650 districts in country to have post office PSKs

Mysuru: January 26, 2017

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has drawn up ambitious plans of opening post office Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in 650 districts across the country soon.

Disclosing this during the inauguration of a post office PSK here on Wednesday, MEA Secretary D.M. Mulay said the MEA was planning to collaborate with the Department of Posts by opening PSKs at district level across the country to meet the growing demand for passports. The demand for passports in India, which is around 2 crore a year, was the third highest in the world after China and the U.S. A total of 60,000 passports are issued every day in the country, he added.

While there are a total of 89 PSKs in the country, the first two post office PSKs were opened at the Metagalli Post office in Mysuru and the Head Post office at Dahod in Gujarat in pilot mode on Wednesday.

Usha Chandrashekar, member, Postal Services Board, who was also present at the inauguration, said the postal officials will be processing the applications for verification of documents and obtaining the photographs and biometrics of the applicants at the post office PSKs.

The Department of Posts, which was earlier only handling posts, has also been handling a variety of other services, including delivering e-commerce parcels, insurance, social security products, and agricultural seeds. Now, it will be handling delivery of passport-related services in an IT-enabled manner, she added.

Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who inaugurated the post office PSK in Mysuru, hoped that all the districts of the country will have a PSK in one year’s time and appreciated Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s initiative in the regard.

Pratap Simha, MP, recalled that the demand for a PSK for Mysuru was the first issue on which he had spoken in the Parliament after his election. He revealed that the decision to start a post office PSK in Mysuru from Wednesday was taken only last Friday and appreciated the officials of the Regional Passport Office, Bengaluru, led by RPO P.S. Karthigeyan for making the necessary arrangements in quick time.

7th Central Pay Commission / Pay Fixation of 4200 MACP on 15.3.2016 – MoD Clarification with illustrations on 5.1.2017 Pay Fixation of 4200 MACP on 15.3.2016 – MoD Clarification with illustrations on 5.1.2017

MoD once again issued a clarification orders with three illustrations of an employee shall be fixed who has been granted financial upgradation in MACP on 15.3.2016 in the grade pay of Rs.4200.

MoD action on BPMS’s representation on Seeking of Clarification regarding Option & Pay Fixation in 7th CPC

Office of the Controller General of Defence Accounts
Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt – 110010

No.AT/II/2701/Orders

Dated: 05 Jan 2017

To
All PCsDA/CsDA
PCA(Fys)/All CsFA(Fys)
(Through NIC mail server

Subject: Representation of Defence Civilian Employees’ Federations regarding misinterpretation of RPR 2016 leading to incorrect pay fixation of employees.

A copy of MoD/D (Civ-I) ID No 11 (6)/2016-D(Civ-I) dated 07.12.2016 along with all its enclosures on the above subject is forwarded herewith. It is seen that MoD/D(Civ-I) has requested that the clarification on the subject from MoF/MoD(Fin) may be awaited. Accordingly, the instructions issued by MoD in para 2 of the MoD ID dated 7.12.2016 may be adhered to avoid any inconsistencies in the matter of pay fixation.

Jt CGDA (P&W) has seen.

(Vinod Anand)
Sr ACGDA (P&W)

The employee has exercised option 2 to fix the pay in the Pay Matrix after availing the increment dated 1.7.2016, in the old pay structure scale.

Option 2 is exercised by the employee to fix the pay in the new pay matrix after availing promotional upgradation under MACP Scheme that look place on 1.1.2016.

Option 2 is exercised by the employee tofix the pay in the pay matrix after availing promotion/MACP upgradation as on 15.3.2016

Click to view the order

Authority: http://pcafys.nic.in/

GDS Pay Committee Report - some slides

Grant of Transport Allowance at double the normal to deaf and dumb employees of Central Government – Finmin Orders

No.20/2/2016-E-II(B)

Governmént of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi

Dated: 17.01.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of Transport Allowance at double the normal to deaf and dumb employees of Central Government

In supersession of this Department O.M.No.21(2)/2011-E-II(B) dated 19.02.2014 regarding admissibility of Transport Allowance at double the normal rates to employees who are deaf and dumb. the undersigned is directed to say that the matter has been re-examined and it has been decided with the approval of Competent Authority that Transport Allowance at double the normal rates is admissible to Hearing Impaired employees also in addition to employees who are both deaf and dumb.

