on the cost of a minimum acceptable standard of living for a household. This is calculated on the basis of the current prices of daily necessities like food, clothing, housing, etc., for a family of three consumption units typical in the case of young employees starting their careers in government. The normative consumption requirements of the family as adopted in the 15th Indian Labour Conference in 1957 are considered for this purpose. While the minimum pay is thus worked out on the basis of a set of quantitative norms and based on Dr. Wallace Aykroyd’s formula , the maximum pay for employees at the highest levels is to be determined as that required to attract and retain persons of qualifications and skills appropriate for the higher positions in government services.

Comparative picture of pay of Central Government and State Government in regards to minimum wage as on 1.7.2017

Govt. of India

Group “C” Min Basic Pay =Rs 18000/-

DA 5% = Rs 900/-

Total Basic Pay + DA =Rs 18900/-

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

Group “D” Min Basic Pay =Rs 13000/-

Provide for Skill by adding 25% =Rs 3250-

Total Group “C” Min Basic Pay = Rs 16250/-

DA @ 24.1% = 3916/-

Total Basic Pay + DA=Rs 20166/-

Kerala

Group “D” Min Basic Pay =Rs 16500/-

Provide for Skill by adding 25% Rs 4125/-

Total Group “C” Min Basic Pay =Rs 20625/-

DA @ 14% = 2887/-

Total Basic Pay + DA= Rs 23512/-

Karnataka

Group “D” Min Basic Pay = Rs 17000/-

Provide for Skill by adding 25% = Rs 4250-

Total Group “C” Min Basic Pay = Rs 21250/-

DA = NIL

Total Basic Pay + DA = Rs 21250 /-

Ratios between minimum and maximum pay

The existing ratios between minimum and maximum pay of the central government and the States is as follows:

Government of India 1 :12.5

Andhra Pradesh 1:8.527

Kerala 1 :7

Karnataka 1:8.86

The gap is highest in Central Government should be reduced ratios between minimum and maximum pay to 1: 8

Hence there is need for revision of minimum wage for Central Government employees and also fitment formula on the lines of the State Government Pay Commissions, the State Government economic conditions are not as good as the Central Government still the State Governments are paying more for their employees comparing it to the Central Government, in case of the 7th CPC the Central Government Employees got only 14.29% , the Group “A” and above officers of Central Government got more pay hike due to higher fitment formula of 2.72 . Thus injustice is done for Group “C” and Group “B”.

whereas the Karnataka State Government employees got 30% wage hike , Central Government Employees got only 14.29% wage hike , the uniform multiplication factor should be fixed for the Central Government employees and also Central Government Employees should also get 30% wage hike .

Source: www.karnatakacoc.blogspot.in

Rajya Shbha Q&A - Easing Process Of Aadhaar Linking By NPS Subscribers

Easing process of Aadhaar linking by NPS subscribers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 388

ANSWERED ON 06.02.2018

Easing process of Aadhaar linking by NSDL subscribers
388 Shri Neeraj Shekhar

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state :-

(a) whether tier-1 subscribers of NSDL under NPS who have not registered their mobiles with UIDAI are not able to update their Aadhaar numbers and OTPs are not being sent on current mobile number/e-mails registered with NSDL on which NSDL has been sending messages regarding contribution and account statement;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether Government would provide for sending OTPs to registered e-mails also or on registered mobiles with NSDL;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) if not, the reasons for making the process complicated; and

(f) (f) other measures to ease the process of Aadhaar linking with NSDL?

ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

(a) to (e) As reported by the PFRDA, for seeding of Aadhaar, OTP is sent only on the Mobile Number registered with UIDAI data base. Accordingly, OTP is sent to the Mobile Number registered with UIDAI and not to the Mobile Number registered under National Pension System (NPS). However, to enable the subscribers whose mobile number is not registered with UIDAI, an option is available where the subscriber can approach the associated Nodal Office to seed his/her Aadhaar under NPS.

