Postal services - outside India

Postal Window Clerk was suspended for failing to assist the Customer

Sharon Young, a Sales and Service Associate at the Norristown Post Office, has been issued a Letter of Suspension following an incident with a customer who complained that Ms. Young did not assist her with filling out more than 100 customs forms for parcels the customer was mailing to Japan.
All Sales and Service Associates have received training instructions from postal management not to fill out forms for customers, and to provide the forms to the customers and ask them to step back to the front of the line when the forms are completed. The training instructions concerning international customs forms stem from regulations posted in the International Mail Manual. However, the Norristown Post Office management decided to skip over several levels of discipline and contradict Postal Handbooks and Manuals in an effort to “keep the customer happy.” The Tri County First Area Local Chief Steward for Norristown is assisting Ms. Young with grievances regarding the suspension and accompanying harassment.

Source-net

Postage Stamps in India

Postage Stamps in India

In India, stamps were first introduced in Calcutta Post Office in January 1774, when Warren Hastings allowed carnage of mail of private individuals on payment of fee through the East India Company's postal network. Small copper tickets or tokens valued at Annas 2 (1/8th of a Rupee) were generally the medium for payment of postage. Single letters up to 2-1/2 tolas (29gms) weight were charged at the rate of Annas 2 for every 100 miles (160kms). These copper tickets were reported to have been withdrawn by the Government on 14 September, 1784. Sir Rowland Hill (1795-1879) introduced the Penny Postage stamps in England on 6 May, 1840. The first postage stamps issued in India were in 1852 in the Province of Sind under the Bombay Presidency. Sir Bartle Frere, then Chief Commissioner of Sind, was asked by the Bombay Government to undertake the upkeep of the postal services of the province and also to popularise it among the public. He was a great admirer of Sir Rowland Hill and his Penny Postage Scheme. With the help of Edward Lees Coffery, then Postmaster of Karachi, Sir Bartle issued the first postage stamps on 1 July, 1852. They were embossed pieces of paper with a circular design in red, white or blue, `Scinde Dawks', as they were known, were of the denomination of 1/2 Anna. The number of stamps per sheet was probably 64, 8 rows of 8 stamps. However, the exact number is not known. They were used in the Province of Sind as well as on the Karachi-Bombay route. Though these, embossed stamps were recalled in September 1854, but the order was not apparently carried out till June 1866.
After 13 years of the use of postage stamps in England, the Government decided to extend their use in India. In 1853, the first design was prepared in the Mint at Calcutta and the stamps were struck under the guidance and supervision of Captain (later on General) Sir Henry Thuillier, then Deputy Surveyor General of India at Calcutta. The stamps were issued in July 1854. The printing of stamps in the Calcutta Mint ceased in November 1855. Thereafter they were printed at London by Thomas De La Rue & Company. The India Security Press was set up at Nasik in Maharashtra State in 1925 and the postage stamps have been printed at Nasik since then. The stamps are today printed by photogravure process. The stamps of the British period generally carry the effigy of the regnant King or Queen. India was the first country in the Commonwealth to issue airmail stamps. In 1929, a set of six airmail stamps was issued showing a De Havilland aircraft along with the King's portrait. The inaugurations of the new capital city of New Delhi, Silver Jubilee of the reign of King George V, victory in the Second World War were commemorated with the issue of pictorial stamps. India attained independence on 15 August, 1947. Thereafter Indian P&T Department embarked on a broad based policy relating to the issue of stamps. The first stamp, after Independence, was issued on 21 November, 1947 in the denomination of 3-1/2 Annas, depicting the National Flag. Since then, India has been issuing definitive as well as commemorative stamps. Six definitive series on themes relevant to the country's heritage and progress in various fields have been brought out. The Seventh Definitive Series on the theme of "Science and Technology" has commenced from 1986. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru occupy place of pride on Indian stamps. The first set of 4 stamps paying homage to the Mahatma was issued on 15 August, 1948 and were printed by the Swiss firm, Heliss Courvoisier S.A. Commemorative stamps have been issued in honour of the Presidents of India, Prime Ministers, eminent Indian from the annals of India's stuggle for freedom as well as from the fields of literature, art, culture, education, etc. Many foreigners of international eminence have also been honoured through Indian stamps.
Special stamps highlighting India's cultural heritage, fauna and flora and various other aspects of national life have been issued from time to time. India postage stamps, during more than a century-old history, have carved a secure niche for themselves in the world of philately.

