payment of Commutation on account of revision - clarification Dt 27/10/2010

RTI Logo & Portal Launched

The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri Prithviraj Chavan launched the Logo on RTI and the RTI portal today in the presence of Shri. A N. Tiwari, Chief Information Commission and Shri. Shantanu Consul, Secretary, DoPT.

It is a simple and iconic logo depicting a sheet of paper with information on it, and the public authority – providing the information. This represents people’s empowerment through transfer and accountability in Governance. The logo’s shape and structure make it easy to remember, recall and replicate with minimal distortion.

In the last five years the RTI regime has heralded a regime of transparency and accountability and strengthened the democratic structure of the country. Success stories of citizens using the RTI Act abound. The Act has achieved great success in empowering the citizens of India. However it was felt that the core values of the RTI regime – Empowerment, Transparency and Accountability- need to be given a shape in the form of a logo.  The logo would be displayed at all public authorities and will be used in various communications related to RTI.

The Right to Information Portal – A Gateway on RTI – was also formally launched on this occasion. The portal is one stop knowledge bank for information seekers, information providers, trainers, Information Commissions, students and academicians.  It provides for a digital library, discussion fora, e- newsletter and a blog. Latest judgments of the High Courts and Information Commissions; reports, articles, guides, manuals, handbooks for various stakeholders; online certificate course are also available on this portal. There is facility for stakeholders to interact through dedicated and open discussion forum and register as resource persons. The web URL for the Portal is www.rtigateway.org.in.

Click here to see Logo

Opening of bank accounts - salaried employees

RBI/ 2010-11/245
DBOD. AML. BC. No. 50/14.01.001/2010-11

October 26, 2010

The Chairmen/CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) /
All India Financial Institutions

Dear Sir,

Opening of bank accounts - salaried employees

Please refer to our Master Circular on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms /Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligation of banks under PMLA, 2002 issued to banks vide DBOD.AML.BC.No.2/14.01.001/2010 – 11 dated July 01, 2010. In Annex I to the circular an indicative list of the nature and type of documents/ information that may be relied upon for customer identification and address verification for opening bank accounts has been given.

2. It has been brought to our notice that for opening bank accounts of salaried employees some banks rely on a certificate/letter issued by the employer as the only KYC document for the purposes of certification of identity as well as address proof. Such a practice is open to misuse and fraught with risk. It is, therefore, clarified that with a view to containing the risk of fraud banks need to rely on such certification only from corporates and other entities of repute and should be aware of the competent authority designated by the concerned employer to issue such certificate/letter. Further, in addition to the certificate from employer, banks should insist on at least one of the officially valid documents as provided in the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules (viz. passport, driving licence, PAN Card, Voter’s Identity card etc.) or utility bills for KYC purposes for opening bank account of salaried employees of corporates and other entities.

3. These guidelines are issued under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Rule 7 of Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005. Any contravention thereof or non-compliance shall attract penalties under Banking Regulation Act.

Yours faithfully,

(Vinay Baijal)
Chief General Manager

Fresh empanelment and revision of rates of private hospitals under CGHS clarified

Fresh empanelment of private hospitals applicable under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS),

Delhi is being done. This will cover areas in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and NOIDA. Along with this, package rates to be paid to the hospitals that were fixed in 2006, are also being revised. CGHS has also explained some of the aspects of its package rates for the beneficiaries. Package rates envisage up to a maximum duration of indoor treatment as: (i) twelve days for Specialised (Super Specialised) treatment; (ii) seven days for other Major surgeries; (iii) three days for Laparoscopic surgeries / normal deliveries, and (iv) one day for day / Minor (OPD) surgeries.

However, if the beneficiary has to stay in the hospital for a period more than the period covered in the package, in exceptional cases, supported by relevant medical records and certified as such by the hospital, the additional reimbursement is to be limited to accommodation charges as per entitlement, investigation charges at approved rates and doctor visit charges and cost of medicines. No additional charge on account of extended period of stay is to be allowed if that extension is due to infection on the consequences of surgical procedure or due to any improper procedure and is not justified. CGHS beneficiaries desirous of getting treated in super-speciality hospitals, in non emergency conditions, prior approval of the concerned Additional Director, CGHS would have to be obtained.

The category `super speciality hospitals' has also been defined. The entitlement of hospitals to be super-speciality rates will not be because they perceive themselves to be such but subject to their fulfilling the eligibility conditions in the tender document for being classified as such.

