No filing of tax returns if salary is only income

In a big relief from cumbersome tax filing process for the salaried class, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today proposed to exempt them from filing tax returns unless they have other sources of income.

Budget 2011 : Highlights

Income Tax exemption limit upped to Rs 1.80 Lakhs.
Rs 20,000 deduction u/s 80CCF to continue.

Kerala Cabinet Special Meeting : Eight PSU to get pay hike,Temporary PSU staff to be permanent.

In a haste to make populist decisions before the announcement of poll and subsequent existence of model code of conduct , the Kerala Cabinet in a special meeting approved the following popular issues.


Cabinet also decided to implement wage revision in eight public sector units including Travancore Titanium Products Ltd, Traco Cables, Steel Industries, Coir Corporation, United Industries Ltd and Bamboo Corporation, he said.

Hope of tax sops to salaried class, farmers.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to give tax concessions to the salaried class and offer incentives to farmers in his Budget 2011-12 tomorrow to give relief from high prices and keeping an eye on elections in five states.

It is widely expected that the Budget will raise the income tax exemption limit to Rs 1.80 lakh from the current Rs 1.60 lakh per annum.

The Finance Ministry is already committed to raising the exemption limit to Rs 2 lakh per annum in the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) which is to be implemented from April 2012.

Mukherjee may also consider raising the limit for investment in tax-free infrastructure bonds to give a boost to the fund-starved sector. Investments up to Rs 20,000 in infrastructure bonds enjoy tax exemption now.
Source : PTI

Central staff to get CGHS Cards before retirement.

" Central Government servants on their retirement from service are entitled to CGHS facility, if they retire from office Ministries I Departments I Offices covered by CGHS. For availing CGHS facility, if eligible, after retirement from service, pensioners are required to fill up the requisite form and deposit the appropriate amount [lump sum amount equivalent to one year’s contribution for availing CGHS facility for one year (which can be extended on an annual basis on payment of the appropriate contribution as applicable at the time of renewal) or pay in lump sum equivalent to ten years’ contribution for availing CGHS facility with life-time validity). The process of issuing of pensioner CGHS cards starts only after the Government servant retires from service and only after the Pension Pay Order (PPO) and Last Pay Certificate (LPC) are issued by the Ministry / Department I Office. The completion of the formalities takes two to three months, which puts pensioners in a problematic condition for getting treatment from the date on which they retire from service and the time when a pensioner CGHS card is issued to them. ...."
Click here for details and forms

Manipur CM sticks to 'no 6th pay' stand

As the State has no resource to meet the demand of COTA and FECTAM, which have been insisting on implementation of Central 6th Pay, now the only option left is to seek the opinion of the people on doubling the amount of taxes imposed by the Government to meet the demand, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has stated.

Highlights of Railway Budget 2011-12

No hike in passenger fare and freight rates. Highest ever Plan outlay of Rs. 57, 630 crore proposed for Railways. Rs. 9,583 crore provided for new lines. 1300 km new lines, 867 km doubling of lines and 1017 km gauge conversion targeted in 2011-12. 56 new Express Trains, 3 new Shatabdis and 9 Duronto trains to be introduced.

Kerala approve 9th Pay Commission, Arrear in P.F. cash from Feb 2011.

As predicted, the government yesterday approved the cabinet sub-committee report on the 9th Pay Commission on revision of salaries of government employees and teachers. The new pay scales would be given as cash from February 1, 2011, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said.
The arrears from July 1, 2009 to January 31, 2011, would be merged with the provident fund, he said.

Kerala Ninth Pay commission : Govt. orders likely tomorrow, doctors unhappy, in agitation.

It is learnt from reliable sources that the Kerala Govt. is likely sanction pay hike in today's cabinet meeting and to issue Govt. Order tomorrow, on 24th February implementing pay hike as per pay commission recommendation.

KGMOA announces non-cooperation stir

Govt. considering increase of enhancement of Pension Under EPS, 1995

The Central Government constituted an Expert Committee for review of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995. The Expert Committee considered the various demands of pensioners including enhancement of pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995. The Expert Committee has submitted its report to the Central Government on 05.08.2010 and recommendations are presently under examination/consideration of the Central Board of Trustees of the Employees Provident Fund Organization.

This information was given by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Labour And Employment in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. 
Source : PIB

Health Insurance scheme for Central employees and pensioners to be introduced.

As stated earlier, the health insurance plan is under processing. 
The Central Government is contemplating introduction of a health insurance scheme for the central government employees and pensioners on pan – India basis, in consultation with other concerned Ministries/Departments. However, no time frame can be given at this stage for its introduction.