(f) Under NPS, the subscriber can seed his/her Aadhaar online in the Central Record keeping Agency (CRA) system. In addition, the subscriber has an option to approach the associated Nodal Office to seed his/her Aadhaar under NPS.

Rajya Sabha Q&A - Revision Of NPS Employees To Old Pension Scheme

Revision of NPS employees to old pension scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 387

ANSWERED ON 06.02.2018

Revision of NPS employees to old pension scheme

387 Shri Neeraj Shekhar

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state :-

(a) whether Government has filed any petition before Kerala High Court against the orders of Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam bench which had ordered the Central Government to revert the employees who had joind after 1st January, 2004 under NPS to old pension scheme and had observed that date of vacancy/advertisement should be the basis for inclusion under NPS instead of the date of joining;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of petition number and date thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons why Government has not implemented the orders of CAT and reverted the employees?

ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

(a) to (c) Yes, Sir. Department of Posts has informed that OP (CAT) 304/2016 has been filed before the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala against the order of the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dated 15.02.2016 in Original Application No. 20/2015, and the same is still pending before the Hon’ble High Court. The OP (CAT) No. 304/2016 was admitted on 01.12.2016 and an interim order of stay on the operation of the order of the Hon’ble CAT dated 15.02.2016 was granted by the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala and the same was extended until further orders on 12.01.2017.

Outsourcing Of Jobs In Government Departments

Outsourcing of Jobs in Government Departments

OUTSOURCING OF JOBS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

A Ministry or Department may procure certain non-consulting services in the interest of economy and efficiency and prescribe detailed instructions and procedures for this purpose without, however, contravening the basic guidelines provided in rule 199 to 206 of “General Financial Rules 2017” (GFR 2017). As each Ministry/Department is competent to procure services at their level to meet seasonal or short-term requirements, the centralised data is not maintained in this regard.

There are detailed procedures laid down for procurement of such non-consulting services including e-procurement in Chapter 6 of the GFR 2017 and the “Manual for Procurement of Consultancy & Other Services, 2017”. Ministries are competent to decide the mode depending on the nature of work, nature of competency required etc. Any deviation or violation can be dealt by the Ministry appropriately. The wages for the persons engaged on contract/outsourcing cannot be less than the minimum wage fixed/notified by the concerned State Government.

The Government posts are regularly filled up in accordance with the recruitment rules. Each Ministry/Department is responsible for appointment of regular employees against vacant posts after completing all procedural formalities. The centralised data of vacancies and backlog vacancies is not maintained.

The above information was provided by the Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office Dr.Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

UIDAI - No Need to Print Aadhaar On Plastic/PVC Card Or Laminated

Aadhaar – No Need to Print it on Plastic/PVC Card or Laminated

Ministry of Electronics & IT

Plastic or PVC Aadhaar Smart Card is not usable: UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said today in a statement that the Plastic or PVC Aadhaar smart cards are often not usable as the QR code commonly becomes dysfunctional during such unauthorised printing at some vendor/shop. Also, there could be a possibility of sharing Aadhaar details (personal sensitive demographic information) without informed consent with some devious elements.

UIDAI reiterated that Aadhaar letter or its cutaway portion or downloaded versions of Aadhaar on ordinary paper or mAadhaar are perfectly valid and people should not yearn for the so-called Aadhaar smart card as it may make them fall to the ploys of some unscrupulous elements who are printing Aadhaar on a plastic/PVC sheet and charging anywhere between Rs.50 to Rs.300 or more.

UIDAI has asked people to keep away from such elements/shops/vendors. Dr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, UIDAI said, “So-called Aadhaar Smart card is totally unnecessary and a waste as during such printing its QR code often becomes dysfunctional. The Aadhaar card or the downloaded Aadhaar card printed on ordinary paper or mAadhaar is perfectly valid for all kind of uses.”