Empanelled hospitals are to provide credit facility to – Members of Parliament, pensioners of Central Government drawing pension from central estimates, former Vice-Presidents, former Governors and former Prime Ministers, ex-Members of Parliament, freedom fighters, serving CGHS employees, serving employees of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and such other categories of CGHS cardholders as notified by the Government. In case of treatment taken in emergency in any non empanelled private hospitals , reimbursement is to be considered by competent authority at CGHS prescribed packages / rates only.
This OM supercedes all earlier instructions relating to empanelment of hospitals for specialized and general
purpose treatment and investigations for Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and NOIDA areas.
The revised rates were to be effective from September 1, 2010 but it has been deferred till all the short listed hospitals sign the Memorandum ofAgreement with the CGHS, Delhi. They are to sign the MoU on or before September 25, 2010 failing which they will be taken off the empanelment list.

Uniformity in penal interest payable by banks for delays in credit / return of NEFT / NECS / ECS transactions

RBI/2010-11/188
DPSS (CO) EPPD No.  477/ 04.03.01 / 2010-11

September 1, 2010

The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
of member banks participating in / NEFT / NECS / ECS
Madam / Dear Sir,

Uniformity in penal interest payable by banks for delays in
credit / return of NEFT / NECS / ECS transactions

As you are aware, the recent past has been witness to significant growth in retail electronic payment products - both in terms of reach and volume. NEFT is offered by close to 70,000 bank branches in the country and ECS is available at 89 centres. More than 9 million transactions in NEFT and 25 million transactions in NECS / ECS were processed during the month of July 2010 alone. While this augurs well for the migration of payment transactions to the electronic mode, it is imperative that customer service and efficiency parameters are effectively dealt with as well by the member banks.

In terms of the NEFT / NECS / ECS Procedural Guidelines as also the relevant circulars / instructions issued by us from time to time, member banks need to afford credits to beneficiary accounts or return transactions (uncredited for whatever reason) to the originating / sponsor bank within the prescribed timeline. Any delays in doing so attract penal provisions specified therein.

The penal provisions are not uniform across these retail electronic payment systems. While banks have to pay penal interest @ prevailing Bank Rate + two per cent in NECS (Paragraph 15.4 of Procedural Guidelines) and ECS-Credit (Paragraph 29 of Procedural Guidelines), the relevant provision is Bank Rate in NEFT (Paragraph 6.7 of Procedural Guidelines). In order to ensure standardisation of the benchmark rate used and bring in uniformity in penal provisions across the retail payment products, the following modifications are being made:

NECS / ECS-Credit

“........Destination Bank would be held liable to pay penal interest at the current RBI LAF Repo Rate plus two per cent from the due date of credit till the date of actual credit for any delayed credit to the beneficiaries’ account. Penal interest shall be credited to the Beneficiary's Account even if no claim is lodged.”

NEFT

Paragraph 6.7 - “In the event of any delay or loss on account of error, negligence or fraud on the part of an employee of the destination bank in the completion of funds transfer pursuant to receipt of payment instruction by the destination bank leading to delayed payment to the beneficiary, the destination bank shall pay compensation at current RBI LAF Repo Rate plus two per cent for the period of delay. In the event of delay in return of the funds transfer instruction for any reason whatsoever, the destination bank shall refund the amount together with interest at the current RBI LAF Repo Rate plus two per cent till the date of refund."

Paragraph 6.8 is also being substituted as under –

"During the NEFT operating hours, originating banks should endeavour to put through the requests for NEFT transactions received by them, either online or across the counters, preferably in the next available batch but, in any case, not exceeding two hours from the time of receipt of the requests. In the likelihood of any delay / possible delay in adhering to this requirement, the originators / customers should be informed of the delay / possible delay and the reasons for the same."

Member banks may take note of the above changes in the Procedural Guidelines. These changes are applicable with immediate effect.

Yours faithfully

(G. Padmanabhan)
Chief General Manager

Electronic payment products - Processing inward transactions based solely on account number information

RBI/2010-11/235
DPSS (CO) EPPD No. / 863 / 04.03.01 / 2010-11

October 14, 2010

The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
of member banks participating in RTGS / NEFT / NECS / ECS
Madam / Dear Sir,
Electronic payment products - Processing inward transactions
based solely on account number information
 
As you are aware, the Reserve Bank of India has introduced various electronic payment products (RTGS, NEFT, NECS and the ECS variants) to facilitate electronic transfer of funds in a secure and efficient manner. The volume of transactions routed through these products has witnessed substantial growth, indicating the acceptance and ease of use, by bank branches and customers alike.