2. Transport Allowance at double normal rates would be admissible to the ‘Hearing Impaired employees having loss of sixty decibels or more in the better ear in the conversation range of frequencies’ as per Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Fun Participation) Act, 1995.

3. The admissibility of Transport Allowance at double the normal rates to above categories of employees is subject to recommendation of the Head of ENT Department of a Government Civil Hospital and fulfilment of other conditions applicable in respect of other disabilities mentioned in D/o Expenditure’s O.M. No. 19029/1/78-E-lV (B) dated 31st August, 1978 read with dated 29.08.2008.

4. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Departrnent are concerned, this order issues in consultation with the Comptroller And Auditor General of India.

5. These orders would be effective from 19.02.2014.

6.  Hindi version is attached.

(Nirmala Dev)

Deputy Secretary (EG)

Cadre Restructuring of Group 'C' employees in Department of Posts

Sub : Cadre Restructuring of Group ’C’ employees in Department of Posts.

D.G. Post letter No. 25-04/2012-PE-I dated 27th May, 2016.

            The Cadre Restructuring of Group-C  employees of Department of Posts has been undertaken in consultation with Department of Expenditure , Ministry of Finance in pursuance of the approval concurrence of the Department  of Expenditure  vide ID No. 2(45)E.III Desk/2015 dated 12th May,2016 , a list at distribution of the posts containing the existing and revised posts  of Postal Assistants, Lower Selection  Grade, Higher Selection  Grade II & I and also a few HSG-I (Non-Functional Grade) is enclosed for implementation with the  following  instructions:

a)         The post of SPMs in Single  Handed  and Double Handed Post Offices  to the cadre of LSG posts (GP Rs.2800) shown in the  annexure now allotted to the Circle , will be placed in the Grade  Pay of Rs.2800/- in the Pay Band-I..

b)         The post of SPMs in Triple Handed Post Offices, in the extent of HSG-II  posts (GP4200) shown the annexure  now allotted  to the Circle and all other existing norms based LSG Posts in Post offices  will be placed in the Grade Pay of Rs.4200- in the Pay  Band-II. In no case, the total number of HSG-II posts shall exceed the number of posts allotted to the Circle.

C)        Existing  posts in HSG-II to the extent  of posts  now allotted  and shown in the annexure , will  be placed in the  Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- in the Pay  Band-II along with the existing  HSG-I Posts . Remaining HSG-II posts if any shall remain in the GP of Rs.4200 only. In no case, the total number of HSG-I posts shall exceed the number of posts allotted in the Circle.

d)         The Cadre Restructuring of these posts  are only in respect of the  posts from Postal Side  other  than the posts of RMS ., Circle and Regional Offices and SBCO Wings.

e)         If the revised number of posts is in excess of the existing strength of a particular grade the difference will be deemed as  newly sanctioned posts in that grade . Similarly, if the revised number of posts is in  a grade is less than the existing strength the number of posts equal to the difference  will be treated as having been  abolished in that grade.

 f)         The vacancies arising out of the restructuring will be filled up only from the amongst the official who fulfill the eligibility criteria  laid down in the recruitment rules  for the post.

g)         The new HSG-I (Non Functional  Grade)  with the grade  pay of Rs.4800/- is only  for those  who  are  senior  most  and completed  not less than a minimum service of 2 years  in HSG-I  subject to the  number of posts specified  for the Circle  in HSG-I (Non Functional  Grade) (for example  the number of NFG officials in AP Circle should never  exceed (17) after following usual procedure of non functional upgradation(s).

2.         These instructions will be effective from the date of issue of the orders. The actual benefit would however be admissible to the eligible officials from the date of actual promotion.

3.         Receipt of the order may be acknowledged. Immediate action initiated and compliance report sent at the earliest.

                                                                                   Sd/-

                                                                                                (Tarun Mittal)

                                                            Assistant Director General (PE-II)

India Post to Start SBI Buddy Wallet Service in Post Offices

In order to move towards digitization of cash transactions at post offices for its Saving Bank Customers, Department of Posts (DoP) has approached the State Bank of India to provide customized services of State Bank Buddy wallet for branches of Post Offices. Cashiers/Postal Assistant at authorized Post Offices will accept two kinds of withdrawal forms from their Saving Bank customers. One for withdrawing cash and other for loading their Buddy wallet.

