NEW PENSION SCHEME FROM 1st MAY

New Pension SchemeFor All From MAY-1
All citizens of the country will be able to avail of pension facility from tomorrow, with the interim pension regulator Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) confirming the scheduled launch of the mega pension plan in a statement today."The necessary infrastructure for the rollout of New Pension System (NPS) is now ready and it will be available to all citizens of India from May 1, 2009," PFRDA said.
Tier-I of NPS constituting non-withdrawable pension account will become operational from tomorrow and Tier-II (withdrawable account) of the NPS account will become operational in about six months.
Pension fund managers will manage three separate schemes, each investing in a different asset class. These asset classes are equity, government securities and credit risk-bearing fixed income instruments.
"On the basis of recommendations of the NPS Trust and on advice from the government, it has been decided that investment by an NPS participant in equity would be subject to a cap of 50 per cent," it said.
The authority has appointed 22 points of presence (PoP) and six pension fund managers. Branches of the registered PoPs, to be called PoP Service Providers, will be the contact and collection point for all citizens other than government employees wanting to obtain a Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN).
The investment will only be in index funds that replicate either BSE sensitive index or NSE Nifty 50 index. The subscriber will have the option to actively decide as to how the investment will be in the three asset classes.In the event of the subscriber being unable or unwilling to decide, his contribution will be invested according to the 'auto choice' option, which is based on a predefined portfolio varying with the age of the subscriber.
The NPS architecture has been operational for central government employees for over a year now - since April 1, 2008, and the NPS corpus amounting to over Rs 2,100 crore stands invested in it."...The three pension funds have generated returns varying from 12 per cent to 16 per cent on the NPS corpus during the year 2008-09, weighted average return being over 14.5 per cent," PFRDA said citing unaudited results.
The states are at different stages of adopting NPS.In August 2008, the government advised PFRDA to extend NPS, currently subscribed to by government employees, to all citizens on a voluntary basis.Central government employees, who joined service on or after January 1, 2004, are covered under NPS. Unlike the old pension scheme, in NPS both employees and the employer (in this case, government) contributed an equal amount to the pension fund. Twenty-one states have also joined the scheme
source:PTI/BUSINESS STANDARD

Read More

PAY REVISION FOR LOWER COURT JUDGES

The committee would submit its report by July 28,2009.
The Supreme Court constituted a one-man committee headed by senior advocate
E. Padmanabham to make recommendations for increase in pay scales and allowances for judges of the lower judiciary.
A bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and P Sathasivam said the committee would submit its report to the court by July 28, so that appropriate orders could be passed on it.
The bench passed the direction while dealing with an application moved by the All India Judges Association seeking enhanced pay structure to junior civil judges, senior civil judges, district judges (entry level), district judges (selection grade) and district judges (super time selection grade.
According to the Association, the enhanced pay structures had become necessary in terms of the Justice Shetty Committee recommendations (first national judicial pay commission) that the salary structures of these judges be revised upward whenever the salaries of the high court judges are enhanced.
Since the central government had in a notification issued on January 1, 2009, enhanced the salaries and allowances of High Court and Supreme Court judges, the revision in pay scales of lower court judges had also become necessary, the Association had contended, following which the apex court constituted the committee.

Read More

PSU -REVISION OF PAY SCALES

PSU-PAY REVISION-ORDERS
There are three orders have been issued by Department of Public Enterprises so far regarding
revision of pay scales for Board level and below Board level Executives and Non Unionised
Supervisers in Central Public Sector Enterprises.
To see these orders click the links below.
1.order No.2(70)/08DPE(WC) GL_XVI/08.Dated:26-11-2008
http://dpe.nic.in/newgl/glch04a23.pdf
2.Order No.2(70)/08 DPE(wc)-GL-IV/09 Dated:9-2-2009
http://dpe.nic.in/newgl/glch04a24.pdf
3.Order.No.2(70)/08 DPE(wc)-GL-VII/09 Dated:2-4-2009
http://dpe.nic.in/newgl/glch04a25.pdf