2. The electronic payment products rely extensively on technology for origination, movement, processing and ultimate settlement of instructions. You would agree that any manual intervention not only delays completion of the instruction but also provides scope for error and fraudulent intent. Implementation of core banking solutions (CBS) in banks, software interfaces connecting the CBS platform to the payment system gateways and internet access to customers have been major enablers towards providing a straight-through-processing (STP) environment and, thus, popularising these products.

3.  In the CBS environment customers of a bank can be uniquely identified by their account number across branches. In terms of the extant Procedural Guidelines for RTGS / NEFT / NECS / ECS Credit, however, banks are generally expected to match the name and account number information of the beneficiary before affording credit to the account. In the Indian context, given the many different ways in which beneficiary names can be written, it becomes extremely challenging to perfectly match the name field contained in the electronic transfer instructions with the name on record in the books of the destination bank. This leads to manual intervention hindering STP and causing delay in credit or due return of uncredited instructions.
4.  Being essentially credit-push in nature, responsibility for accurate input and successful credit lies with the remitting customers and the originating banks. The role of destination banks is limited to affording credit to beneficiary's account based on details furnished by the remitter / originating bank. In order to handle surging volumes in a limited time window, some banks use name matching software, while a few others employ a risk-based approach based on the nature and value of transfer.

5.  Keeping in view the foregoing, in the RTGS / NEFT / NECS / ECS Credit products, it has since been decided as under :

1. Responsibility to provide correct inputs in the payment instructions, particularly the beneficiary account number information, rests with the remitter / originator. While the beneficiary’s name shall be compulsorily mentioned in the instruction request, and carried as part of the funds transfer message, reliance will be only on the account number for the purpose of affording credit. This is applicable both for transaction requests emanating at branches and those originated through the online / internet delivery channel. The name field in the message formats will, however, be a parameter to be used by the destination bank based on risk perception and / or use for post-credit checking or otherwise.
   
2. Originating banks may put in place an appropriate maker-checker system to ensure that the account number information furnished by their customers is correct and free from errors. This may entail advising customers enjoying online / internet banking facilities to input the account number information more than once (with the first time feed being masked as in case of change of password requirements) or such other prescriptions. Customers submitting funds transfer requests at branches may be required to write down the account number information twice in the application form.
   
3. For transactions requested at branches, the originating bank shall put in place a maker-checker process with one employee expected to input the transaction and the other checking the input.
   
4. Banks should put suitable disclaimers on the funds transfer screens in the online / internet banking platform and funds transfer request forms advising customers that credit will be effected based solely on the beneficiary account number information and the beneficiary name particulars will not be used therefor.
   
5. Destination banks may afford credit to the beneficiary’s account based on the account number as furnished by remitter / originating bank in the message / data file. The beneficiary’s name details may be used for verification based on risk perception, value of transfer, nature of transaction, post-credit checking, etc.
   
6. Member banks shall take necessary steps to create awareness amongst their customers about the need for providing correct account number information while making payments through RTGS / NEFT / NECS / ECS Credit.
   
7. The system of providing mobile / e-mail alerts to customers for debit / credit to their accounts will be another way of ensuring that the debits / credits are genuine and put through / expected by them, and preferably, should be extended to all customers for all funds transfer transactions irrespective of value.
   
8. The above notwithstanding, in cases where it is found that credit has been afforded to a wrong account, banks need to establish a robust, transparent and quick grievance redressal mechanism to reverse such credits and set right the mistake and / or return the transaction to the originating bank. This particularly needs to function very efficiently and pro-actively till such time customers are comfortable with the new arrangements.
   

6.  These modifications are equally applicable to ECS Debit transactions to be used by destination banks for debiting their customer accounts based on details furnished by the user institutions / sponsor banks.

7. Banks are hereby advised to put in place appropriate systems and procedures to ensure compliance with the above prescriptions. The guidelines are issued under the powers vested with Reserve Bank of India under Section 10(2) of the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and would come into effect from January 1, 2011. The instructions would be reviewed and suitable changes will be effected, if necessary, based on operational experience and general feedback.