Ancient and Modern Postal System in India

Past and present Postal systems in India

COMMUNICATION HAS always been an integral part of human life. Humans have always tried to use different means and ways to send and receive messages. In this process, postal services have played a significant role. However, with the advent of new technology it is losing its relevance day by day. Ninth of October was observed as the World Post Day. India’s postal network is the largest in the world and with the changing requirements, it is changing its services. This invites us to look at how magnificently our postal system has evolved.

The first ever mention of the messaging service dates back to the ancient times. The Atharva Veda contains an elaborate description of the messaging services. Even Ramayana and Mahabharata, the greatest epics, state about the messaging services. During those days, the Kings used to organise Aswamedha Yagnas in their palace. After the completion of the Yagna, the King used to send a horse to different territories that carried the messages of the king’s might and heroism.

With the passage of time, the methods adopted to send and receive massages changed. The Mauryan kings Chandragupta and Ashoka used a bizarre postal service. It was bizarre because the kings used pigeons as their message carriers. They trained the pigeons by making them familiar with different routes. Some kings even made use of the “Dak Harkaras”, the men who travel on their foot from one place to another. Their sole objective was ‘service to king’ before ‘service to self’. The Mughal emperors and the later rulers used the existing services.

Initially, the East India Company used widespread services. Later, when the Company felt the necessity to strengthen their rule over the Indian region, they introduced their own postal service. It came to known as ‘Company Dawk’ (Dawk as British pronounced Dak). This postal service helped them to spread their trade centres and military forces. In the year 1688, Company established its first post office. This marked a flight for the Indian postal service. In 1774, Warren Hastings, governor general to Bengal reorganised the services and established regular post. He also opened the postal services to public that was earlier available only to the Company employees and their relatives. This also marked the introduction of Metal tokens to pay for the postage revenue.
In 1835, British government set up a committee for the purpose of unification of the customs and postal systems of all the presidencies. This committee gave the Indian Post Office Act of 1837, the first act in context with the Indian postal services. The recommendations by the committee included uniform rates, postal routes and designing of postmarks.
The first adhesive postage stamp of India was a result of a commission in 1850. ‘Scinde Dawk’, was the first stamp of India and Asia also. Initially it was used in the Sindh province. These stamps were in three-coloured inks - white, red and blue.
With the passage of time rail mail services and sea mail services were introduced from Great Britain and China. In 1911, India was the first country to send airmail. A French pilot Henri Pequet flew with 6500 pieces of mail in a Sommer biplane from Allahabad to Naini covering a total distance of six miles.
Today, Indian postal network is the largest in the world. It also holds the world’s highest post office. Postal code area 112114 in Sikkim is at 15,500 feet above the ground level. However, the postal service is losing its relevance with the increase in usage of e-mail and short message services (SMS). Letters hold their own significance as they can be kept as a record for years. As of today, some of the oldest letters are worth crores and are a proof of history.

Disclosure of File noting under RTI Act,2005

File Noting can be disclosed under R T I act,2005
if not otherwise exempt from disclosure

No.1/20/2009-IR
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi
Dated: the 23rd June, 2009

The undersigned is directed to say that various Ministries/Departments etc.have been seeking clarification about disclosure of file noting under the Right to Information Act, 2005. It is hereby clarified that file noting can be disclosed except file noting containing information exempt from disclosure under section 8 of the Act.

2. It may be brought to notice to all concerned.

(sd) K.G. Verma
Director

Stamps and Post card on Lord Shri Jagannath temple

The Department of Posts (DoP) released a set of four special postage stamps on Temple Architecture on 15th September, 2003. These stamps on Vishal Badri Temple – Badrinath, Malikarjunaswamy Temple – Srisailam, Tripureswari Temple – Udaipur (Tripura) and Jagannath Temple – Puri are in the denomination of Rs.5/- each.

India Old Postcard Jagannath / Jagaunath Temple at Puri
Vintage Colour British Indian Picture Postcard, Jagannath / Jagaunath Hindu Temple at Puri. Lots of People gathering.
Series No: 774Faults: Lines on backBackground: The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath (Krishna), in the coastal town of Puri, state of Orissa, India
Price:
£2.99
€4.19
US$5.68

Do U Know? World's oldest Post Office

The World's Oldest Post Office

Sanquhar, circa 1967, including the Tollbooth, built in 1735.