Read More

AMENDMENTS OF SERVICE RULES

Qualifying Service For Merged Grades-DOPT ORDER
Subject : Sixth Central Pay Commission's recommendations - revision of pay scales - amendment of Service Rules / Recruitment Rules
The recomdmendations of 6th CPC have been considered by the Government and the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules2008 have since been notified on 29th August, 2008. Consequently, in place of the pre-revised pay scales, the revised pay structure comprising the Pay Band and Grade Pay / Pay Scales has come into effect. Some of the pre-revised pay scales have been merged and some others are upgraded / likely to be upgraded. In the light of these, it has been decided that the following consequential steps to amend the existing Service Rules / Recruitment Rules shall be undertaken on a priority basis:
(i) Substituting the existing scales by the Grade Pay along with the Pay Band The existing pay scales have to be substituted by the new pay structure (Pay Band and Grade Pay / Pay Scale)straightaway without making a reference to the Department of Personnel and Training (DOP&T) / Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The heading of column No. 4 of the Scheule on RRs may be modified to Pay Band and Grade Pay / Pay Scale". In cases where deputation is also one of the methods of recruitment, the field of selection for deputation, which might include various grades, should also reflect the corresponding Grade Pay along with the Pay Band / Pay Scale, and the minimum eligibility service as per the revised guidelines, as enclosed in Annexure
(ii) Where there is an up gradation of posts The instructions issued by Department of Expenditure under OM No. 1/1/2008-iC dated 13 th September, 208 and DoPT OM No. AB- 14017/66/08-Estt (RR) dated 9th March, 2009 may be applied in such cases. However, for each of the merged grades, a single set of Recruitment Rules may be formulated and notified.
(iii) Consequential changes It is necessary to make consequential changes in the Recruitment Rules / Service Rules so as to prescribe eligibility conditions with reference to the revised Grade Pay / Pay Scale. It is also necessary to review other columns of the Recruitment Rules / Service Rules, where some minimum service in a particular scale / grade is prescribed for consideration for appointment on deputation / absorption etc., keeping in view particularly the merger of a number of pre-revised scales, upgradation of some scales and the consequential changes in the minimum eligibility service in a grade.
(iv) Department Promotion Committee (DPC) Where two or more scales have been merged, the existing DPC for the higher / highest grade will be the DPC for the merged grade.
(v) Regulation of regular rendered in the pre-revised scales The revised pay structure approved includes a number of 'merged grades' with a common grade pay and the concept of pay bands with grade pay introduced effective from 1.1.2006. Insofar as the issue of regulation of service rendered prior to 1.1.2006 is concerned, while the general rule may be that such regular service be deemed to be service rendered in the corresponding grade pay / pay scale approved effective from 1.1.2006 or from a subsequent date, as the case maybe, this formulation cannot apply in cases where there has been merger of more than one grade into one with a single grade pay/ pay scale. Since the merger is effective from 1.1.2006 only, even notional benefits of the merger cannot be extended for periods falling prior to 1.1.2006. A Note to the following effect may, therefore, be inserted under col.12 of the Schedule on RRs, and under relevant provisions in Service Rules, to take care of the requirements:
Note: For the purpose of computing minimum qualifying service for promotion, the service rendered on a regular basis by an officer prior to 1.1.2006 / the date from which the revised pay structure based on the 6th CPC recommendations has been extended, shall be deemed to be service rendered in the corresponding grade pay / pay scale extended based on the recommendations of the Commission. For purposes of appointment on deputation / absorption basis, the service rendered on a regular basis by an officer prior to 1.1.2006 / the date from which the revised pay structure based on the 6th CPC recommendations has been extended, shall be deemed to be service rendered in the corresponding grade pay / pay scale extended based on the recommendations of the Commission except where there has been merger of more than one pre-revised scale of pay into one grade with a common grade pay / pay scale, and where this benefit will extend only for the post(s) for which that grade pay / pay scale is the normal replacement grade without any upgradation.
2. The Recruitment Rules / Service Rules are of statutory nature. Therefore, the changes brought out by other relevant instructions have to be incorporated in the Recruitment Rules / Service Rules by suitable amendments so that the necessary steps like holding of DPC etc. are taken to fill the post carrying the revised Grade Pay / Pay Scale on regular basis. All the Ministries / Departments are, therefore, requested to effect necessary amendments to the Recruitment Rules / Service Rules notified by them after following the normal procedure of furnishing proposals to the Department of Personnel and Training and the UPSC in the format prescribed in the general guidelines on Recruitment Rules circulated by the DOPT OM No. 14017/12/87-Estt.(RR) dated 18.3.1988, and also in consultation with the Legislative Department.
3. Ministries/Departments may initiate action to complete the review in this regard and furnish necessary amendment proposals to the DOPT and the UPSC in the case of Group A and Group B posts within six months from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum. They may also, simultaneously, take similar action in respect of Recruitment Rules for Group C and D posts, which are within their delegated powers. Appropriate action to update the Service Rules for organized Group A, B Services etc. shall also be taken up with DOPT / UPSC within a period of Six Months.
. (S.J.Kumar) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
To see the order and qualifying service(number of years) details visit:http://persmin.gov.in/WriteData/CircularNotification/ScanDocument/14017_61_2008-Estt.(RR).pdf

