Allowances Without Arrears

The government is considering to give relief to central government employees amid cash crunch, which refusing to ease on even after six weeks of the demonetisation announcement, official sources today said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley can also take some time to formalise higher allowances announcement.

“We can expect the higher allowances without arrears under 7th pay commission recommendations in the coming days as the PMO thinks payment of the higher allowances with salaries on salary day cannot be “chaotic”, a close aide of the Finance Minister told The Sen Times.

“The PMO might ask the Finance Ministry to ready the higher allowances proposal without arrears before the budget. The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley can also take some time to formalise this announcement. The issue of arrears of higher allowances may not be reconsidered”, he said.

Another official said the government is considering to make only allowances hike for its employees. “The financial advisors of the government believe it could be tough to give arrears of the higher allowances as millions will queue outside the money dispensers to get higher allowances as the cash crunch may be normalised in three to four months.”, the official revealed.

In the current financial year, the government has given higher basic pay with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016 to its employees on the recommendations of the 7th pay commission but the hike in allowances other than dearness allowance referred to the ‘Committee on Allowances’ headed by the Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa for examination as the pay commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

Existing allowances are now paid to the central government employees according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations until issuing of higher allowances notification.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said, “We are ready to submit our report, when the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley calls up.”

But the government gave extension to the committee up to February 22, 2017 to take cash crunch turn for better.

“The government would comply with the cash crunch to give higher allowances without arrears. The government wishes to give the higher allowances with arrears from August to its employees”, said the sources.

They said the PMO still wants to somehow bring out the higher allowances without arrears for the central government employees now, “but the Finance Ministry cannot take emotional decisions. We hope the announcement for the higher allowances will come with arrears soon after the budget.”

“The committee on allowances proposed higher allowances from August 2016 but the central government employees unions demanded for implementation of the allowances with retrospective effect from January 2016,” the sources also said.

Central Govt employee union calls nationwide strike on February 15

After a massive Parliament march conducted by the central government employees on December 15, the union has called again for a nationwide strike on February 15, 2017, demanding the Union Government to make an immediate settlement of their 21 points charter demands in 7th Pay Commission (7CPC). The strike has been called in a joint cooperation by several central government employees union against what they say “the betrayal and breach of assurance by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu”.

On 15th December a massive Parliament march was conducted in which around 15,000 central government employees from all over the states participated. In the Parliament march autonomous bodies employees and pensioners also extended their support by joining the rally. During the rally which the central government employees union view as a success also declared a one-day nationwide strike on February 15.

The strike has been announced by the National President of the Confederation KKN Kutty, Secretary General M Krishnan and several other leaders present at the rally.

ccording to reports, the rally condemned the authoritarian attitude of the NDA Government and also the breach of an assurance given by the trio Union Ministers to NJCA leaders who met them after the implementation of 7th Pay Commission.

What are 21 Points Charter Demands made by central government employees:

1) The central government employees union asked the government to settle the demands raised by NJCA regarding modifications of 7th Pay Commission recommendations as submitted in the memorandum to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015. Honour the assurance given by the Union Ministers to NJCA on 30th June 2016 and 6th July 2016, especially increase in minimum wage and fitment factor. Grant revised HRA at the existing percentage itself ie: 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent. Accept the proposal of the staff side regarding transport allowance. Settle all anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, in a time bound manner.

2) Implement option-I recommended by 7th Pay Commission and accepted by the Government regarding parity in pension of pre-2016 pensioners, without any further delay. Settle the pension related issues raised by NJCA against item 13 of its memorandum submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015.

3) Scrap PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant pension and Family Pension to all Central Government employees recruited after 1st January 2004, under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

4) Treat Gramin Dak Sewaks of postal department as civil servants, and extend all benefits like pay, pension, allowances etc. of departmental employees to GDS. Publish GDS Committee report immediately.

5) Regularise all casual, contract, part-time, contingent and Daily rated mazdoors and grant equal pay and other benefits. Revise the wages as per 7th CPC minimum pay.