8.  Please confirm receipt of this circular.
Yours faithfully
(G. Padmanabhan)
Chief General Manager

Practice Stop. Think. Connect.(TM ) and encourage others to do it as well.

Tips and Advice

Tip: Keep a Clean Machine.
Advice:

• Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
• Automate software updates: Many software programs will automatically connect and update to defend against known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that's an available option.
• Protect all devices that connect to the Internet: Along with computers, smart phones, gaming systems, and other web-enabled devices also need protection from viruses and malware.
• Plug & scan: "USBs" and other external devices can be infected by viruses and malware. Use your security software to scan them.

Tip: Protect Your Personal Information.
Advice:

• Secure your accounts: Ask for protection beyond passwords. Many account providers now offer additional ways for you verify who you are before you conduct business on that site.
• Make passwords long and strong: Combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols to create a more secure password.
• Unique account, unique password: Separate passwords for every account helps to thwart cybercriminals.
• Write it down and keep it safe: Everyone can forget a password. Keep a list that's stored in a safe, secure place away from your computer.
• Own your online presence: When available, set the privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level for information sharing. It's ok to limit who you share information with.

Tip: Connect with Care.
Advice:

• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it's best to delete or if appropriate, mark as junk email.
• Get savvy about Wi-Fi hotspots: Limit the type of business you conduct and adjust the security settings on your device to limit who can access your machine.
• Protect your $$: When banking and shopping, check to be sure the sites is security enabled. Look for web addresses with "https://" or "shttp://", which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. "Http://" is not secure.

Tip: Be Web Wise.
Advice:

• Stay current. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online. Check trusted websites for the latest information, and share with friends, family, and colleagues and encourage them to be web wise.
• Think before you act: Be wary of communications that implores you to act immediately, offers something that sounds too good to be true, or asks for personal information.
• Back it up: Protect your valuable work, music, photos, and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.

Tip: Be a Good Online Citizen.
Advice:

• Safer for me more secure for all: What you do online has the potential to affect everyone – at home, at work and around the world. Practicing good online habits benefits the global digital community.
• Post only about others as you have them post about you.
• Help the authorities fight cyber crime: Report stolen finances or identities and other cybercrime

Courtesy: Stop. Think. Connect.^TM

Compandium on restructring of Administrative cadre in CSIR

Open publication - Free publishing - More restructuring

Important Decisions of Central Information Commission- Compiled by Institute of Secretariat Training & Management (Department of Personnel & Training)

Open publication - Free publishing - More rti

Clarification regarding International Conferences dt `3/09/2010

Guideline on Air travel on Tours/LTC Dt 16/09/2010

Symbol of Indian Rupee

CSIR CCO Association: Compendium

CSIR CCO Association: Compendium: " Compendium on Restructuring of the Administrative Cadre FriendsThe new vibrant thought, vigorous efforts & hard work o..."

CSIR CCO Association: Blame-game

CSIR CCO Association: Blame-game: "Whether CCOs have failed to align themselves with the Objectives of the Organization? Friends All CCOs are desired to meet the objectives..."

Vision Document of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Released

The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today released a vision document titled “India as a Global Leader in Science” prepared by the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. The document was released after the meeting held today with Chairman, SAC Prof C N R Rao. The Minister of State (Independent charge), Shri Prithviraj Chavan was present on the occasion.

The vision document envisages India becoming a major scientific player in about 20 years, provided that we usher in the right kind of structural and administrative reforms, and create a favourable environment for carrying out innovative work in India. The document notes that all the requirements for such a thing to happen indeed seem to be within our reach, especially with the improving economic situation. “We need to provide adequate support for basic science as well as science required for solving man’s pressing problems. A high percentage of the Indian population is very young unlike in the rest of the world and we have to fully make use of the bright young talent as well as the institutions that we have created. This will require major educational reforms as well. By minimizing bureaucracy and promoting creativity and quality, there is every likelihood that India can be one of the very best performers in science in about 20 years, sharing such a position with the most advanced countries of today. If such a thing happens, this will further contribute to economic and industrial development in a major way”, the document states.

The Prime Minister hoped that the ideas in the vision document will inspire the scientific community and all concerned to help build an inclusive, economically and socially vibrant, creative and an enterprising India, and to pursue excellence in science and technology for global good. 
Courtesy  : PIB

Opening of No-Frills accounts by students for availing various Government Scholarships

RBI/2005-06/204
DBOD.No.Leg.BC. 44/09.07.005/2005-06

November 11, 2005

To
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir,

Financial Inclusion

Please refer to Paragraph 96 of the Mid-term Review of Annual Policy Statement for the year 2005-06.