THE TOWN of Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire is like many small towns dotted around Scotland. It is old - in this case dating back to the 8th century - and is long past its heyday. It has a wealth of history, including a striking castle ruin, and lies amid exquisite scenery. A quiet and unremarkable little place nowadays, its glory lies in the past.
Unremarkable, that is, unless you take the time to explore. Try looking beyond Sanquhar's pretty town centre with its shops, tearoom and cash machines to a building on the town's High Street. It can boast something truly remarkable. For if you send a postcard from Sanquhar Post Office you will have sent it from the oldest post office in the world.It is one of those little-known facts that makes you stop and wonder - why here? Of all the millions of post offices in towns and villages throughout the world, why is the oldest in a quiet picturesque town nestling in Scotland's Nith Valley? There is no true answer, it wasn’t planned and like so many odd facts and figures, just happened that way. It does, however, owe its existence to a long-gone society, in which the local aristocracy held enormous influence and the strategic location of towns like Sanquhar (pronounced SANK-er) was a matter of great importance.Sanquhar people are proud of their town's history. The post office has been operating continuously since 1712, eight years longer than its closest rival, in the Swedish capital Stockholm. The third oldest, in Santiago, Chile, opened a full 60 years after the office in Sanquhar.The Sanquhar post office had long been accepted as the oldest in Britain and was thought to date from 1763, but research carried out around 15 years ago by postal historian James Mackay revealed it has been operating since 1712 - making it the oldest in the world.Ken Thompson, who has owned and operated the post office for the last 16 years, says: "We are looking at a different history, a different perspective on life, one that does not exist today."At the time the post office started, the Crowns of England and Scotland had not long been united. There was considerable activity in the border areas of both lands and one of the most important and influential families of the day was the Crichton family, who owned Sanquhar Castle.In 1712 a service known as the Nithsdale cross-post was established with mail-runners on horseback delivering messages among the landed gentry on both sides of the Scottish-English border. According to Thomson, it was effectively a "spy network", and where better for its hub to be located than in Sanquhar, home of the influential Crichtons and handily placed between the larger towns of Dumfries and Cumnock."It was the earliest form of post and it was confined to the aristocracy," says Thompson. "This house was originally a place where coaches halted and fresh horses were available and it was set up to receive mail. It belonged to the Crichton family and was nothing like we imagine a post office today. Nor was it the first of its kind but it’s the oldest one to have survived. We have stayed the course, we have been here from the beginning."

The Crichtons fell out of favour in the late 18th century and the dominant landowners in the area became the Buccleuch family of Thornhill. By that time, however, a postal service was becoming an established part of life and, as Thompson says: "No-one paid much notice to this building but as one of its lives as a post office was waning and dying, its other life as a post office was growing."When Scotland's national bard Robert Burns was alive in the latter part of the 18th century he was great friends with the owner of Sanquhar post office, and the fireplace in the living room of the building was constructed from elm trees grown by Burns at his farm at Ellisland Farm, near Dumfries.Sanquhar post office's historical importance is recognised by the Royal Mail. Thompson is the only postmaster in Britain allowed to stamp a date when a letter is posted or a card sent. The frank reads "Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire 1712".

World Post Offices- some amazing facts

World’s Smallest Post Office

The World's Smallest Postal Service (WSPS) is a teeny tiny transcription service and roaming post office based in the San Francisco Bay Area and also available online.
Lea Redmond is the Postmaster, setting up her tiny mobile office in cafes and shops where passers-by can write a letter and have it turned into a "world's smallest letter." The letter is transcribed on a miniature desk in the tiniest of script, sealed with a miniscule wax seal with the sender's initial pressed into it, packaged up with a magnifying glass in a glassine envelope, and finished off with a large wax seal (see above). It is a double delight: for both the sender and the recipient, and the WSPS is very happy to provide this important service to the world.

World's first underwater Post Office

Scallop mail ... divers make use of the the world's first underwater post office off the coast of Hideaway Island in Vanuatu on Monday. Photo: AFP
Vanuatu has unveiled what it claims to be the world's first underwater post office, providing jobs for four dive-accredited postal workers operating in shifts.
But it isn't as silly as you might think - provided you buy special waterproof postcards available from shops on terra firma in Port Vila.
Then you scuba dive three metres down to have your postcards embossed with a waterproof stamp, specially created by Vanuatu Post to celebrate the 83-island archipelago's status as a marine paradise.
The fibreglass post office is surrounded by beds of coral and shoals of multicoloured fish in a marine sanctuary off Hideaway Island on the oustkirts of Port Vila.
It is all aimed at drawing attention to the diversity of Vanuatu's underwater world, and easily accessible dive sites.
"The landscape beneath the waters mirrors that found above: mountainous terrain with plunging cliffs, grottoes and overhangs, huge caves and intricate interconnecting underwater tunnels formed by frozen lava - and life abundant over all," Vanuatu Tourism says.
"Sea fans, soft corals and acropora gardens, plate corals and sponges and thousands of curious fish are there for all to see.
"Then there are wrecks! Planes, an old square rigger sailing ship, a destroyer and of course the mightiest shipwreck in the world, the SS President Coolidge. Come with us on a voyage of discovery as you explore the world below Vanuatu's seas."