6) No downsizing, privatisation, outsourcing and contractorisation of government functions.

7) Withdraw the arbitrary decision of the Government to enhance the benchmark for performance appraisal for promotion and financial up-gradations under MACP from “GOOD” to VERY GOOD” and also decision to withhold annual increments in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the bench march either for MACP or for regular promotion within the first 20 years of service. Grant MACP pay fixation benefits on promotional hierarchy and not on pay-matrix hierarchy. Personnel promoted on the basis of examination should be treated as fresh entrants to the cadre for grant of MACP.

8) Withdraw the draconian FR 56 (J) and Rule 48 of CCs (Pension) Rules 1972 which is being misused as a short cut as purity measure to punish and victimize the employees.

9) Fill up all vacant posts including promotional posts in a time bound manner. Lift ban on creation of posts. Undertake cadre Review to access the requirement of employees and their cadre prospects. Modify recruitment rules of Group-‘C’ cadre and make recruitment on Regional basis.

10) Remove 5% ceiling on compassionate appointments and grant appointment in all deserving cases.

11) Grant five promotions in the service career to all Central Govt. employees.

12) Abolish and upgrade all Lower Division Clerks to Upper Division Clerks.

13) Ensure parity in pay for all stenographers, Assistants, Ministerial Staff in subordinate offices and in all organized Accounts cadres with Central Secretariat staff by upgrading their pay scales. Grant pay scale of Drivers in Loksabha Secretariat to Drivers working in all other Central Government Departments.

14) Reject the stipulation of 7th CPC to reduce the salary to 80 per cent for the second year of Child Care leave and retain the existing provision.

15) Introduce Productivity Linked bonus in all department and continue the existing bi-lateral agreement on PLB wherever it exists.

16) Ensure cashless medical treatment to all Central Government employees & Pensioners in all recognized Government and Private hospitals.

17) Revision of Overtime Allowance (OTA) and Night Duty Allowance (NDA) w.e.f 01.01.2016 based on 7th CPC pay scale.

18) Revision of wages of Central Government employees in every five years.

19) Revive JCM functioning at all levels. Grant recognition of the unions/Associations under CCS (RSA) Rules 1993 within a time frame to facilitate effective JCM functioning.

20) Implementation of the Revised Pay structure in respect of employees and pensioners of autonomous bodies consequent on implementation of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2016 in respect of Central Government employees and pensioners w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

21) Implementation of the “equal pay for equal work” judgement of the Supreme Court in all departments of the Central Government.

Judges To Get A Huge Pay Hike

The judges of the Supreme Court and High Court will soon receive a huge pay hike. The Chief Justice of India TS Thakur has written to the government, forwarding a judges' committee report which recommended a hike of over 300% including pension and perks.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has agreed with most of the recommendations, sources said. A cabinet note is being prepared, which after formal clearance, will go to parliament.

The salaries of the judges were last hiked eight years ago. But the implementation of the new hike can take time as the hikes of lawmakers - current and former - the President and the Vice-President are still pending.

At present, the Chief Justice of India gets a salary of Rs. 1 lakh. Against the judges' committee recommendation to hike his salary by Rs. 3 lakh, the government has agreed to hike it by Rs. 2.8 lakh.

For Supreme Court judges, the present salary is Rs. 90,000. The judges' committee recommended a pay hike of Rs. 2.8 lakh and the government has agreed to an increase of Rs. 2.5 lakh.

The salary of High Court judges will increase from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 2.25 lakh against the recommendation of Rs. 2.5 lakh.

The government has not agreed to an increase of house rent allowance, since a committee is already looking into the issue following the 7th pay commission recommendations.

