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

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Retirement on Superannuation

Shri Isoodor Ekka, IP(PG), Sambalpur Division, Sambalpur retired today the 28th, February, 2017(A/N) on superannuation. 

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

Information desired by the Committee on Allowances relating to occupancy of Govt accommodation and drawing HRA

As desired by the Committee on Allowances headed by the Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) the following information relating to occupancy of Govt accommodation and the officers/ officials drawing HRA has been sought for by Directorate from Circles. 

Group
Total no of employees
Number of officers/ officials residing in Government accomodation
Number of officers / officials drawing HRA
A
 
 
 
B
 
 
 
C
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 

CHQ News:-Clerical Assistance


CHQ News:- Chain vacancies


Sunday, February 26, 2017

Information sought for under RTI relating Tour TA and Transfer TA

Application for Information under RTI Act-2005 Rule 3 (1)

To
The Central Public Information Officer – Cum- Asst.  Director (Accounts) Office of the Chief PMG, Odisha Circle
Bhubaneswar-751001

1.   Name of the applicant:    PITABASA JENA

2.   Correspondence Address  with phone No (Phone No optional)
Pitabasa Jena
Circle Secretary, All India Association of Inspectors and Asst. Superintendents of Posts, Odisha Circle Branch, Bhubaneswar-751001
Mob: 9437630182

3.   Particulars of information sought for:
Sl. No.
Description
Relating to Tour TA
Relating to Transfer TA
     i.         
Head of Account


    ii.         
Unit wise fund allocated during the year 2016-17 under the Head of Account mentioned against (i) above.


   iii.         
Unit wise amount sanctioned during the financial Year 2016-17 so far  under the Head of Account mentioned against (i) above.


  iv.         
Unit wise period of TA bills lying pending for sanction and claimed amount thereof.





















4.   Whether the information is required by Post / in Person:-                   By Post
5.   In case by Post (Ordinary/Registered/Speed Post:-                   Registered Post
6.   Do you agree to pay the required fee:-                  Yes
7.   Have you deposited applicable fee?              Yes (Bhubaneswar GPO IPO No.33F 450262 dated 02-09-2016, Amount:Rs.10/-)
8.   Whether belong to BPL Category:-               No



Place:-Bhubaneswar
Date:- 23/02/2017
                (Pitabasa Jena)
         Signature of the Applicant

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Senior Citizen Savings Scheme saves tax, beats bank FDs: Here's all you need to know about it

The Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) offers regular income, highest safety and tax saving, making it a popular product for those over 60 years of age. 

Post retirement, people are looking for investment avenues to park their retirement corpus in. They are hesitant to put their hard-earned money in equities, which carry capital loss risk, or products which come with a long lock-in period and don't offer any income till maturity. 

Retirees are looking for products that are less risky and can also minimise their tax outgo. SCSS offers capital protection, along with quarterly interest payment as a source of income. The scheme is backed by the government and, therefore, offers a sovereign guarantee. 

Interest income from SCSS can also help retirees bridge the gap between their pension and the last salary drawn. 

Who can invest in SCSS? 

As the name suggests, any individual aged 60 and above can invest in it. Early retirees between 55 and 60 years, who either opted for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) or superannuation, can also invest in the scheme, provided the investment is done within a month of receiving retirement benefits. 

Retired defence personnel, excluding civilian defence personnel, can invest in this scheme irrespective of their age, subject to other conditions. 

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) are not allowed to invest SCSS. 

How to invest? 

A senior citizen can invest in this scheme by opening either an individual or a joint (along with the spouse) account with a post office or a scheduled commercial bank. 

How much can one invest? 

An individual, singly or jointly, can open an SCSS account by investing up to Rs 15 lakh (in multiples of Rs 1,000) only. The amount invested in the scheme also cannot exceed the money one receives on retirement. Therefore, one can invest either Rs 15 lakh or the amount received as a retirement benefit, whichever is lower. 

The account can be opened by cash for amounts below Rs 1 lakh and by cheque only for Rs 1 lakh and above, as per the senior citizen scheme rules on the Income Tax website. The investment date in the scheme is taken as the date on which the cheque is realised in the government's account. 

Number of accounts 

There is no limit on the number of accounts that can be opened, but the total amount in all the accounts must not breach the maximum investment limit. 