World’s Highest Post Office

The Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai may no longer be the tallest building in mainland China but it can still boast having the highest post office in the world. It lost its vertical status to the 101-storey Shanghai World Financial Center which was completed last year. Jin Mao, completed in 1998 and 1,381 feet tall, is an integral part of the ever changing Shanghai skyline. It is located in Pudong across the Huangpu River from the Bund and next door to the World Financial Center. The building houses offices and the swanky Shanghai Grand Hyatt Hotel on floors 53-87, which lays claim to the world’s longest laundry chute. An indoor observation deck is located on the 88th floor. It’s no coincidence that eight is an auspicious number in China. It’s well worth a visit to the observation deck which has sweeping, panoramic views of Shanghai. A good time to go is early morning before smog shrouds the city or at dusk, when you can stay until dark, write and mail those postcards you’ve been meaning to send and watch the city light up.
It’s open 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and costs RMB 50, about $6. To get there take the metro to the Lujiazui stop.

World Post- facts all should know

Postal services employ close to 5.5 million people,
making the Post one of the largest employers in the world.

• The industrialized countries employ almost half of all postal employees.
• The United States of America, with 803,000 employees,
and China, with 688,000, have the largest numbers of
postal employees in the world.
• Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands have only
four and six postal employees respectively.
• The average number of people served per employee
is 338 in the industrialized countries and 1,960 in the developing countries.

More than 665,000 permanent post offices worldwide
make the Post one of the most extensive networks on the planet.

• The Asia/Pacific region heads the list with 46.8%
of the world’s permanent post offices. 26% are located in
the industrialized countries, close to 17% in Eastern and
Central Europe and the CIS, 5.6% in Latin America and
the Caribbean, 2.6% in the Arab countries and just over
2% in Africa.
• Globally, India has the largest number of permanent
offices (155,516),

while Ascension Island and Norfolk Island have only one each.

POSTAL DEPARTMENTAL COUNCIL-JCM items

Please log on to the following link to know details about the Departmental Anamoly Committee and items taken up thereof.
http://www.4shared.com/file/112876910/f579ae8b/JCM.html

ACP- News

Latest news on ACP

The views of various unions are being examined by the Directorate.Detailed order and clear instructions will be issued shortly.Anamolies are under scrutiny. As soon they are completed the committee will meet.

source-FNPO

Some tips to save Income Tax

How to save Taxes this year?

Some of the Sections of Income Tax Act, 1961 are detailed below which detail few exemptions and categories of exempt income that you can take advantage of:
Section 80C: Investment in specified instruments and expensesSection 80C gives every income tax payer up to a maximum of Rs. 1,00,000 tax free income in a year if they invest in or buy the following instruments. Please not that this is a combined total of Rs. 1,00,000 and not an individual figure for every instrument:
1. Premium for Life Insurance or ULIP
2. Provident Fund (PF) contribution
3. Public Provident Fund (PPF) - only up to Rs. 70,000 in a year
4. Repayment of home loan principal
5. Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) of Mutual Fund Companies
6. Infrastructure Bonds
7. National Savings Certificates (NSC)
8. Tax Saving Fixed Deposits with Banks
9. Tuition Fees of children