Under the pay commission recommendations, they get a steep hike in funds for furnishing their houses. It ranges from Rs. 10 lakh for the Chief Justice of India to 6 lakh for judges of High Court and 1,500 free phone calls. The judges will continue to get 

The pensions of the judges will be hiked as well. free water up to 36 kilo liters and free power of 10,000 units.The Chief Justice of India will get R

s. 16,80,000 plus dearness allowance, the Supreme Court judges Rs. 15 lakh plus dearness allowance and High Court judges Rs. 13.5 lakh plus dearness allowance a year. Their gratuity would be doubled to Rs. 20 lakh.

Allowances will not be revised this Year as Committee’s time limit extended up to 22.02.2017

2) The extension of two months given to the Ministry of Finance to receive the notification on higher allowances under the Pay Commission’s award, COULD PUSH IT’S FULLER EFFECT INTO THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR rather than this financial year.

The above statement by the Governor, RBI clearly indicates that THE ALLOWANCES WILL BE REVISED ONLY AFTER FEBRUARY 2017 AND WILL COME INTO EFFECT IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR ONLY.

Earlier to a question regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula Minister of State for Finance Shri Arun Ram Meghwal gave the following reply in the Rajya Sabha on 23.11.2016.

“The anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission will be examined by the Anomaly Committee which has already been constituted. Based on the report of the Committee, the matter will be considered by the Government and appropriate decision will be taken.

From the reply it is clear that the question of increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment factor is to be decided by the Anomaly Committee. That is why the Government has not formally constituted THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE as assured by the Group of Ministers to the JCM Staff side leaders in the 30th June night discussion. And this is the reason for Group of Senior Officers behaving as if they .don’t know what the task is assigned to them. Now by 30th December SIX months will be over after the 30th June assurance given by Group of Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singh , Hon’ble Home Minister , Shri Arun Jaitley , Hon’ble Finance Minister and Shri Suresh Prabhu , Hon’ble Railway Minister . Employees and Leaders have never expected such blatant breach of assurance given by Senior Cabinet Ministers of NDA Government.

he revision of pay and pension of thousands of Autonomous body employees and Pensioners is also pending for the last six months. On 17.11.2016 Finance Ministry has given instructions to all Autonomous bodies NOT TO EXTEND the benefits of 7th CPC to employees and Pensioners of Autonomous bodies UNTIL FURTHER ORDERS.

The One man Committee constitute by Government for revision of wages and service conditions of three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of Postal Department had submitted it’s report to Government on 24th November 2016. Even after 20 days, the Government is not ready to publish the report or give copy to the recognised Federations.

The revision of wages of Casual, Part-time Contingent and Contract workers, consequent on implementation of 7th CPC wage revision is also pending.

The one and the only favourable recommendation of 7th CPC ie; Parity between past and present pensioners (Option – 1) stands referred to a Committee which has taken a stand that Option – 1 is not feasible.

None of the demands raised by Confederation in its 20 point charter of demands is settled.

THERE IS NO SHORT-CUT OTHER THAN STRUGGLE.

AWAKE! ARISE!! UNITE COMRADES!!!

RALLY ROUND CONFEDERATION.

WE THE WORKERS, WE THE NATION, WE ARE NOT BEGGAR FOLKS

M. Krishnan

Secretary General

Confederation

Higher allowances for central employees likely to be delayed further

Central government employees may get higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations from February, 2017. The government is planning to pay higher allowance under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations from February to minimise the expenditures.

 The extension of two months for the 7th pay commission recommendation might receive highernotification thus pushing it forward to the next fiscal year rather than initiating from this year, said a Fab News report.

 The recommendation for a hike in salaries will be considered from February 2017 and only be applied from the next fiscal year i.e. April 2017, it said further.

National Anomaly Committee for disability pension for Defence Forces Personnel

The 1st meeting of the National Anomaly Committee was held on 01.12.2016 on the anomaly of calculation of the disability pension for Defence Forces Personnel as per the recommendations of the 7th CPC.

 The representative of the Armed Forces made a presentation in the meeting demanding that the recommendations of the 7th CPC to grand disability pension on a slab system if implemented will lead to an anomaly between the civilian side and the Defence Forces Personnel because the civilian side will continue to be governed under a percentage based system.