This information was given by Minister of Health & Family Welfare Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Source : PIB 

Assam agrees to pay six months' arrear, issued order on time scale promotion

The Assam Govt. issued an order paving the way for time scale promotion for the employees. This was disclosed by the acting secretary general of the Sadau Asom Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), Nagen Das.
The SAKP office bearer said that the Government has agreed to release arrears for six months due to the employees on account of revision of pay scales. The Government also agreed to enhance the leave encashment benefit for teachers from 80 days to 300 days and a special allowance would be given to the headmasters of the schools.

Jammu and Kashmir Govt negotiating with centre for arrear payment to employees

About the sixth pay commission, Omar said that Government doesn’t want confrontation with employees. “But we don’t have money to pay their full arrears. We have already formulated roadmap for the payment of 50 percent arrears. Except three to four states, no other state government has paid arrears to its employees .Our neighbor Himachal Pradesh has only paid Rs 10000 to its employees .We want to pay full arrears, but we don’t have resources for the purpose,” he said.
 Elaborating he said the state’s salary and pension bills pile up to Rs 9000 and Rs 2100 crores respectively in return to revenue of Rs 3500 crores. “I don’t want to keep employees in dark and I am not closing door for them .If we will pay arrears out of our budget then we would have no money to pay salary. We are negotiating with Centre over the issue,” he said.

Retirement age for Central Govt to be hiked ? Rumors spreading.

As we heard every time before the budget session of parliament, this time also a rumor about raising the retirement age of central government employees from 60 to 62 is spreading here and there among the central government employees. May be the officers at the verge of retirement be happy about this rumor. Otherwise there is no reason to be happy about this rumor.. As India is having 51% of people below the age of 25 years , it is not a good news to millions of jobless people. Sources close to the trade union movements and Federations told that there is no such proposal with the government since none of the workers federations have demanded it.

Army to get better Insurance coverage.

Extending a better life insurance cover for its personnel, Indian Army has increased the Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF) by Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh for its 35,000 officers and over one million jawans respectively.

W.B. employees to get 180 days' Maternity Leave

Update on 01.07.11 : Employees on maternity leave prior to 01.01.2011 will also get benefit of extended maternity leave of 180 days.
View the G.O.
The matter of enhancement of the ceiling of Maternity Leave on the recommendation of the Fifth pay Commission has been under active consideration of the Government for some time past.  At present a female State Government employee is entitled to Maternity Leave for 135 days in terms of Rule 199 of West Bengal Service Rule, Part-I read with Finance Department Memo No. 3453-F dt 28.03.01. 
After careful consideration of the matter the Governor has been pleased to decide that a female State Government employee may be granted Maternity Leave for a maximum of 180 days subject to the existing terms and conditions as laid down in Rule 199 of the West Bengal Service Rule, Part-I. 
This order shall take effect from 01.01.2011.
View the Order

Manipur C.M. expressed inability to fulfil teachers' demand

There is no other means except tendering resignation as Chief Minister said Chief Minister O Ibobi today talking to reporters asserting that he too wanted to fulfill their demands but, state has no resource to meet the funds to be incurred in meeting the demand.
He said, government is pressing the Centre for additional fund.

Pension Revision of Pre-2007 BSNL Retirees : Order expected next week.

Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU met Shri Shakeel Ahmad, DDG (Estt.) and other officers in DoT today, 17.02.2011 and discussed about issue of Pension Revision of Pre-2007 BSNL retirees.

The file is pending with Director (Finance) for preparing clarifications raised by the Member (Finance). Member (F) is out of station and is expected at HQ next week. The Pension Revision order may be issued by next week.

Source : BSNL Union.

Karnataka Polytechnic teachers to get better pay.

The Karnataka Government today decided to implement the central sixth pay commission report in Government and aided polytechnics in the state for the teaching faculty to attract quality and talented lecturers to these institutions. Briefing reporters on decisions taken by the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Higher Education Minister V S Acharya said the new scales would come into effect from April one this year, and slated to boost their pay packets by one-and-half to two times. The retirement age for them, however, would remain at 60. "The decision would entail an annual outgo of Rs 71 crore", he said. All polytechnics and government engineering colleges coming under the Department of Technical Education would also be computerised, equipping them with computers, printers, UPS, software and anti-virus technologies at a cost of Rs 23 crore.

Performance-related incentives for Central Ministries and Departments may be this year.

Cabinet Secretariate works on performance-related incentives, on monitoring, evaluating targets for all personnel.