2. The Annual Policy Statement of April 2005, while recognising the concerns in regard to the banking practices that tend to exclude rather than attract vast sections of population, urged banks to review their existing practices to align them with the objective of financial inclusion. In many banks, the requirement of minimum balance and charges levied, although accompanied by a number of free facilities, deter a sizeable section of population from opening / maintaining bank accounts.

3. In this context, with a view to achieving the objective of greater financial inclusion, all banks are advised to make available a basic banking 'no-frills' account either with 'nil' or very low minimum balances as well as charges that would make such accounts accessible to vast sections of population. The nature and number of transactions in such accounts could be restricted, but made known to the customer in advance in a transparent manner. All banks are advised to give wide publicity to the facility of such a 'no-frills' account including on their web sites indicating the facilities and charges in a transparent manner.

4. The number of such deposit accounts opened by the bank may be reported to us on a quarterly basis.

5. Immediate action may be initiated and compliance reported to us within one month.

6. Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully

(Prashant Saran)
Chief General Manager

Dishonour / Return of Cheques - Need to Mention the 'Date of Return' in the Cheque Return Memo

RBI/2010-11/190
DPSS.CO.CHD.No. 485 / 03.06.01 / 2010-11

September 1, 2010

The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs /
Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks /
District Central Co-operative Banks

Madam / Dear Sir,

Dishonour / Return of Cheques - Need to Mention the 'Date of Return'
in the Cheque Return Memo

As you are aware, the 'Cheque Return Memo' that should accompany a cheque dishonoured / returned for any reason is a critical document, more so in case recourse to legal action is necessitated. The procedure for handling dishonoured cheques including the return / dispatch thereof to the payee has been advised, vide, Reserve Bank circular DBOD.BC.Leg.No.113 / 09.12.001 /2002-03 dated June 26, 2003.

Rule 6 of the Uniform Regulations and Rules for Bankers’ Clearing Houses (URRBCH) also prescribes that instruments returned unpaid should have a signed / initialed objection slip on which a definite and valid reason for refusing payment must be stated. Format of the Return Memo (including the field for indicating the Date of Return) and the Model List of Objections is contained in Annexure D to the URRBCH.

Certain instances of banks not mentioning the date of return on the Cheque Return Memo have been brought to our notice.

Keeping in view the larger interests of customers and to ensure that uniform practices are adopted, banks are hereby advised to indicate the 'date of return' in the Cheque Return Memo without fail.

Yours faithfully,

(P.Vasudevan)
Deputy General Manager

CSIR CCO Association: DPC

CSIR CCO Association: DPC: "Does Interview in DPC lead to unfair evaluation? Friends All organizations have different policies for recruitment & promotions. However, t..."

CSIR CCO Association: Stagnation

CSIR CCO Association: Stagnation: "Dear Friends Stagnation in present cadres is quite apparent & serious at all the levels resulting in widespread de-motivation & disappoint..."

clarification on LTC 80

Transfer on deputation - regarding

Open publication - Free publishing - More deputation

Consolidated i nstructions on Regularization of Unauthorized Absence.

Open publication - Free publishing - More service

Regular Inspection of Canteen

Open publication - Free publishing - More hygine

Distance & E-Learning Programmes offered by IGNOU for Govt Employees

Department of Personnel and Training and Indira Gandhi National Open University have come together and signed a MoU for offering Distance & E- Learning Programmes to Government employees. The Government employees can now enrol for a wide spectrum of Distance & E-Learning Programmes offered by IGNOU and get their fees reimbursed on successfully completing the programmes.

DLPGE

Open publication - Free publishing

List of Program

Open publication - Free publishing

Certificate

Open publication - Free publishing

Processing of files referred to DoP&T for advice/ clarification- procedure to be followed

Non-Submission/ Delay in submission of ATNs/ ATRs

Open publication - Free publishing - More cag

Amendment to Rule 126 of GFR

Clarification on 6th CPC

CSIR CCO Association: Transfer Policy

CSIR CCO Association: Transfer Policy: "Dear Friends/ Colleauges We Common Cadre Offficers in CSIR are prone to all India transfers. However, it has been observed in the past that ..."