Notes:1: ULIP premium needs to be at least 1/5th of the sum assured to qualify under Section 80C2: PPF returns are set by the Government of India and can be revised either upwards or downwards in any year.
Section 80D: Health Insurance PremiumYou can take advantage of an annual deduction of Rs. 15,000 from taxable income for payment of Health Insurance premium for self and dependants. For senior citizens, this deduction is Rs. 20,000.
Section 80E: Interest paid on educational loans
You can claim a deduction on the interest paid on loans taken for higher education for yourself, your spouse and children. There is no limit on the amount of deduction you can claim. The only thing to keep in mind is that the program for which the loan is taken should be a graduate or post-graduate program in engineering, medicine or management or a post-graduate course in the pure or applied sciences.
Section 80G: Donations to Charitable institutions
You can claim a deduction for any donation that you might have made to a charitable fund or institution. However, please note that these donations should be made only to specified institutions. And a proper proof of payment must be provided for the same. Based on the classification of the charity , you can claim either 100% or 50% of the donated amount as deduction. The deduction might also be subject to a certain limit again based on the type of charity that you are donating money
Section 24: Interest paid on housing loan
Under Section 24, a maximum of Rs 1,50,000 can be deducted from your taxable income as interest repayment for a self occupied house. Please note that this deduction is not available if you the house is still under construction and you do not have occupation of the house.
Provisions that you should take advantage of if you are a salaried employee:
Section 10(13A) : House Rent Allowance
You can take advantage of the provisions under this section if you are renting an accommodation. These provisions will not be available to you if you stay in a rent-free accommodation or live with your family or in your own house.Under Section 10(13A), HRA is exempt to the least of the following: i) 50/40 per cent of basic salary= Dearness Allowance (if, applicable), ii) excess of rent paid over 10 per cent of basic salary; and iii) actual HRA received. Lets illustrate this calculation with an example:
Assumptions
HRA per month = Rs 15,000Basic monthly salary = Rs 30,000Monthly rent = Rs 14,000Rental accommodation is in Delhi.
Exemption
The HRA exemption would be the least of the following:
1. Actual amount of HRA: Rs 15,0002. 50% of salary (basic component + dearness allowance) = 50% x (30,000 + 0) = Rs 15,0003. Actual rent paid - 10% of salary (basic component + dearness allowance)= Rs 14,000 - [10% of (30,000 + 0)] = 14,000 – 3,000 = Rs 11,000Rs 11,000 being the least of the three amounts will be the exemption from HRA. The balance HRA of Rs 4,000 (15,000-11,000) would be taxable.Please note that HRA exemptions are only available on submission of rent receipts or the rent agreement.
Paying Rent to parents or relatives

If you want to pay rent to your parents or any relatives (like uncle/cousin) whom you are staying with. You will need to treat them as landlords. And request the owner of the house (which will be one of your parents) to declare it in his/ her personal income tax return. This will prevent any litigation in the future.
Section 10 (14) Rule 2BB(10) : Transport AllowanceTransport allowance granted for commuting between your residence and place of work is exempt up to Rs. 800 a month. You can take advantage of this provision to get a tax exemption of Rs 9600 annually by providing your employer with bills or a self declaration.
Section 17(2) : Medical Reimbursement

You can claim exemption up to Rs 15,000 annually on actual expenditure incurred on your medical treatment or for treatment of any of your dependants. Moreover, there is no restriction of approved hospitals or clinic for the same. This is exempt only on provision of actual bills.However, if the amount is paid out as an allowance not a reimbursement then it would be fully taxable.

December-2000 strike period to be regularised

Circle office Bhubaneswar has issued orders for regularisation of Strike period (December 5th 2000 to December 17/18th 2000) by grant of due/admissible leave.

Calculation of Income Tax for F.Y 2008-09(A.Y 2009-10)

How to calculate Income Tax for 2008-09(2009-10)?

What are the income tax slabs?

Calculating income taxes is very easy. All you need to know is which tax slab will be applicable to you. But, before we get to tax slabs, lets understand in 3 quick steps how to calculate taxes.

Step 1: Identify and tabulate all sources of income – salary, business income, interest, rental, capital gains

Step 2: Identify which deductions and tax savings are applicable to you – 80C deductions, interest repayment

Step 3: Apply the relevant tax slab depending upon your sex and age, after taking the deductions and savingsIn addition to the tax payable on income, you will also have to pay a Surcharge (if your income exceeds Rs.10 lakhs in case of individuals) and an Education Cess levied by the Government on all tax payers. If you are a salaried employee, chances are that your employer has already deducted these in your monthly pay. The tax slab will help you identify how much of your income will be available to you tax free and thereafter what tax rate will be charged to the remaining income. If you are a woman or a senior citizen, you will be entitled to a larger tax-free amount. The following tables will help you identify which tax slabs are relevant for you:
Resident Individual below 65 years of age or HUF (tax free income up to the first Rs.1.50 lakhs)
Resident Woman below 65 years of age (tax free income up to the first Rs.1.80 lakhs)
Resident Senior Citizens – 65 years of age or above (tax free income up to the first Rs.2.25 lakhs)
As shown below, after the initial tax-free amount, different slabs of your income will be charged at different rates.
For Resident Individual below 65 years of age or HUF
Net Income Range Income Tax Plus Surcharge Plus Education Cess
Up to Rs.1,50,000 Nil Nil Nil
Rs.1,50,001 to Rs.3,00,000 10% of income above Rs.1,50,000 Nil 3% of income tax
Rs.3,00,001 to Rs.5,00,000 Rs.15,000 + 20% of income above Rs.3,00,000 Nil 3% of I.T Rs.5,00,001 to Rs.10,00,000 Rs.55,000 + 30% of income above Rs.5,00,000 Nil 3% of I tax
Above Rs. 10,00,000 Rs.2,05,000 + 30%