In a major administrative reform exercise, the Cabinet Secretariat is working on implementation of a performance-linked incentive scheme for officials. With this, it is also in the process of reforming the performance appraisal report (PAR) system.

Outcome or the Anomaly Committee Meeting on 15.02.11 : A Big Zero.

"The third meeting of the National Anomaly Committee was  held on 15/02/2011. The following items were taken up for discussion.  No final decision on any item could be arrived at.  It was more or less an exercise to understand the points of view of both sides on these items. We shall in our next communication indicate the outcome of discussion on each item.
View Itemwise Discussions {Courtesy : AIRF India.} 

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to give 9.5% interest during '10-'11.

Finance Ministry is likely to give green signal to payment of 9.5 per cent interest rate on provident fund deposits during 2010-11, a senior government official said today.

Journalists' wage board recommendations to be implemented soon, Minister assured.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni today said it would be her endeavour to see that the recommendations of Justice Majithia wage boards for the newspaper industry were implemented soon.

Karnataka employees to get wages at par with Central staff : Minister.

Home and Transport Minister R. Ashok assured  in Bangalore that several demands of the State Government employees, including payment of wages on par with Central Government employees, will be met.

Delhi implemented Padmanabhan report : three fold hike for judges.

Effecting an over three-fold hike in the salary of district-level judicial officers, the Delhi government has given its nod for the implementation of the E Padmanabhan Committee report, which was submitted to the apex court in July 2009. The report had recommended the revision of salaries of subordinate judicial court judges across the country. Delhi Law Secretary SP Garg and the Lieutenant-Governor cleared the file for the revised payscale.

W.B. modified Pay Band 4 and change of option

A huge difference has been notice in between minimum pension and family pension of the Officers retired prior to 01.01.2006 from the unrevised Scale No. 18 and Scale No. 19 respectively as per application of the provision of Para 4.4 of Finance Department Memo No. 200-F(Pen), dated 25.02.2009 as clarified in the Annexure-I to  Finance Department Memo No. 460-F(Pen), dated 20.05.2009. 
To rectify this West Bengal Govt has splited  Pay Band 4 into three bands as 4, 4A and 4B. 
View the Order
Change of Option for Promotion

Next meeting of Anomaly Committee on 15th Feb'11.

The next meeting of National Anomaly Committee will be held on 15th Febraury 2011. Hence it is believed that many issues will be sorted out in this meeting itself since the expectation is very high over the out come of this meeting.
It is expected that the  issue of Granting one increment to the employees whose increment date falls between February to June in the year of 2006, as a one time measure will  be finalized in this meeting.
Anomaly in fixation of pay between direct recruits and  promotee  is also to be settled in this meeting.

MACP for KVS employees

"..................The matter pertaining to adoption of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) for the teaching and non-teaching employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, at par with Central Government Civilian Employees, was under examination with the Ministry of HRD.

2. The approval of the Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, as conveyed vide their letter No.F.3-18/2010 UT-2 dated 20th January, 2011, is communicated for adoption subject to the following conditions:

Click here to read more

Tamilnadu : Fixation of Pay for Teachers in Selection Grade / Special Grade – Clarification

".......................the Teachers whose Ordinary Grade scales of pay have been revised in the G.O. 6th cited are also entitled for revision of Selection Grade / Special Grade scales of pay as indicated in Annexure-I of the reference 4th cited and also as indicated in the reference 5th cited subject to the guidelines and conditions stipulated therein.

Income Tax Cadre Review/Restructure approved by Expenditure.

CADRE RESTRUCTURING

Cadre restructuring has been approved by the Dept. of Expenditure and following additional vacancies will be created:

204 - CIT

312 - JCIT

243 - DCIT

357 - ACIT

This was informed in a video conference between Chairman, CBDT and the Cadre Controlling C.C.I.T.s on 02.02.2011

View the gist of the Chairman's speech in the conference

Kerala pay Commission : Finance Minister assures to rectify pay anomaly

Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac has said that the government will favorably consider all complaints regarding fixation of pay scales by the Ninth Pay Commission.

The Finance Minister said the complaints were the result of the commission recommending higher pay scales for certain sections as compared to their counterparts. The government was in receipt of several memorandums in this regard. The government would consider all such complaints sympathetically, he said.

Isaac said that the Cabinet had constituted a seven-member sub-committee to look into all such complaints and to study the commission report. The Finance Department was also studying the commission recommendations. The approach of the government was focused on addressing the complaints and ensuring that the order implementing the commission recommendations was issued this month itself, he said.