Read More

ASSESSMENT OF SUITABILITY

Criteria for Assessing suitablity of officers-DOPT
No. AS 14017/66/2008-Estt RR)
Government of India.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
New Delhi
Criteria for assessing suitability of officers where there is revision/upgradation/merger of pay scales. The undersigned is directed to invite reference to the Department of Personnel & Training OM No. 22011/10/84 - Estt.(D) dated 04.02.1992 wherein the criteria to be adopted for assessing the suitability of incumbents of posts and the date of appointment to the upgraded post, wherever there is a revision of pay scale/upgradation of post, have been
laid down.
2. There has been merger of a number of pre-revised scales without any pre-condition forpossession of higher qualifications for placement of incumbents in the higher/upgraded scale, in the revised pay structure recommended by the 6th CPC and accepted by the Government.

In this context, the instructions of 4.2.92 have been reviewed and it has been decided in consultation with Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) who have issued certain instructions in this regard under OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 13.09.2008, and the UPSC that the procedure for assessment of suitability in such cases may be as follows for placement in

the upgraded/merged grade:
(i) Where all posts in one or more pre-revised scales are merged
with a higher pre-revised scale and given a common replacement scale/grade pay /pay scale, , the suitability of the incumbents need not be assessed for granting them the higher
replacement scale/grade pay/pay scale; there is also no need for the incumbents to complete any minimum eligibility service in the earlier scale of pay. There will be no change in the interseniority of the incumbents in the merged grade which shall be decided based on the general instructions on the sUbject; and
(ii) Where all posts in a particular grade have been granted a higher replacement pa.x scale/grade pay, as per upgradation recommended by the 6 H cpe, suitability of the incumbents
need not be assessed for granting them the higher replacement scale/grade pay. Here also, there is no need for the incumbents to complete any minimum eligibility service in the
earlier scale of pay; and
(Iii) Where there is a change in the Group (that is classification of the post) consequent upon the merger or upgradation and where there is no higher responsibility or higher qualification
involved, assessment of the suitability will not be necessary before the revised grade is allowed. There will also be no need for the incumbents to complete any minimum eligibility service in
the earlier scale of pay. However, suitability of the officer who has been placed in a upgraded / replacement pay scale which fall in Group , A ' by recommendation / award of the Pay
Commission will continue to be assessed.
3. Assessment of suitability will continue to be necessary in the following situations arising out of cadre reviews, restructuring etc., not covered in the recommendations of the 6th CPC:
(i) where the upgradation involves higher responsibilities and higher eligibility service;
(ii) Where the upgradation or merger is part; where the upgraded post will be the promotion grade for the posts left in the lower grade and the normal DPC procedure will apply.
(S.J.Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Tel. 23094504