Draft of process flow is summarized below:

1. DoP would like to open wallets for their identified Post offices across India.

2. To begin with, DoP will start with 1000 Post Offices and then extend to larger no. of Post Offices. All these Post Offices will be provided with a smart phone, by the respective Divisional Heads/Chief Postmaster/Sr. Postmasters. These phones Will be the assets of the post Office concerned and Will be the deposited in the treasury at end of the day. At the beginning of the day the phone will be given to the SB Cashier handling the Buddy wallet.

3. State Bank Buddy wallet will be downloaded from Google play /Apple store and wallet account will be registered on these (Post Offices’ Official) Mobile Numbers.

4. Sansad Marg HO will be assigned as a nodal office for SBl buddy. DoP will share with SBl the list of mobile nos. to be used on Post Office counters. Against each mobile no. in the list, name & address of PO along with other details considered important for accounting and MIS.

5. SBI will prefund all 1000 post office e-wallet accounts with Rs.20,000 (each wallet to be topped up with Rs.20,000).

6. Cashiers/Postal Assistant at Post Offices will pay to their (PO) customers, through P2P facility (using “Send Money/Ask Money) against special withdrawal forms presented by the customers.

7. At 4.30 pm each day, Buddy Team at GITC will send MIS to NDMB (Sansad Marg) & Sansad Marg HO containing the amount consumed by each PO wallet during the day.

8. At the closure of Post Offices? customer dealing, 3:00 pm State Bank Buddy team will run a scheduled job and block all these wallets so that no further transactions can be made on that day.

9. Buddy team will generate Daily Transaction MIS of these wallets post office wise and share it with DoP

10. No PO wallet will be topped up during the day for increased requirement etc.

11. Buddy team will unblock these wallets in SOD (Start of Day) so that wallets will be operational for use.

1- Between Customer & Cashier/Postal Assistant

i. Customer should download buddy wallet from play store or apple store. Assistance may be required. The cashiers/Postal Assistant will be trained by SBI.

ii. Customer should use 'Ask Option" in Buddy giving mobile number of the Cashier.

iii. The statement of transactions on the wallet of the cashier can be made available by the Bank

At Post office

i. Debit SB account of customer

ii. Credit Wallet Account of customer

Reconciliation

The individual PO will download the Buddy report, check it against the transactions made and will

(A) Either confirm that the report tallied with the transactions done in the post offices, to the nodal office.

Buddy Wallet team (gmdigicomm@sbi.co.in) Sansad Marg HO will pay SBl Sansad Marg main branch at the end of the day as per demand raised by them. In the case of any dispute which is raised by post offices as per para B above, the adjustment would be made next day.

You may also visit: India Post | Post Office | SBI Buddy

PFRDA appoints Karvy as 2nd Central Record keeping Agency for NPS

Subscribers of National Pension Scheme (NPS) will soon have an option to choose Central Record keeping Agency as the sector regulator PFRDA has appointed Karvy Computershare to offer such services.

Currently, NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure is the only CRA, which establish an internal system that delivers compliance with standards for internal organisation and operational conduct, with the aim of protecting the interests of NPS subscribers and their assets.

“Karvy Computer share Pvt Ltd is currently at an advanced stage of CRA system development and is expected to become operational in the near future,” said the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

Now there will be two CRAs operating in the NPS system – NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure and Karvy Compurtershare, it said.

Karvy was issued Certificate of Registration by the PFRDA in June last year.

“The choice of CRA can be made by the employer (existing or prospective) between the existing CRA and the new CRA depending on the policy of employer in case where there is employer-employee relationship,” the regulator said.

Voluntary subscribers will have an option to choose a CRA while in the case of NPS-Lite subscribers, the aggregator will decide on the CRA.

In case of government sector subscribers, the government will chose the CRA for rendering the services.

A CRA is responsible for recordkeeping, administration and customer service functions for all NPS subscribers. The function includes receiving instructions from subscribers through the points of presence, transmitting such instructions to pension funds and effecting switching instructions received from subscribers.

It acts as an operational interface between PFRDA and other NPS intermediaries such as pension fund managers, annuity service providers, and Trustee Bank.

As on November 30, 2016 there were about 1.4 crore subscribers under NPS with over Rs 1.61-lakh crore asset under management.

You may also visit: PFRDA News