DOPT publishes new recruitment rule for former Group D employees

View the rule and essential Qualification 

Entitlement of E.L and H.P.L : DOPT issued clarification

".......................Clause (b) of sub rule (2) of rule 27 and clause (c) of sub-rule (2) of rule 29 of the CCS Leave Rules is modified as under :- 

Rule 27 (2) (b) ‘When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service, credit is allowed at the rate of 2 1 /2 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service. When a Government Servant dies, while in service, credit of Earned Leave shall be allowed at time rate of 2 1/2 days per completed month of service up to the date of death of the Government Servant.’ Rule 29 (2) (c) ‘When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service, credit of Hall Pay Leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service. When a Government Servant dies while in service, credit of Half Pay Leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed month of service up to the date of death of the Government Servant.............................."

View the Office Memo

Egypt employees to get better pay

Egypt’s embattled regime has decided to give government employees a 15 per cent raise in salaries and pensions as it seeks to bolster support amid mass protests demanding President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster.

Today’s decision came during the first cabinet meeting since the crisis erupted two weeks ago. Finance minister Samir Radwan said some 6.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($960 million) would be allocated to cover the increases, which will take effect in April for 6 million employees.

Mubarak’s regime has relied heavily on support from employees on its payroll, with clashes breaking out between pro-government thugs and protesters. Thousands of demonstrators have vowed not to move from the heart of downtown Cairo until Mubarak steps down.

Source : The Telegraph

Karnataka employees seek 6th pay commission salary

Nearly 15,000 government employees in Dakshina Kannada district and their counterparts across the state will be absent from their respective offices from 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm on Wednesday. They would instead be holding meetings in front of the offices of the deputy commissioners and tahshildars at the respective district and taluk headquarters with an 11-point charter of demands for the government to consider on the eve of state budget.

Assam PSU Staff to boycott polls over revised pay plea

Employees of 25 public sector undertakings (PSU) and their family members have threatened to boycott the Assembly polls if their demand for implementation of the revised payscales was not met.

The employees, under the banner of the Committee for Struggle to Revive Public Sector Undertaking, Assam, will observe a daylong non-cooperation agitation tomorrow as part of their protest.

Pension schemes for LIC agents to come

Life Insurance Corporation of India, the state-run company facing competition from nimble private rivals, will soon have a pension plan for its half a million strong agents to keep the flock together amid large scale poaching. 

The special pension plan for its agents who earn commissions of more than 1 lakh per year may benefit about five lakh-odd agents who could be the main target of private companies, many of whom are struggling to profit. 

Kerala Gazetted Officers protest against pay panel suggestions

The Kerala Gazetted Officers Union (KGOU) and the Kerala Engineers Federation are the latest to come out against the recommendations of the Ninth Pay Commission.

Scalewise D.A. chart for Bankers for Feb,Mar,Apr 2011

Consequent to 25 slabs D.A increase for Feb,Mar and April 2010 , revised D.A. for each scale and actual increase is worked out here.
Total D.A. : 49.95%


Download the Scalewise Increase Table for Officers

Govt may hike Income Tax exemption limit

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Tax payers can expect some relief from high inflation in Budget 2011-12 as the government may raise the income tax exemption limit for individuals.
"Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is alive to the price situation and its impact on the common man," sources said, adding he would favourably consider the issue of hiking tax exemption limit.

Good News for Bankers ! IBA released D.A for Feb,Mar,Apr 2011

As predicted in this blog, IBA has recently published the new D.A. rate for Bankmen for Feb,Mar, Apr 2011 @49.95%, a hike of 25 slabs.
Click here to view the IBA website

Govt approves extra benefit of SBI staff in addition to 9th Bipartite.

Following are the exerts from SBI Officers' Association, Hyderabad Circle's website. An additional benefit of 6.5% of Revised Basic Pay as on 01.01.2007 is to be paid to SBI employees.
"............As a part of the first phase of the settlement, we are now happy to inform all our members that the government has conveyed their approval for disbursement of balancing amount to employees / officers as allowance. The details will be worked out by us with the Management and will be advised in due course. However, the tentative working indicates that the individual benefit accruing to our members would be 6.5% of their revised Basic Pay as on 01.11.2007. This is yet another glorious chapter in the history of our movement in terms of the quantum as well as the total percentage. 
 Comrades, thus we have been able to achieve the demands that we have raised with the IBA during Salary Revision negotiations. Our efforts are on with the Govt. and Management to improve superannuation benefits and also to extend it to earlier retirees. We shall advise the out come later........"
Click here for Detailed Circular 
Source : SBI Officers' Association, Hyderabad Circle.