Read More

DESK ALLOWANCE DOUBLED

Desk Allowance Doubled-Order Issued on 17.4.2009
1.Consequent upon the decision taken by the Government on the
implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, the
President is pleased to double the existing rates of Desk Allowance prescribed vide
this Department's OM No. 2/24/97 -PIC dated the 16th October 2000, from Rs. 300
per month to Rs. 600 per month.
The rates of the allowance will be increased by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance payable on revised pay scales goes up by 50%.
2. The other conditions laid down in the above said OM of this Department
dated 16th October 2000 will remain unchanged.
3. The revised rates will be effective from 1st September 2008.

Read More

CLASSIFICATION OF POSTS

Classification of Post- DOPT ORDER

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(Department of Personnel and Training) - ORDER
New Delhi, the 9th April, 2009
S.O. 946(E).-In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 and clause 5 of article 148 of the Constitution read with rule 6 of the Central Civil Services (Classification,Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 and in supersession of the notification of the GovemnientofIndia in the Department of Personnel and Training number S.O. 332(E) dated the
20th day of April, 1998, and after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General ofIndia in relation to persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the President hereby directs that with effect from the date of publication of this order in the Official Gazette,
all civil posts under the Union, shall be classified as follows :-

GROUP-A

1. (a) A Central Civil pqst in Cabinet Secretary:s scale (Rs. 90000-fixed),
Apex Scale (Rs.80000-fixed) and Higher Administrative Grade plus
scale (Rs. 75500-80000); and
(b) A Central qvil post carrying the following grade pays:-
Rs. 12000, Rs. 10000, Rs. 8900 and Rs. 8700 in the scale of pay of
Rs. 37400-67000 in Pay Band-4, and Rs, 7600, Rs. 6600 and Rs. 5400
in the scale of pay of Rs. 15600-39100 in Pay Band-3

GROUP-B

2. A Central Civil post carrying the following grade pays ;-
Rs. 5400, Rs. 4800, Rs. 4600 and Rs. 4200 in the scale of pay of
Rs.93OQ-34800 inPayBand-2.

GROUP-C

3. A Central Civil post carrying the following grade pays :-
.Rs. 2800, Rs. 2400, Rs. 2000, Rs.1900 and Rs. 1800 in the scale of
.pay ofRs. 5200-20200 in Pay Band-I.

GROUP-D

4.· A Central Civil post carrying the following grade pays;-
Rs. 1300, Rs. 1400, Rs. 1600, Rs. 1650 in the scale of pay of
Rs. 4440-7440 in IS Scale

Explanation: For the purpose of this order Pay Band, in relation to a post, means the running Pay Bands specified in Part-A,Section 1 of column 5 of the ·First Schedule to the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008.
C. B. PALIWAL, Jt. Secy.
[F. No. 110l2/7/2008-Estt. (A)]

Read More

NON-FUNCTIONAL UPGRADATION FOR OFFICERS

Non-Functional upgradation for Officers of Organised Group 'A' Services in PB-3 and PB-4
Consequent upon the acceptance of the recommendations ofthe Sixth Central Pay Commission, the following orders are issued:-
(i) Whenever an Indian Administrative ServicesOfficer of the State of Joint Cadre is posted at the Centre to a particular grade carrying a specific grade pay in Pay band 3 or
Pay Band 4, the officers belong to batches of Organised Group A Services that are senior by two years or more and have not so far been promoted to that particular grade would be granted the same grade on nonfunctional basis from the date of posting of the Indian Administrative Service Officers in that grade at the Centre.