Documents required 

Following is the list of the documents required for investing in the scheme: 
(a) Duly filled application form, available at the post office or bank 
(b) Know Your Customer (KYC) form 
(c) Photographs of the applicant/s 
(d) Permanent Account Number (PAN) 
(e) Address proof 
(f) Age proof 
(g) In the case of retirees, a certificate from the employer, stating the retirement was on superannuation or otherwise, retirement benefits, employment held (designation) and the period of employment. 
(h) Proof of date of disbursal of the retirement benefits 

The account opening application form requires details such as PAN, address proof, age and number of accounts already opened under the scheme and the amount deposited in each account. 

Pan Number is mandatory for opening an SCSS account. If the investor doesn't have PAN at the time of investment, he must apply for the same and mention the application number on the application form. 

Click here for the account opening form. 

Proof of investment 

The depositor is given a passbook once the account is opened, which includes the date of opening, the account number, the depositor's name, photograph, address, the amount deposited, dates and amount of the quarterly interest payable, maturity date and amount, nomination details. 

Interest rate offered 

The scheme currently offers an interest rate of 8.5 per cent per annum, reviewed every quarter by the Ministry of Finance. The scheme does not have the option of 'cumulative interest', unlike a bank fixed deposit (FD). 

The interest rate on the SCSS is reset every quarter by the government. However, the interest payable on an investment is locked on the date of the investment and does not change even if the rate on the scheme as a whole is revised later. 

Only new investment under SCSS is affected by the change in interest rate. However, if an SCSS account is extended post maturity the interest rate that the extended account will earn will be as per the rate prevailing for that scheme on the date of extension. 

The interest is calculated for each quarter up to the last day of every quarter i.e., on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. The interest payable is credited to the account holder's account on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1. 

The account holder, while investing in SCSS, must remember that if the investment is done via a post office then he/she must have an operating post office savings account to receive the credit of the quarterly interest. The same goes for investment done through a bank. 

As of now, the credit of the interest on investment done through a post office is not possible in the account holder's bank savings account. 

Tenure 

The tenure of the scheme is five years, which can be further extended for three more years. Premature withdrawals are allowed, but only after one year and with premature withdrawal charges. 

If one prematurely withdraws after a year, but before two years from the start date, the charges are 1.5 per cent of the deposit, and after 2 years it is 1 per cent. 

No charges are levied in case of premature closure of account due to the depositor's death. 

Maturity 

If the depositor wishes to close the account after the completion of five years and receive the maturity amount then he needs to submit the duly filled 'Closure Form', along with the passbook. 

To apply for the extension of the scheme for another three years after it has completed its mandated five-year tenure, the investor must submit the duly filled form of the extension of the scheme. 

Click here for the closure/extension form. 

In case the depositor has not extended the scheme on maturity or closed the account after maturity then post maturity, the deposit will earn the post office savings account interest rate, applicable at that time. 

Taxation 

Investment in SCSS qualifies for deduction under Section 80C of the Income-tax (I-T) Act. However, this tax benefit is under the overall current ceiling of Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum fixed for all investments under Section 80C. 

Commenting on the tax benefits available under the scheme, Amarpal Chadha, Tax Partner and India Mobility leader, EY, says, "Section 80C benefit is available in the financial year in which the deposit is made in SCSS. As per SCSS Rules, only one deposit is allowed in one SCSS account. There will be no additional benefit under Section 80C for the extension of an existing account after five years." 

Further, as far as taxation goes in case of premature withdrawals, Sonu Iyer, Tax Partner & National leader - People Advisory Services, EY India, adds that the person loses the 80C benefit if he withdraws from the scheme prematurely, but the benefit is not withdrawn on retrospective basis for the year of the deposit. 

Instead, the principal amount withdrawn, along with the interest paid in the year of withdrawal is added to the individual's gross total income in the year of the premature withdrawal. 

It must be noted that the principal amount on premature withdrawal by the nominee or legal heirs is not taxable in their hands in the event of the death of the depositor. Any interest paid into the account of a depositor after the date of his demise, will be taxable in the hands of the nominee or legal heirs. 

The interest received under the scheme is taxable in the hands of the depositors. There is a tax deducted at source (TDS) on the interest payment if the amount is more than Rs 10,000 per annum as per current tax laws. 

Other facilities 

Nomination facility is also available for account holders. A depositor can also appoint a minor as his nominee. He just needs to provide the guardian's details, along with the minor's date of birth. 

If the nomination is not made at the time of the opening of the account, the depositor can do so during the scheme tenure by submitting the duly filled nomination form. In the case of joint holding, the nomination form should be signed by all the account holders. 

There is no limit on the number of times an investor can change his nominee. This facility is available free of charge. 

Click here to view the nomination form. 