CSIR CCO Association: CCO

CSIR CCO Association: CCO: "A group of about 25 Common Cadre Officers (CCO) from Administration, Stores & Purchase and Finance & Accounts cadres representing their resp..."

Approval of Finance Ministry for sale/ assignment/ allocation/ disposal of Govt. Assets

Indiscriminate Disposal of CFLs Health Hazards

Fluorescent lamps, having mercury as a vital component for their functioning, can cause health related problems, if disposed of indiscriminately at the end of their life. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified standards for safety and performance related requirements of fluorescent lamps. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s estimates, there is an average of 30 mg of mercury in a fluorescent tube light (FTL) and 5 mg of mercury in a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), indicating that CFLs are less hazardous than FTLs.

 

             CPCB has issued technical guidelines for environmentally sound mercury management in fluorescent lamp sector, including CFLs. These  guidelines prescribe best practices at various levels, such as at manufacturer’s level, that include mercury consumption, process technology, raw mercury distillation, on-site storage, treatment, recycling and disposal of mercury bearing wastes, mercury spill management; and at consumer’s level which includes handling of used/broken lamps, consumer awareness pertaining to collection, transport, treatment and disposal of used fluorescent lamps.  

             This information was given by the  Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh  in a written reply to a question by  Shrimati Priya Dutt  in Lok  Sabha

clarification on LTC 80

Clarification regarding pay fixation of Group D in the revised pay structure

Changing Pattern Of UPSC Examination

The Government has approved the proposal for introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in place of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. The CSAT is expected to come into effect from Civil Services Examination, 2011 would be transparent. This will enable screening of candidates having a right aptitude for Civil Services.

In CSAT, one of optional subjects, which a candidate could have chosen out of 23 optionals, is being replaced with a common paper on aptitude test. The syllabus of CSAT is being worked out by the UPSC. The CSAT is aimed at providing a greater degree of level - playing field to candidates of different backgrounds.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

Open - Annual Performance Appraisal Report (O-APAR) for Administrative Cadre Form and Guidelines

Open publication - Free publishing - More csir

ESIC clarification on MACPs

Kalam commissions India's first carbon fibre factory

Vadodara, May 9 (PTI) India's first carbon fibre manufacturing facility to produce light weight material for use in sectors as diverse as aerospace to infrastructure was commissioned here today.

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam inaugurated the carbon fibre plant set up by Kemrock Industries at their sprawling premises on the outskirts of this bustling industrial township.

The Rs 250 crore facility begins manufacture of carbon fibre under technology transfer from the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) that had developed the ultra-light material for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

The NAL, a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), will get upto five per cent of the turnover of this facility as royalty for the next seven years.

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DST fellowship enhanced

Revision of cost index

Inclusion of Branded Wooden/Steel Furnitures in the list of specialized works/items.

Treatment in Intitute of liver & Billiary Science, Delhi without permission

Corporate deal by ICAR

MACPS in ICAR

Transfer of FA ,CSIR

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following proposals:-

(i) Lateral shifting of Ms.Sheila Sangwan, IRS(C&CE-76) from the post of Financial Adviser in the Councial of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) presently held by her to the post of Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology, for the balance period of her central deputation tenure of five years i.e.upto 9.9.2012 vice Shri K.P. Pandian, CSS(73)

(ii) Appointments of MS. Vandana Srivastava, IDAS(78) as Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser in the CSIR/DSIR, in the pay band of 37400-67000/- (PB-4) plus grade pay of Rs.10000/- for a period of five years, from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders.

Higher TDS from 1st April,2010

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The Blind Side

CAT tells govt to strip employee of ST benefits

HYDERABAD: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Wednesday directed the Union finance secretary and the Hyderabad zone chief commissioner of central excise to withdraw all the benefits extended to a non tribal employee under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) quota.

The bench comprising CAT’s vice chairman justice P Lakshmana Reddy and administration member R Santhanam, while delivering its verdict on a petition filed by a retired administrative officer of central excise, however, set aside the order issued by the authorities dismissing her from service for furnishing a fake ST certificate to secure her job.

The petitioner, B Susheela Devi, claimed the scheduled tribe status and joined the department in 1971 as a lower divisional clerk (LDC) and in the next three decades rose to become an administration officer under the quota. When criminal proceedings were launched against her after it was found out that her Schedule Tribe status was not genuine, Susheela Devi opted to take voluntary retirement in 2004. But when the authorities rejected plea, she approached the A P High Court contending that it was her father who got her registered as belonging to scheduled tribe in school records and that she genuinely believed it. The high court, after taking a written undertaking that neither she nor her children would use the ST status in future, directed the authorities to drop the criminal proceedings against her.
The CAT too issued a similar direction to the authorities and asked the authorities to revert her status to open category (OC) and calculate her growth in accordance with that proposition.