 After studying the presentation, the Staff Side of NC-JCM has suggested that the slab system will be beneficial to the lower Rank personnel and hence both the slab system and percentage system may be accepted by the Govt. on an optional basis, alternatively the slab amount recommended by 7th CPC can be increased to avoid the anomalous situation. 

Secretary (P) informed that the issue would be further studied in consultation with CGDA.

Central govt employees to get higher allowances from January 2017

In a latest development around 7th Pay Commission, the government will start giving higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations from January, 2017.

According to sources in Finance Ministry, central government employees will get their higher allowances under 7th Pay Commission recommendations from January next. The cash crunch, following the demonetisation drive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, compelled central government to keep in abeyance the higher allowances till things normalize.

The government will pay higher allowance, under 7th Pay Commission recommendations, with retrospective effect from August 2016, however central government employees unions demanded for implementation of the allowances with retrospective effect from January 2016. There is official confirmation whether the arrears would be paid too. The development comes days after central government employees unions met Committee on Allowances headed by Finance Secretary Ashok.

The central government employees have been waiting for fatter allowance since July when the government issued the notification for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The 7th pay commission recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances, which triggered a resentment among central government employees. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley then formed ‘Committee on Allowances’ for examination of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission on allowances other than dearness allowance.

“The central government employees unions wanted that House Rent Allowance (HRA) be fixed at range 10, 20 and 30 per cent of the basic linked to the classification of the town of posting when the Pay commission recommended 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent respectively of new pay matrix, the union also asked to enhance children education allowance of Rs 3,000 and hostel subsidy of Rs 10,000 with tax exempt.” a sources was quoted as saying by The Sen Times. “The union also demanded inclusion of post-graduate and professional courses in children education allowance and to hike the ‘Fixed Medical Allowance’ to Rs 2,000 with Dearness Allowance Indexation,” they added.

Sources also said that the Finance Ministry may scale down the higher allowances proposal due to ongoing cash chaos in the country. Until acceptance of higher allowances, under 7th Pay Commission, the allowances are now paid according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.

No hike in basic pay, allowances likely

It simply means, the National Anomaly Committee or Committee on Allowances won't suggest or approve any changes in the basic pay or allowance against the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

The ‘Committee on Allowances’, headed by Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, is yet to submit its report on fatter allowances recommended by the 7th Pay Commission, however the Finance Ministry sources said the government won’t consider any change in 7th Pay Commission recommendations. Sources confirmed that there will be no changes in basic pay and allowances recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. It simply means, the National Anomaly Committee or Committee on Allowances won’t suggest or approve any changes in the basic pay or allowance against the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

Sources in the Finance Ministry have made it clear that the National Anomaly Committee on behalf of the government won’t consider any hike in basic pay and fatter allowances recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. The latest development contradicts with what Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised. Those who will hope over these issues will gain nothing but no change on 7th Pay Commission recommendations of pay scales and allowances are very much possible, said sources. 

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised the government would consider the demand of an increase in basic pay and allowances of the central government employees. The government had said it will form a High Level Committee to review the new pa scales. However no such committee has been formed till date. Instead, the government formed a 22-member National Anomaly Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to look into various pay related anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations.

Sources said the government has decided to stick to the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on basic pay and allowances. They also confirmed that the ‘Committee on Allowances’ won’t suggest any hike and is likely to stick with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. The 7th Pay Commission notification confirmed that central government employees will get 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay at junior levels, which is the lowest in 70 years. The Cabinet also approved the increase in minimum pay Rs 18,000 from existing Rs 7,000. The 7th pay commission had recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

DA from July 2016 is 2%

                                                 Press Information Bureau

                                                     Government of India

                                                          Cabinet

                                                                                                                 27-October-2016

Cabinet approves release of an installment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners due from 01.07.2016

The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to release an installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners w.e.f. 01.07.2016 representing an increase of 2% of the revised Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs. 5622.10 crore per annum and in the Financial Year 2016-17 for the period of 8 months (i.e. from July 2016 to February 2017), it would be Rs.3748.06 crore. About 50.68 lakh Government employees and 54.24 lakh pensioners will be benefitted.