“If a person has a paper Aadhaar card, there is absolutely no need to get his/her Aadhaar card laminated or obtain a plastic Aadhaar card or so called smart Aadhaar card by paying money. There is no concept such as smart or plastic Aadhaar card”, added Dr. Pandey.

In case a person loses his Aadhaar card, he can download his Aadhaar card free of cost from https://eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in. The print out of the downloaded Aadhaar card, even in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter sent by UIDAI. There is absolutely no need to print it on plastic/PVC card or get it laminated.

CEO, UIDAI advised people to be watchful for the protection of their privacy and recommended not to share their Aadhaar number or personal details to unauthorized agencies for getting it laminated, or printed on plastic card.

UIDAI has cautioned unauthorized Agencies not to collect Aadhaar information from general public for printing of Aadhaar card as collecting such information or unauthorized printing of Aadhaar card or aiding such persons in any manner amounts to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under Indian Penal Code and Aadhaar Act, 2016.

Source: PIB News

DoPT - Scheme For Promotion Of Adventure Sports & Similar Activities Amongst CG Employees

Scheme for Promotion of Adventure Sports & Similar Activities amongst Central Government Employees

Scheme for Promotion of Adventure Sports & Similar Activities amongst Central Government Employees- Programmes to be organized by Youth Hostel Association of India.

No.125/1/2015-16-CCSCSB

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Personnel & Training)

Dated: 02.02.2018

CIRCULAR

Sub: Scheme for Promotion of Adventure Sports & Similar Activities amongst Central Government Employees- Programmes to be organized by Youth Hostel Association of India.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Personnel & Training’s Office Memorandum of even number dated 04.12.2015 regarding Scheme for Promotion of Adventure Sports & Similar Activities amongst Central Government Employees(copy enclosed) and to inform that the Youth Hostel Association of India has offered various adventure programmes for Central Government Employees as per annexure.

3. Interested and eligible Central Government Employees may submit his/her application to Secratry, CCSCSB, Roon mo. 361-8 wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan,Khan Market, New Delhi or through e-mail at doptsports@gmail.com. The reimbursement as admissible will be made after successful completion of programme. The applicant may submit expenditure details(fee receipt & Tickets in original) along with Aadhar Number and Bank Details(Name of Bank, Account Number, LESC Code and Branch Code) for smooth reimbursement of claim.

4. If there is any query regarding the payment of fee, availability of slot in respect of the above mentioned programme, applicant may contact Shri Ankit Gupta, Marketing Officer, 011-45999026.

sd/-

(Kulbhushan Malhotra)

Secretary (CCSCSB)

Authority: www.dopt.gov.in

MoD Orders - Scheme For Compassionate Appointment – Relative Merit Points And Revised Procedure For Selection

Scheme for Compassionate Appointment – Relative merit points and revised procedure for selection

Principal Controller of Accounts (Ordnance Factories), Kolkata published on 5.2.2018

Ministry of Defence (Finance)

Block, New Delhi

DAD – Coord

Room No.24-A, South Block, New Delhi

Sub: Scheme for Compassionate Appointment – Relative merit points and revised procedure for selection.

A copy of Ministry of Defence D(Lab) ID No.19(2)/2017-D(Lab) dated 09.01.2018 on the above subject is forwarded herewith for information and necessary action please.

sd/-

(Rajesh Kalia)

SO (DAD-Coord)

Ministry of Defence

D(Lab)

Sub: Scheme for compassionate appointment – Relative merit points and revised procedure for selection.