Any promotions or incentives or benefits given to her under the ST quota should be taken back and pension fixed accordingly, the bench said and gave six months time to the authorities to implement the order. 

 

'Govt employee has fundamental right to be considered for promotion'

The Supreme Court has ruled that a Government employee has a fundamental right to be considered for promotion and it is mandatory for the Centre and States to carry out cadre review of eligible officers for promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

"The right of eligible employees to be considered for promotion is virtually a part of their fundamental right guaranteed under Article 16(Equality of opportunity in matter of public employment) of the Constitution," a bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and A K Ganguly held in a recent judgement.

The apex court passed the judgement while directing the Centre and the UP Government to consider the promotion of two State cadre officers-Hemraj Singh Chauhan and Ramnawal Singh to the IAS.

"We hold that the statutory duty which is cast on the State Government and the Central Government to undertake the cadre review exercise every five years is ordinarily mandatory subject to exceptions which may be justified in the facts of a given case," the bench said.

Both the Centre and the UP government had challenged the direction of the Delhi High Court to consider the two officials' promotion due to them in 2003 since the cadre review exercise was undertaken by the State government only in 2005. This was done despite repeated reminders from the Centre.

The guarantee of a fair consideration in matters of promotion under Article 16 virtually flows from guarantee of equality under Article 14(Equality before Law) of the Constitution," the apex court said while upholding the high court's judgement.

The apex court ruled that state governments are under obligation to recommend names of its administrative officers every five years to the Centre for their promotion to the IAS and pulled up the UP government for failing to do so despite several reminders from the Union Government.

The court said that a government cannot deny an eligible state officer from being promoted due to the delay on its part in conducting such exercise and pulled it up for "lethargic" approach resulting in two state officers being denied promotion.

"It is clear that legitimate expectations of the state officers of being considered for promotion has been defeated by the acts of the government and if not of the Central Government, certainly the unreasonable inaction on the part of the state government stood in the way of the officers' chances of promotion," the court said.

"The Court is satisfied that in this case for the delayed exercise of statutory function the Government has not offered any plausible explanation. The state officers cannot be made in any way responsible for the delay," the court added.

 

Don't dismiss personnel while appeal is pending: CAT

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has advised the Delhi Police against terminating services of personnel who are already convicted for an offence but whose appeals are still pending before higher courts.

The Tribunal passed the order while giving relief to a former Delhi Police constable, convicted in 2007 by a lower court but was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in 2009.

"Normally, a person who is undergoing imprisonment, will not be entitled to get reinstatement, as the two concepts do not go together. But that does not automatically mean that the Deputy Commissioner or Joint Commissioner were within their rights, to pass orders terminating the services of the applicant on the basis of the conviction, when an appeal was pending before the High Court," the Tribunal said.

Min. of Finance,GoI clarification on Assistant GP of 4600

NIO sets up paleomagnetic lab

Panaji, Mar 22 (PTI) In a bid to analysis data pertaining to environmental magnetism and magnetic stratigraphy (study of rock strata), the National Institute of Oceanography has set up a laboratory inside its premises here.

"The paleomagnetic (study of remanent magnetisation in rocks) laboratory facility, now available within the institute, is expected to be used frequently for detailed magnetic measurements of the sediment cores," according to NIO website.

The laboratory can help researchers in deducing meaningful geological interpretation, it states.

NIO is one of the 38 constituent laboratories of Council for Science and Industrial research (CSIR).

PM to launch NCL diamond jubilee on April one

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to launch the diamond jubilee celebrations of the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune on April one.

Singh is likely to address over 500 scientists pursuing research at NCL, a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The NCL was established in 1950.

Over the years, NCL has emerged as a key interdisciplinary research centre with interests in polymer science, organic chemistry, materials chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemical sciences and process development.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan will also be present on the occasion.

Singh is also expected to lay the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) building in Pune, official sources said.

Passport under Tatkal scheme

Rajya  Sabha

Applications for issue of passports under the Tatkal scheme are accepted if a verification certificate is submitted in the prescribed performa, duly signed by a designated officer of the Central/State Governments, or on submission of three prescribed documents. Two lists containing designated officers and prescribed documents are enclosed at Annexure A and B.