Source: Press Information Bureau

DA Likely to Come as Diwali Gift

The government is likely to announce the much awaited Dearness Allowance (DA)  for government employees just before Diwali.

The announcement of DA, which comes into effect from July, is already late by around a month. Usually, central government approves the allowance in the first week of September, and the order is released in the third or fourth week of September.

Earlier, official sources and media reports attributed the delay in announcement to extremely tight schedule of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his foreign visits.

During the first week of September, the Secretary of the JCM Staff side wrote to the Ministry of Finance with the subject “Future computation of Dearness Allowance and adoption base index figure to Revised Minimum Wage”,and sought granting  of 3% dearness allowance with effect from July 1.

The unions are of the view that after the implementation of 7th Pay Commission, the dearness allowance computation formula and the base year must be changed as it did when the 6th Pay Commission got implemented.

Meeting of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners

No.38/37/2016-P&PW(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G.and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,
New Delhi, dated the 26th September, 2016

To,
The Secretary,
National Council (Staff Side)
JCM for Central Government Employees,
13C, Firozshah Road,
New Delhi – 110001

Subject: Meeting of the Committee set up to examine feasibility of implementation of recommendation of 7th CPC for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners – reg.

Sir/Madam,
I am directed to say that a Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Pension) has been constituted to examine the feasibility of implementation of the first option recommended by the 7th CPC in para 10.1.67 (i) and para 10.2.87 applicable to the Central Civil pensioners and Defence pensioners respectively.

2. A meeting of the Committee with the JCM (Staff Side) for Central Government Employees is proposed to be held on 06.10.2016 at 3.00 p.m. at Conference Hall, 5th Floor, Sardar Patel Bhawan, New Delhi to discuss this issue. It is requested that the same of the member nominated to attend the said meeting may kindly be intimated.

3. This Department looks forward to your participation in the meeting.

sd/-
(Harjit Singh)
Director (Pension Policy)
Harjit.singh59@nic.in
s.chakrabarti75@gov.in

Allowances Committee Meeting on 13th Oct 2016

No.6/8/2016-PIC

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions

North Block, New Delhi

Dated 30.09.2016

Office Memorandum

Subject Meeting under the Chairmanship of Secretary (P) with the Secretary Staff Side, NC (JCM) to firm up the view on various allowances pertaining to Department of Personnel & Training on 13/10/2016 at 3.00 PM

The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Expenditure’s OM No. 11/1/2016-IC dated 12/09/2016 regarding the minutes of the 2nd meeting of committee on Allowances held on 01.09.2016 and to say that a meeting to discuss the various allowances pertaining to DOPT is scheduled to be held under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (P) on 13th October, 2016 at 15.00 Hrs in Room No. 190, North Block, New Delhi

2. It is requested to kindly make it convenient to attend the meeting

DA from July 2016 will be 3% - NC JCM Secretary writes to Finance Secretary

Shiva Gopal Mishra

Secretary

Ph:23382286

National council (Staff Side)

Joint Consulative Machinery for Central Government Employees

13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi-110001

E-Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com

No.NC/JCM/2016

Dated: September 6, 2016

The Secretary(Expenditure),

Ministry of Finance,

(Government of India),

North Block, New Delhi-110 001

Dear Sir,

Sub: Future computation of Dearness Allowance and adoption base index figure to Revised Minimum Wage – Regarding

The revised pay structure, as recommended by the 7th CPC, was given effect as on 01.01.2016 as per the Government’s Notification. The Dearness Allowance, which was computed at 125% ( i.e 125.75 fraction of 0.75 being ignored), got merged with Pay as on that date. The 7th CPC has not indicated as to what base figure of AICPI(IW) the Revised Wages will relate to hereafter wards. As you are aware, the actual DA that was due as on 01.01.2016 was 125.75. It is only due to the practice of ignoring fraction; the DA was determined at 125%. No doubt, the said practice had not been impacting very much except for the postponement of the benefit by six months. It is, therefore, necessary that, Revised Wages are related to a base index figure equivalent to actual Dearness Allowance percentage of 125 that stands merged as on 01.01.2016. This is more so due to the fact that there is no possibility of the ignored fraction of 0.75 being reckoned for any computation in future.