The undersigned is directed to say that the Department of Personnel & Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is the nodal department for Government of India’s Scheme for compassionate Appoinment. While considering requests for compassionate appointment, a balanced and objective assessment of financial condition of the families of the applicants has to be made taking into account the assets and liabilities and other relevant factors. The main object of the Scheme is to alleviate the family of the deceased government servant/member of the Armed Forces from indigence and help it get over the emergency. Accordingly, vide Ministry of Defence I.D. No.271/93/D(Lab) dated 2.11.93, Ministry of Defence had developed a 100-point weightage system containing various parameters/attributes to decide the most deserving cases amongst the large number of Defence ID No. 19(4)/824-99/1998-D(Lab) dated 9.3.2001. Consequent upon implementation of the 6th CPC Report, parameters of all these attributes were further revised in 2010 vide MoD note No. 19(3)/2009/D(Lab) dated 22.1.2010 and 14.5.2010. Presently, the attributes on 100-points scale are – Quantum of Family Pension (20 Points); Terminal Benefits (10 points); Monthly income of family from other sources (05 points); Movable/immovable property held by the family (10 points); No. of dependents (15 points), No. of unmarried daughters (15 points); No. of minor children (15 points) and Left over service (10 points). As per the parctice, compassionate appointment is given to the highest score earner.

2. Now, consequent upon implementation of the 7th CPC pay structure, the finacial parameters are required to be revised again. Certain organisations/ formations under Ministry of Defence have been requesting for revision of relative merit points and procedure for selecting the most indigent applicant(s) for compassionate appointment after death/medically boarding-out of the Government servant/member of the Armed Forces on whose income the family was wholly dependent.

3. As per 7th CPC structure, the minimum pension stands revised from Rs.3,500 p.m. (as per 6th CPC) to Rs.9,000 p.m. which approximately comes out to be 2.57 times the old pension. The Govt. of India have also approved this factor of 2.57 for working out revised pay, based on which DCRG, Family Pension and Leave encashment are calculate. Accordingly, the monetary parameters/attributes such as Family Pension, Terminal Benefits, Monthly income of earning member(s) and income from property and lates market value of the Movable/Immovable property have been revised by the multiplying the fitment factor of 2.57 or so, for arriving at the present-day weightage points. However, other non-monetary parameters/attributes viz. No. of Dependents, No. of Unmarried Daughter, No. of Minor Children and Leftover Service have been kept unchanged.

4. Accordingly, with the approval of the competent authority, various parameters on the 100-points scale of weightage system stand revised as under with immediate effect:-

(a) Basic Family Pension / Monthly Amount received under National Pension System

(20 points)

(d) Movable/immovable property of the family (Latest Market Value including Fixed Deposit/Bank balance etc. but excluding the lump sum amount received as mentioned in (b) above

(10 points)

5. the revised guidelines will take place with immediate effect. However, cases already considered by the Boards of Officers constituted for considering requests for compassionate appointment as per the previous guidelines need not be re-opened.

6. However, for considering belated requests for compassionate appointment where the death/disablement of Govt. servant/member of Armed Forces took place long ago, weightage points towards ‘Terminal Benefits’ may be awarded in the following manner:-

(a) For cases where death of the deceased Govt. servant occured prior to 9.3.2001, parameters of ‘Terminal Benefits’ given in MoD ID note dated 2.11.1993 will be applicable:

(b) For cases where death of the deceased Govt, servant occurred on or after 9.3.2001 till 21.1.2010, parameters of ‘Terminal Benefits’ given in Mod ID note dated 9.3.2001 will be applicable: and

(c) For cases where death of the deceased Govt. servant occurred on or after 22.1.2010 till 31.12.2015, parameters of ‘Terminal Benefits’ given in MoD ID note dated 22.1.2010 will be applicable.

7. All the concerned are advised to strictly follow these weightage points and guidelines keeping in view the instruction issued by the DoP&T/MoD, from time to time for assessing comparative merit of the applicants for compassionate appointment.

(S S S SARMA)

Director (Estt. & CP), Govt. of India

Authority: www.pcafys.nic.in

Department Of Posts - Clarification Regarding Benchmark For Placement Under MACP After 25.07.2016

Clarification regarding benchmark for MACP after 25.07.2016

Clarification regarding benchmark for placement under MACP in respect of the official who are due for placement in MACP after 25.07.2016

No.20-45/2016-SPB-II

Government of India

Ministry of Communications

Department of Posts

(Personnel Division)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110 001

Dated the 22nd January, 2018

To,

The Chief Postmaster General,

Maharashtra Circle,

Mumbai

Subject: Clarification regarding benchmark for placement under MACP in respect of the official who are due for placement in MACP after 25.07.2016.