The depositor can also transfer his account to another post office or to a bank. He can avail this facility by submitting the duly filled transfer form to his current deposit office, i.e., the post office or bank. A nominal fee is charged to avail this facility. 

Click here to view the transfer form. 

Precaution 

While opening an SCSS account, the depositor must furnish all the required information. If the information furnished by him is false then the account will be closed immediately and the deposited amount will be refunded after the deduction of interest already paid (if any) to him/her. 

Source:-The Economic Times

India Post Bank is likely to tap World War-era tech to garner business

It is back to basics for India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). It is tapping into World War-era phone-based technology and its vast network of postman to target a customer base of around 850 million, which either have no access to telephony or still depend on feature phones. 

“Banks and payments banks are two different things.Over 90% households have access to bank accounts. So, we are targeting remittances and bill payments,“ said an officer at the bank, which launched operations a month ago, offering 5.5% interest on deposits. 

Unlike full-fledged banks, payments banks can accept deposits up to Rs 1lakh and have to mandatorily park 75% of funds in government bonds.They are not allowed to offer loans either. 

With its network of over 1.5 post offices, IPPB is seen to be a major competitor for banks, especially in rural areas and small towns. The bank, floated by India Post, is running behind schedule as it is yet to tie up with a technology vendor for its banking services. But it is still targeting 2 crore customers in the first year with business of around Rs 450 crore.By the fifth year, the bank hopes to have eight crore customers with a business of Rs 2,500 crore. 

A key focus area for IPPB is one billion bills that are paid every month, with the average ticket size being Rs 300. This is where Giro -an electronic fund transfer tool used in Europe and Japan -will come in handy . Apart from helping customers settle bills, a worker in a city can add his wife or mother as a beneficiary and transfer funds into their accounts by issuing instructions to a call centre. The wife or the mother will then use Aadhaar based authentication to withdraw funds either at a post office or ask a postman to deliver cash at home, for which a small fee may be levied. 

IPPB is also in talks with the rural development ministry for accessing details of NREGA beneficiaries and pensioners getting funds under the National Social Assistance Programme.Again, idea is to make the payments Aadhaar-based to minimise leakages.

Source:-The Economic Times

Promotion and postings of Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) officers of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) and transfers / postings of regular SAG officers of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A'.

To view please Click Here.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Admissibility of Deputation (Duty) Allowance while on deputation - regarding.

Bureaucrats on central deputation abroad and within the country will not get deputation allowance beyond five years of such tenure. 

Norms allow a maximum of seven-year, in break-up of five plus two years in usual cases, central deputation term for officers to work outside their state cadre or abroad. 

The admissibility of deputation (duty) allowance would be up to the fifth year, if the deputationist has opted to draw such monetary benefit, an order issued recently by the Personnel Ministry said. 

The decision has been taken to check overstay of central deputation period by officers including those in Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others, officials said. 

The move comes after the government noticed a few cases where officers' central deputation tenure was being extended, mainly while they were working abroad, by ministries concerned beyond the maximum period of seven years citing "exigencies", they said. 

The Personnel Ministry has already issued a directive to warn officers that they may lose their job for overstaying on foreign posting. 

In case of deputation within the same station, the allowance will be paid at the rate of 5 per cent of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 2,000 per month; and in other cases, it will be payable at the rate of 10 per cent of the employee's basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 4,000 per month.

To view DoPT order please Click Here.

Cadre Restructuring of Group-C Cadre(Postal)- Promotion of Postal Assistants to LSG Cadre

To view Circle Office Memo No.ST/26-6(1)/2017(Postal) dated 23-02-2017, effecting promotion of Postal Assistants to LSG Cadre and Region Allotment thereof, please Click Here.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Setting up of Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commissions recommendations.


The Centre has expanded the ambit of a panel looking into anomalies arising out of the implementation of the seventh Central Pay Commission's recommendations. 

The work of the anomaly committee, which has representatives from both official and staff sides, is to act on representations received from the employees against the pay panel's recommendations. 



The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has modified the definition of anomaly to include "Where the official side and the staff side are of the opinion that the vertical and horizontal relativities have been disturbed as a result of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) to give rise to anomalous situation," as per an official order. 


The inclusion of term "disturbance of vertical and horizontal relativities" (referred to as gaps in pay among various group of employees/officers working at the same level) will help in expanding the approach of the anomaly committee, a senior DoPT official said. 

Now the anomaly will include cases where the official side and the staff side are of the opinion that any recommendation is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the seventh CPC itself without the Commission assigning any reason. 

"It will also include cases where the maximum of the level in the pay matrix corresponding to the applicable grade pay in the pay band under the pre-revised structure is less than the amount an employee is entitled to be fixed at," the order said. 