of income above Rs.10,00,000 10% of IT 3% of IT and SC

For Resident Women below 65 years of age
Net Income Range Income Tax Plus Surcharge Plus Education Cess
Up to Rs.1,80,000 Nil Nil Nil
Rs.1,80,001 to Rs.3,00,000 10% of the income above Rs.1,80,000 Nil 3% of income tax
Rs.3,00,001 to Rs.5,00,000 Rs.12,000 + 20% of

the income above Rs.3,00,000 Nil 3% of IT
Rs.5,00,001 to Rs.10,00,000 Rs.52,000 + 30% of

the income above Rs.5,00,000 Nil 3% of income tax
Above Rs.10,00,000 Rs.2,02,000 + 30% of

the income above Rs.10,00,000 10% of IT 3% of IT and SC

For Resident Senior Citizens ( 65 years of age and above, including those who turn 65 at any time during the Financial Year 2008-09)
Net Income Range Income Tax Plus Surcharge Plus EC
Up to Rs.2,25,000 Nil Nil Nil
Rs.2,25,001 to Rs.3,00,000 10% of the income above Rs.2,25,000 Nil 3% of income tax
Rs.3,00,001 to Rs.5,00,000 Rs.7,500 + 20% of

the income above Rs.3,00,000 nil 3% of income tax
Rs.5,00,001 to Rs.10,00,000 Rs.47,500 + 30% of

the income above Rs.5,00,000 Nil 3% of income tax
Above Rs.10,00,000 Rs.2,05,000 + 30% of

the income above Rs.10,00,000 10% of IT 3% of IT and SC
Do one need to file a tax return?
You will need to file an annual tax return if you fall into one of the following categories:
1. If you are an individual whose annual income, before tax deductions, is above any of the following cases
Rs.150,000 for all resident Indians, other than the two cases mentioned below
Rs.180,000 for resident women
Rs.225,000 for resident senior citizens
2.If you need to file for a tax refund for tax deducted at source
3.If you get a notice from the Income Tax Department for return of income
4.If you want to claim carry forward losses from the current year in future years

Proposal of New health scheme for employees/pensioners

Central Government Employees & Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (CGEPHIS).

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India invites Expressions of Interest from Insurers and Health Insurance consultants for the proposed scheme.
BACKGROUND
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a scheme for providing health care to serving Central Government employees and their dependant family members. Over the years, the scheme has been extended to cover central government pensioners, their dependant family members and certain other categories like members of parliament and ex-members of parliament, freedom fighters etc. Employees of some select autonomous bodies as also PIB accredited journalists have also been extended CGHS facilities on cost-to-cost basis in Delhi.
Central Government Health Scheme is available in 25 cities [Delhi (including Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad), Ahemdabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Meerut, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Ranchi, Shillong and Thiruvanthapuram]. Central Government Employees living outside the CGHS areas are entitled to reimbursement for medical attendance and treatment under the Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules [CS(MA) Rules]. Pensioners of the Central Government are not covered under these rules. At present, Central Government Pensioners living in non-CGHS areas are paid a sum of Rs. 100 p.m. for meeting their medical expenditure. Consequently, there has been a long standing demand from Central Govt. pensioners residing in non CGHS areas for medical services at par with those available to Central Govt. pensioners in CGHS areas. The VIth Pay Commission has recommended the introduction of a health insurance scheme in lieu of the CGHS.
Government of India, therefore, proposes to provide inpatient health care services to their all personnel of the Central Government including All India Service officers, serving and retired, and others who are covered under the existing CGHS (Central Government Health Services) and under CS (MA) Rules [Central services (Medical attendance) Rules] through a Health Insurance Scheme catering to their health care requirements. The proposed scheme shall be on voluntary basis for current set of employees & pensioners but compulsory for future employees & pensioners. The existing CGHS beneficiaries will have an option to avail CGHS facilities for OPD requirements and the insurance scheme for inpatient treatment.
With the introduction of health insurance scheme, the Central Government Employee (existing/ retired) will have the choice to select the best available health facilities for meeting their health care and can get best available treatment in areas in the close proximity.

NAME OF THE SCHEME
The name of the proposed scheme is Central Government Employees & Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (CGEPHIS).