We, therefore, request that, 12 monthly average, which stood at 261.33 as on 31.12.2015, may be taken at 260.46, which would provide the exact percentage of DA at 125. The future percentage increase in DA in other words may be computed with the base figure of 260.46. The next instalment of DA, which has become due as on 1.07.2016 if computed on the above basis of 260.46, shall work out to 3.28%. On ignoring the faction, the DA with effect from 01.07.2016 shall be 3%. We, request you to kindly take the above into account and issue orders for grant of 3% DA w.e.f. 01.07.2016.

Comradely yours,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Secretary (staff side)

NC/JCM & Convener

Central Government has a proposal to Pay 1% DA from July 2016 as an interim Measure

The Sources Close to the Ministry of finance informed that there is proposal to Pay 1% DA from July as an interim Measure.It is said that the Central Government has not yet decided about the DA rates in Revised Pay scale.

Sources close to Finance Ministry told that the initial installment of DA to central government employees on the revised pay structure w.e.f 1.7.2016 is under consideration. Mean time there is a proposal to pay the DA from July 2016 at the rate of 1% to all CG Staffs. It will be a shocking news for CG Staff, since they are already expecting 2 to 3% DA from July 2016.

PRU is asked to submit Financial Implication of 1% DA

But the fact is the Department of Expenditure has directed the PRU of the Finance Ministry to furnish the details of additional Financial Implications for 1% increase of DA with effect from 1.7.2016 on the revised Pay Structure.

Further the Pay Research Unit has been requested to furnish financial implications for the Period of July 2016 to February 2017 on account of granting 1% DA from July 2016 to all central government employees including Armed Forces and UT Employees.

According to the above information, it is believed that announcement of 1% DA for July installment may be made any time soon.

Cabinet approves Cadre Review of Group ‘A’ Executive Officers of Border Security Force

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Cadre Review of Group ‘A’ Executive officers of BSF with net creation of 74 posts of various ranks from Assistant Commandant to Additional DG ranks to enhance the operational and administrative capabilities of BSF.

Increase of existing structure of Group ‘A’ posts from 4109 to 4183 posts are as follows:

1. Increase of one post of Additional DG (HAG level).

2. Net increase of 19 posts of Inspector General (SAG level).

3. Net increase of 370 posts of DIG/Commandant/2 1C (JAG level).

4. Net increase of 14 posts of Assistant Commandant (JTS level).

5. Net reduction of 330 posts of Deputy Commandant (STS level).

Background:

The BSF is the largest border guarding force established in 1965. The present sanctioned strength of the Force is 2,57,025 having 186 Battalions (including 03 NDRF Battalions). Of these the Executive Group ‘A’ cadre has sanctioned strength of 4065 officers (4109 including the IPS quota). About 90% of the troops are deployed in Indo-Pakistan Border, Indo-Bangladesh Border (including North East) and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) States. The last cadre review of the service was done in 1990.

Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER, J&K and A&N on LTC extended

Relaxation extended for two more years, with effect from 26th September 2016.
For journey to Jammu and Kashmir, any airlines (including private operator) may be preferred, subject to LTC 80 fare of Air India.

"The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even No. dated 26.09.2014 on the subject noted above and to say that relaxation. of CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, to allow Government servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) is extended for a further period of two years w.e.f. 26th September, 2016 subject to the following conditions:
 (a) Travel by air to continue to be performed by Air India in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less. (b) For journey by air to Jammu & Kashmir, travel by any airline is allowed, however, the journey should be undertaken in Economy class at a fare less than or equal to LTC-80 fare of Air India. 