Generally, Passport Offices have adhered to the time-target of issuing passports under the Tatkal scheme. Under the scheme, fresh passports are issued within the time-target of 1-7 days and re-issued passports within three working days, subject to no adverse information being found in the system during the processing of the applications. The Government has elaborated a public grievances redressal mechanism to attend to all grievances, including those under the Tatkal scheme, at every passport office as well as at Consular, Passport, and Visa Division of the Ministry. 

ANNEXURE-A

List of 14 documents:

a)   Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)

b)  Service Identity Cards issued by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings,            Local bodies or Public Limited Companies

c )  SC/ST/OBC Certificates

d)   Freedom Fighter Identity Cards

e)   Arms Licenses

f)  Property Documents such as Pattas, Registered Deeds etc       

                    

g)  Ration Cards

h)  Pension Documents such as Ex-Servicemen’s Pension book/Pension   Payment Order, Ex-  Servicemen’s Widow/Dependent Certificates, Old Age Pension Order, Widow Pension Order

i)   Railway Identification Cards

j)   Income Tax Identity(PAN) cards                                                        

 k)  Bank/Kisan/Post Office Passbooks

l)   Student Identity Cards issued by recognized educational institutions

m) Driving Licenses       

n) Birth Certificates issued under the Registrar of Births & Deaths (RBD) Act

Note: At least one of the three documents submitted should be a photo identity document and at least one should be, out of those listed at 'a' to 'i' above.

ANNEXURE-B

The List of authorities competent to issue Verification Certificates (VCs)

a) An Under Secretary /Deputy Secretary/Director/Joint Secretary/Special Secretary/Secretary/Cabinet Secretary in the Government of India;

b) A Director/Joint Secretary/Additional Secretary/Special Secretary/Chief Secretary in a State Government

c) A Sub-Divisional Magistrate/First Class Judicial Magistrate/Additional DM/District Magistrate  of the District  of residence of the applicant

d) A District Superintendent of Police, DIG/IG/DGP of District  of residence of the applicant

e) A Major and above in the army, Lt. Commander  and above in the Navy and Sq. Leader and above in the Air Force

f) General Manger of a Public Sector  Undertaking

g)  A member of an All India Service or Central Service, who is equivalent to or above the rank of an Under Secretary to the Government i.e. in the pay scale of Rs. 10,000-15,200 or above

h)  Resident Commissioners/Additional Residential Commissioners of all State Governments based in Delhi

i)   Concerned Tehsildars or concerned SHO for an applicant staying in the area under his/her jurisdiction. 

         j)  Chairman/Chairperson of Apex  Business Organizations such as Federation of Indian Chambers of   Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in respect of owners,, partners or directors of the companies that are members of the concerned Chamber.

Concession in Shatabdi and Rajdhani Trains

RAJYA SABHA

Presently Railways grant concession to the following categories of persons in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains:

(i) Senior citizens – 50 per cent to women and 30 per cent to men in all classes,

(ii) Doctors (allopathic) – 10 per cent in all classes,

(iii) Amateur artists (theatrical, concert, musical and dancing troupes) for giving performance – 50 per cent in AC-2 tier, AC-3 tier and AC chair car,

(iv) Press Correspondents accredited to Government of India/State Government/District Headquarters travelling for bona fide press work and spouse (once in a Financial Year) – 50 per cent in all classes, and

(v) Recipients of President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Indian Police Medal for Meritorious service who have attained the age of 60 years – 60 per cent to women and 50 per cent to men in all classes.

Regulation of journeys by private airlines while awailing LTC

No regular pay scale for contractual posts: CAT

New Delhi, Mar 11 (PTI) The subsequent merger of a contractual post into a regular establishment of a government department will not entitle an employee to claim a regular pay scale, the Central Administrative Tribunal has held.

The Tribunal was hearing a matter of an ex-armyman Jai Ram Solanki, appointed on contractual basis, who demanded the regular pay scale associated with Office Superintendent after the regular establishment of MCD took over the post in 2001.

"The appointment was purely on contractual basis for a particular project with certain stipulations which included payment of a fixed remuneration. Thus, claim for a regular pay scale would not be tenable. Again, even the subsequent merger of the post in the regular establishment of the MCD would not give him any such right," it said.