BENEFICIARIES
All personnel of the Central Government including All India Service officers, serving, newly recruited, retired and retiring and others who are covered under the existing CGHS(Central Government Health Services) and under CS (MA) [Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules] Rules shall be offered Health Insurance Scheme on voluntary or on compulsorily basis . This could be:
CGEPHIS shall be compulsory to new Central Government Employees who would be joining service after the introduction of the health Insurance Scheme.
CGEPHIS shall be compulsory to new Central Government retirees who would be retiring from the service after the introduction of the Insurance Scheme.
CGEPHIS would be available on voluntary basis for the existing Central Government Employees and pensioners serving in CGHS area/ covered by CGHS. In this case such serving Central Government Employees and Central Government existing Pensioners shall have to opt out of CGHS scheme. They will also have the option of choosing both CGHS and Insurance policy. In such case the total premium has to be born by the beneficiary.
CGEPHIS would also be available on voluntary basis for the existing serving employees and pensioners in non-CGHS areas not covered by CGHS. In this case such serving Central Government Employees and existing Pensioners (who have opted for CGHS facility) shall have to opt out of CGHS scheme. They will also have the option of choosing both CGHS and Insurance policy. In such case the total premium has to be born by the beneficiary.

STRUCTURE OF CGEPHIS
Sums Insured / Policy Limits
The scheme shall provide coverage for meeting all expenses relating to hospitalization of beneficiary members up to Rs. 500,000/- per family per year subject to stated limits on cashless basis through smart cards. The benefit shall be available to each and every member of the family on floater basis i.e. the total reimbursement of Rs. 5 .00 lac can be availed by one individual or all members of the family. The sub-limits mentioned herein form part of the overall annual, family limit.

Calculator for Arrear pay to Gr-D(Multi Skilled Employee)

Consequent on switching over to grade pay Rs1800/-, the Gr-D employees are entitled to get Arrear pay from 01-01-2006.

A calculator for easy calculation is avilable at:
http://www.4shared.com/file/111514115/233f3fd4/Gr-D-revised_Pay.html

Some misconceptions on filing Tax

Top 10 Misconceptions about Taxes

Do I need to file my tax returns? How do I file them?
Misconception 1:
My employer has deducted tax at source from my paycheck and thus I don't have to worry about filing tax returns. Just because taxes have been paid on your behalf does not mean that filing a tax return is not required. If your combined annual income from all sources is above the amount that is exempt from income tax you are required to file your returns. Your employer gives to you a statement called Form 16 at the end of the financial year that shows the amount of tax that has been deducted at source. You will need to put the tax deduction amount shown on the Form 16 on your tax return form. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you obtain this statement from your employer on time.
Misconception 2:
Filing tax returns is a complex and cumbersome process. I need a Chartered Accountant to help me file my tax returns. Contrary to popular belief preparing and filing a tax return is actually quite simple. In fact if you have a digital signature you can accomplish the entire process sitting at home on your computer thanks to the e-filing facility available on the tax department website (www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in). Alternatively, you can submit the returns online, print a one-page receipt, sign it and drop it off at the income tax office within fifteen days of submitting the returns. No documents are required to be submitted with the receipt. If you so desire, you can fill out the forms on your own. However, if you want professional help there are many third party service providers who offer tax preparation and filing services for as low as Rs.200.
Housing and tax
Misconception 3:
The interest I pay on a home loan is deductible from my income from house property up to a maximum of Rs. 1,50,000 per year. This is true if you have taken a home loan for a single house and it is self-occupied. However, if you take a home loan on a second house, the entire interest paid on the loan can be claimed as a deduction from your income on house property. If you are planning to invest in real estate with the expectation that the property would appreciate in value over time, you could take advantage of the above rule. Thus a smart investment strategy would be to take a home loan on a second house, rent out the house and claim interest paid on the loan as a deduction from the rental income, thereby reducing your borrowing costs significantly.
Misconception 4:
I receive tax exemption on the actual rent I pay for my rented home. This is not entirely accurate. Section 13 A of the Income Tax Act states that the maximum amount that is exempt from tax is the lower of the following amounts: (i) the House Rent Allowance given by the employer, (ii) 50% of your basic salary if you live in a metro, (iii) or, actual rent paid minus 10% of your basic salary. Thus if actual rent paid is lower than 10% of your basic salary you receive no exemption. The other key point is that you cannot claim any exemption under this section if you live in your own home or if you are not paying rent to anyone.
Section 80
Misconception 5:
Section 80C benefits are available only on making an investment or saving or paying a premium on insurance. You can claim a deduction for the school or university tuition fees you pay for your children (maximum of two) as long as they are enrolled in a full time program at any institute in India. In addition you can claim a deduction for the repayment of principal on any home loan that you may have taken. Both these deductions have to of course be within the overall annual Section 80C cap of Rs.1lakh.
Misconception 6:
If I avail of tax free medical reimbursement from my employer up to Rs.15,000, I cannot claim deduction on health insurance premium paid. Tax free medical reimbursement by your employer up to an amount of Rs.15,000 per year for your family’s medical expenditure is separate from the Rs.15,000 deduction available under Section 80D for the premium you pay on buying health insurance. Both these exemptions are covered under different sections of the Income Tax Act and you can enjoy benefits from both. The former covers costs for your daily medical needs and outpatient treatment (OPD), while the latter protects you from expenditure for hospitalization.
Misconception 7:
My friends tell me that the only interest payment I can claim an exemption for is the interest paid on home loans. There is a section of the Income Tax Act called 80E that permits deduction on interest paid on loans taken for higher education for self, spouse and children. There is no limit on the amount of deduction you can claim. The only thing to keep in mind is that the program for which the loan is taken should be a graduate or post-graduate program in engineering, medicine or management or a post-graduate course in the pure or applied sciences.