Read the full O.M. here

Govt. employees step up pressure for early settlement of 7th Pay Commission allowances

Despite the largesse it gave to its 48 lakh employees and 55 lakh pensioners, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.02 lakh crore with 23.55 per cent hike in pay and allowances, the 7th Pay Commission continues to be a source of an irritant for the Modi government as issues on allowances are not settled.

The Centre had set up a 'Committee on Allowances’ which met last Thursday under the chairmanship of Union Secretary, Finance (Expenditure) with representatives of the Central government unions.

At the very start of the meeting, representatives of the unions expressed their anguish for 'non-formation of High Level Committee’. According to them it was agreed to in July by the Group of Ministers (Government of India) for settling the issue of Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor. The unions want the 'minimum wage’ for Central employees to be fixed at Rs. 26,000 as opposed to Rs. 18,000 recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

“The Secretary, Finance (Expenditure) told that, the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Addl. Secretary (Exp.) with J.S. (Pers.), JS (Estt.) and JS(Imp.) as Members has been made only for this purpose. Let us believe that, after the meeting, report of the said committee would be sent to the Government of India for its acceptance’’, Mr. Mishra, secretary (Staff Side) of the National Council/Joint Consultative Machinery, noted.

At the meeting, the unions made a strong case for implementation of the allowances to be decided by the Committee from January 1, 2016.

Besides, they wanted that House Rent Allowance be fixed at range 10 to 30 per cent of the basic linked to the classification of the town of posting, children education allowance of Rs. 3,000 and hostel subsidy of Rs.10,000. All these allowances should be tax exempt.

Staff Side demanded inclusion of post-graduate and professional courses in children education allowance. The issue of special duty allowance was also raised for Northeastern region.

Their wishlist extended to 'Fixed Medical Allowance’ of Rs. 2,000 with Dearness Allowance Indexation, review of overtime allowance, small family allowance and dress allowance.

“Various Departmental Allowances, which have been abolished, should be allowed to continue, like Breakdown Allowance in the Railways and Fixed Conveyance Allowance to Postal Department employees”, Mr. Mishra noted.

Separately, M. Ragaviah, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen-NFIR (an affiliate of Congress trade union INTUC) said, “While there has been no commitment from the Chairman and Official Side of the Committee, the Finance Secretary however stated that further meetings will be held and in the meantime the JCM (Staff Side) may list out common issues and send the same to the Joint Secretary (Imp) and equally Departmental specified issues be sent through the respective Administrative Ministries for examination”.

Calculation begins for DA wef 01 Jan 2017

Expected DA of 2  % from Jan 2017 

DA Calculation Sheet

Since 7th Pay Commission  (New Formula)
Month	All India Index	% of Increase
Jan-16	269	0.48
Feb-16	267	0.93
Mar-16	268	1.38
Apr-16	271	1.86
May-16	275	2.40
Jun-16	277	2.91
Jul-16	280	3.45
Aug-16	278	3.90
Sep-16	277	4.25
Oct-16	278	4.53
Nov-16	277	4.76
Dec-16	275	4.95

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW)-December, 2016

The All-India CPI-IW for December, 2016 decreased by 2 points and stood 275 (two hundred and seventy five). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by (-) 0.72 per cent November and December, 2016 when compared with the decease of (-) 0.37 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – October, 2016

All India Consumer Price Index Numbers for the month of Sep, 2016 released.

The Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers Base Year 2001=100 for the month of September 2016 has been released by the Labour Bureau today through its official web portal. The index decreased by one point and stands at 277.

The All-India CPI-IW for July, 2016 increased by 3 points and pegged at 280 (two hundred and eighty). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 1.08 per cent between June, 2016 and July, 2016 when compared with the increase of (+) 0.77 per cent between the some two months a year ago.