Sir,

I am directed to refer to Maharashtra Circle’s letter no. STA/MACPs/Bench Mark/2017 dated & 12.2.2017 on the subject cited above and to say that ‘Promotion’ and ‘Modificed Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACP)’ are two different matters. The first involves higher duties & responsibilities while latter don’t.

2.For MACP, DOP&T has issued instruction vide OM No. 35034/3/2015-Estt(D) dated 28.09.2016, accordingly to which the prescribed benchmark would be ‘Very Good’ for all posts and it will come into effect from 25.07.2016. The communication DOP&T has already been circulated by Estt. Division of the Directorate vide letter no. 7-8/2016-PCC dated 5.10.2016 (Copy enclosed)

3.For promotion, Personnel Division vide letter no. 20-24/2016-SPB-II dated 13.02.2017 has clarified to follow instructions contained DOPT’s OM No. 35034/7/97-Estt(D) dated 8.02.2002 until further clarification is issued by DOPT or Department of Posts.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Satya Narayana Dash)

Source: http://fnpohq.blogspot.in/

NC JCM Staff Side - Exemption Of Transport Allowance And Medical Reimbursement From Income Tax

Exemption of Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement from Income Tax – NC JCM Staff Side

National Council Staff Side Secretary writes to Finance Ministry regarding the exemption of Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement from Income Tax

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

Ph: 23382286

National Council (Staff Side)

Joint Consultation, Machinery

For Central Government Employees

13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

E.Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com

No.NC/JCM/2018

Dated: February 2, 2018

Hon’ble Finance Minister,
Ministry of Finance,
(Government of India),
North Block,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

Sub: General Budget 2018-19

We hope that, standard deduction, up to Rs.40,000 in the Budget (2018-19) announcement, was provided to give some relief to the salaried class, but at the same time, there is serious resentment in the salaried class in general and the Central Government Employees in particular because of non-enhancement of limit of the Income Tax.

We were hopeful that, in this budget, the Central Government would provide Income Tax exemption, if not Rupees Five Lakh, definitely Four Lakh, but nothing has been done, which has resulted in desperation in the Government Employees. Moreover, Education Cess has been increased from 3% to 4%, which will further put additional tax burden on the salaried class. In such a situation standard deduction given by the government will definitely not going to help to any salaried employees.

Not only the above, Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement, used to exempt earlier, have also been stopped in this budget, has given another blow to the salaried class.

Since there is all-round resentment in the salaried class, it would be in all appropriateness if the Income Tax Exemption is enhanced to minimum Rupees Four Lakh.

Sir, Government Employees are also very eagerly awaiting for improvement in the Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula as well as announcement of the Guaranteed Pension to the employees covered under the National Pension System(NPS). These also need to be given top priority to keep industrial peace among the Government Employees.

It is also requested that, Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement, almost exempted from the Income Tax, should also remain exempted from the Income Tax, to give some relief to the government employees in distress.

With Kind Regards

Sincerely yours

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Secretary(Staff Side)

National Council(JCM)

Source: NCJCM

DoPPW To Organise Next Pension Adalat On 9.2.2018

DoPPW to Organise Next Pension Adalat on 9.2.2018

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare to organise next Pension Adalat on 9th February

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, will organise next Pension Adalat on 9th February, 2018 under the auspices of MoS (PP) Dr Jitendra Singh, wherein 34 grievances of 17 Ministries/Departments (including 3 unresolved grievances) will be considered. The issues include revision of Family Pension, Commutation of Pension, final settlement of GPF, Fixed Medical Allowance etc. In the first Pension Adalat conducted in September 2017, out of 29 grievances, 26 have been resolved. To strengthen the grievances redressal mechanism, the department has started Pension Adalat wherein unresolved grievances are taken up and petitioner along with concerned Ministry/Department, Banks, CPAO etc. are brought at one common platform with an objective to provide on the spot resolution of grievance.