(ii) Grant of higher scale would be governed by the terms and conditions given in
Annex-I.
(iii) Appropriate amendments in the Service Rules may also be carried out.
(iv) Establishment Division of this Department will issue orders from time to time, in consultation with the Establishment Officer, intimating the batch of the officers belonging to the Indian Administrative Service who have been posted at the Centre in the various grades ofPB-3and PB-4 as well as the date of posting of the first officers belonging to the batch.
2. Grant of higher scale (i.e. pay band and/or grade -pay) under instructions would be w.e.f. 1.1.2006, wherever due and admissible.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR GRANT OF
HIGHER PAY SCALE ON NON-FUNCTIONAL BASIS
TO OFFICERS OF ORGANISED GR.' A' SERVICES
1. The non functional up-gradation granted under these orders will be based on empanelment and posting of particular batch of IAS officer in the Centre. Such up-gradation would not be
linked to the vacancies in the grade.
2. The up-gradation granted under these orders will be a purely non- functional up-gradation, personal to the officer and It would not bestow any right to the officer to claim promotion or deputation benefits based on non-functional up-gradation in
such a manner.
3. All the prescribed eligibility criteria and promotional norms including 'benchmark' for up-gradation to a particular grade pay would have to be met at the time of screening for grant of
higher pay-scale under these orders.
4. A screening committee would be formed by the Ministry for implementation of these orders. There would be three members in committee so formed and they would at-least be
one level above the grade for which up-gradation is being considered. Secretary of the Ministry concerned would chair the committee.
5. All instructions concerning grant of non-functional upgradation presently applicable in the case of grant of NFSG to officers of Group 'A' Services would apply in the event of
penalty, disciplinary proceedings, suspension etc.
6. Orders will be issued with the approval of the competent authority. Grant of higher pay scale on the non-functional basis would be from the date of posting of the first officer
belonging to the particular batch of IAS officer at the centre. In case of any delay in the issue of orders, financial benefits under these orders will be given from the due date.
7. (i) Pay fixation under on grant of non-functional upgradation under these orders will be done as per the provisions of CCS (RP) Rules ,2008 i.e. the officers will be granted one
increment at the rate of 3% of basic pay and the difference of grade pay will be
added to their basic pay.
(ii) As far as similarly placed officers of organized Gr. A Services, who are posted under the Central Staffing Scheme are concerned , they will be granted one additional increment
on account of the non-functional up-gradation, but their grade pay will remain unchanged on the ground that they are holding a particular post with a specific grade pay under the Central
Staffing Scheme. In such cases the officers granted nonfunctional up-gradation may continue to draw CDTA if admissible.
8. As and when the normal vacancies in the grade arise, the officer will be considered for regular promotions as per the normal DPC guidelines, based on the provisions of the
recruitment rules. UPSC will be consulted wherever the rules provide for the same. However at the time of promotion, the pay in the grade will not be fixed again for officers who have
been granted up-gradation under these orders.
9 . Officers on deputation / study leave or any other duly sanctioned leave would also be considered and granted higher pay-scale on non-functional basis according to the prescribed
procedure.
10. Non-functional up-gradation to the next higher grade pay granted under the scheme isa fall back option only, to be in cases where officers of a particular Service have not
been granted promotion to a particular grade in normal course according to the due procedure.
11. ILLUSTRATION:- If officers of 1987 batch of IAS are empanelled as Joint Secretary in the grade pay ofRs. 10,000/in PB-4 and an officer of the batch gets posted in the Centre (under Central Staffing Scheme) on 15th January 2008, all the officers of the 1985 batch of organized Gr. A Central Services who have not been promoted to the Joint Secretary or
equivalent grade and who are eligible for the same on 1.1.2007 for the panel year 2007-08, would be appointed to the same grade on non-functional basis under these
instructions w.e.f. 15.1.2008. Same would be the case in the event of posting of an officer of particular batch as Deputy Secretary/ Director under Central Staffing scheme.

Read More