The DoPT had in August last year asked all central government departments to set up committees to look into various pay-related anomalies arising out of the pay panel's recommendations. 

The Centre has accepted most of the recommendations of the seventh CPC being implemented from January 1, 2016. 



To view DoPT order please Click Here.

Recruitment Rules of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A'

To view please Click Here.

Monday, February 20, 2017

CHQ News:GS visits Directorate

GS and CHQ Treasurer visited Directorate on 16-2-2017 and 17-2-2017 and met with senior officers and discussed the following cases with them.

1.   Issue of final combined seniority list of Inspector Posts cadre for the year 2001 and 2002 and remaining years.

Directorate vide memo No. 7-1/2015-SPB-II dated 17/5/2016 has circulated draft All India combined seniority list of Inspector Posts for the year 2001 and 2002 and requested to intimate discrepancies noticed therein. Thereafter Directorate vide Memo No. 7-1/2015-SPB-II dated 09th June 2016 has again circulated revised seniority list to all HOCs with a direction to circulate among all the candidates for inviting comments/grievances. In response to above letters huge number of representations are said to have been received at Directorate and most of them are examined at SPB Division in the light of DoPT OM No. 28011/6/76-Estt (D) dated 24.6.1978 and 20011/8/2012-Estt (D) dated 04-03-2014. Now, file is under preparation for seeking clarification from DoPT. After receipt of clarification from DoPT, final seniority list will be circulated and thereafter on the same line, remaining years seniority lists will be prepared.

2.   Holding of supplementary DPC for promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B for the year 2016-17.

Directorate vide Memo No. 9-14/2016-SPG dated 09-12-2016 has appointed 105 Inspector Line Officers on regular basis in PS Gr. B cadre, but few circles have yet not implemented orders. Further few circles have not submitted the report on joining as well declination by the promote officers to SPG section of Directorate. Till date only 5 declinations are said to be received from officers. Directorate is going to remind all HoCs soon to submit clear report on joining / declination of officers and thereafter supplementary DPC will be convened.

3.   Issue of revised Recruitment Rules for the post of Assistant Manager in MMS and filling up of vacant post of Dy. Manager MMS.

RRs are said to finalised. Two posts of Dy. Manager MMS are vacant and it will be filed up soon.

4.   Inter Circle Rule 38 transfer cases of Inspector Posts cadre.

Most of the cases settled. Due to non availability of vacancies in few circles, the requests of the candidates are pending and these will be considered when vacancy occurs.  The individual candidate/s may take up issue through proper channel to Directorate. Their cases will be considered on availability of vacancies in the circle.

5.   Holding of periodical meeting with Hon’ble Secretary (Posts).

Agenda already submitted by Association. Reports from DDG (P) and Sr. DDG (Vig) awaited. Asked to write reminder.

6.   Clerical Assistance to Sub Divisional Head.

SPG Division has called for report from Establishment Division. The matter is under examination at Establishment Division.

7.   Declaration of result of Inspector Posts examination for the vacancy year 2015-16.

LDCE for promotion to the cadre of Inspector Posts (66.66%) departmental quota for the year 2015-16 was held on 22 and 23-10-2016 for 189 vacancies (OC-155, SC-26 and ST-8). The provisional key of the question papers was already published by the Department on India Post website and representation thereon if any was called for from candidates till 6-1-2017. Huge quantity of representations are said to be received from candidates. Department have already formed committee to examine all the representations received from candidates. The report from committee is yet to receive at Directorate. FINAL KEY will be expected thereafter. To clear all these exercise, minimum one month’s time is required.

8.   Declaration of result of PS Gr. ‘B’ examination for the vacancy year 2012-13 to 2015-16.

Many representations are received thereon and all these are under examination. To examine the representations received from candidates, department is going to form a committee who will examine the representations and give final report to Department. Thereafter FINAL KEY will be published on department’s website. It is told that there are many CAT cases registered at various benches and they stayed declaration of results till outcome. In one case stay is said to be granted till April 2017.


9.   DPC for holding of JTS Gr. A promotion for the year 2016-17 and repatriation thereof.

UPSC has raised query and same is being replied soon by the department. Earlier it was told that there were 11 vacancies but now there is chance to increase. The officers who have completed two years of service will only get repatriation to his/her parent circle. Spouse category cases are also said to be considered this time.

Many other pending cases related to cadre are discussed with the concerned officers. The case of cadre restructuring is also discussed at length and the officers have shown positive to our proposed proposal. The proposal is being submitted soon.