Department of Pension formulates policy of pension and pension related matters of central government employees and ensures welfare of pensioners’ through various activities. The Department felt that laying down the policy only is not sufficient, it is also equally important to create awareness of updated rules amongst pensioners. At present the strength of Central Government pensioners are around 61 lakh scattered across the country. Web based system along with Print and electronic media is a viable source to reach out to the pensioners living in far flung areas of the country. Pensioners’ Portal is a web based single platform created with the objective to disseminate pension related information as well as to provide redressal of the pensioners’ grievances at a single point. The system has been strengthened and now available on mobile app.

In the recent years following orders have been issued for the benefit of pensioners/family pensioners:

Minimum pension has been enhanced from Rs.3500/- to Rs.9000/- per month;

In case of Disability Pension, minimum pension is Rs.18,000/- per month;

The ceiling of gratuity has been increased from the existing Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.20 lakhs;

Constant Attendant allowance has been increased from Rs.4500/per month to Rs.6750/- per month;

Fixed Medical allowance (FMA)enhanced from Rs. 500/- per month to

Rs.1000/- per month;

The rates of ex-gratia lump sum compensation being paid to the families of employees who die in performance of duty has been increased from existing Rs. 10-15 lakhs to Rs.25-45 lakhs;

Divorced daughter will be eligible for family pension if divorce case has been filed before the death of pensioner/family pensioner, even though the judgment has been passed after the death of the pensioner /family pensioner;

Permission of CMO/CGHS has been dispensed with for sanctioning Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to pensioners residing in cities/areas not covered under CGHS;

General Provident Fund (Central Service) Rules has been liberalized by raising the limits and by including more reasons for withdrawals. Procedures have been simplified by allowing subscribers to withdraw funds based on a simple declaration;

Order issued to ensure timely payment of final GPF. Responsibility to be fixed at each level if GPF final payment gets delayed.

In order to ensure timely and accurate settlement of pension, this department has started an online pension assessment and sanction system called ‘Bhavishya’. As of now 429 offices of civil ministries/departments are on the board of Bhavishya processing 15,000 pension cases of government employees. This system has been developed based on CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 with inbuilt automatic calculation system. It avoids repetition of manual entry at various levels, thereby reducing the chances of human error.

After implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, the cases of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners have also been processed on Bhavishya. The revision module in Bhavishya is based on concordance tables issued by Department of Pension & PW and facilitates the offices to revise pension cases without any manual calculation. As of now 35523 cases have been processed through Bhavishya.

This Department is also promoting use of submission of Digital Life Certificate among the pensioners so that they can submit life certificate from anywhere without waiting in long queue in banks. Till date 93% of pensioners accounts have been seeded with Aadhar number which enables them to avail the digital life certificate in future. From 01.11.2017 to 31.01.2018, total 61, 47,119 pensioners have submitted their life certificate through Jeevan Pramaan.

Department of Pension is regularly organizing Pre-Retirement Counseling (PRC) for employees nearing retirement to create awareness about the procedure of getting pensionary benefit in time and explore the opportunity using their skill towards nation building post retirement. Till date 38 PRCs have been conducted benefiting 3801 retiring government servants. Department also conducts Training of Trainers to strengthen in house capabilities of Government Ministries/Departments for conducting Pre-retirement counseling for their own retiring employees.

On the direction of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Department has developed ANUBHAV an online system of sharing experiences by retiring government employees. ANUBHAV is facilitating retiring officials to record their experiences and create a wealth of institutional memory for future generations. To encourage retirees for submission of quality write ups, an award scheme has also been instituted. In 2017, contributors of 16 write ups have been awarded by MoS (PP) Dr Jitendra Singh.

Source: PIB News