Interest income and others
Misconception 8:
Interest I earn on my savings account balance is exempt from income tax.After the removal of Section 80L of the Income Tax Act, interest income from any source including savings account balance, is subject to income tax. What you may be referring to is the rule around tax deducted at source for the interest payments you receive on your savings account. As per existing rules, as long as the combined interest income that you earn, on any savings accounts or fixed deposits, at a single bank branch, is less than Rs.10,000 there will be no tax deducted at source. If you want to better manage your cash flow and do not want tax to be deducted at source you could consider spreading your deposits across multiple bank branches, even if they are of the same banking company.
Misconception 9:
I have to pay taxes on interest received from my fixed deposits only on maturity. Your tax liability on interest income from your fixed deposit is calculated on an accrual basis. Let’s say that you have made a fixed deposit for three years and have elected not to receive any regular interest payouts and instead have decided to receive a lump sum payout on maturity after three years. That does not mean that you are not liable to pay income tax annually on the interest that is credited to your fixed deposit account every year, even though you do not have access to that interest income.
Misconception 10:
I received cash as a gift from a close friend. I do not have to pay any tax. You are right as long as the amount was less than Rs.50,000 during the financial year. The applicable rules for gift tax state that any cash gifts, without any upper limit, received from specified relatives are exempt from income tax. However, if you receive a cash gift from a friend, which exceeds Rs.50,000 in one financial year, you are liable to pay income tax on the entire amount. However, the good news is that cash gifts received during your marriage, of any amount, and from anyone are totally free from income tax.

(source -itax)

First Customised Postal Stationery in India

India’s first ever customized postal envelope to commemorate

NIIT’s World Computer Literacy Day was released on 2.12.2001,

by

Union IT and Communications Minister Mr. Pramod Mahajan.

The size of envelope is 191x125 mm.This is a "Postage Pre Paid" envelope.

Customised Postal Stationery

India Post offers 10 different sizes of customized envelopes, in three varieties of the paper viz. 80, 90, and 100 GSM for corporate clients. The client can choose the amount of postage prepaid as per their requirements. (Rs. 5 for inland letter rate, Rs. 15 for overseas airmail letter rate, Rs. 22 for inland registered letter) The envelopes are available in sizes 140 x 90, 152 x 90, 162 x 114, 180 x 135, 176 x 125, 220 x 110, 240 x 120, 229 x 162, 230 x 160 mm and A4. The advantage of customized postal stationery envelope is the client gets the prestige linked to having its own customized stamp on the mail, which gets instant branding, it saves time as it has no need to frank the mail. This is an innovative way to reach the masses through day-to-day activities and without substantial cost.
These customized postal stationery envelopes are also printed at M/s Calcutta Security Printers Ltd., Kanpur and Madras Security Printers, Chennai. Special code numbers are being printed on the backside of the envelope. e.g. 4CEVC0001. Here the first numeral is the serial number of the customized envelope, followed by two letters "CE" for customized envelope and two initials for the identification of the corporate client for which the envelope has been printed. Last digits stands for the individual unique number of that envelope. Each envelope bears a unique number, which falls with in the code numbers.
These customized postal stationery envelopes can only be mailed from the designated post office and can be used by the client for the period of one year from the date or month of release.

Do U know? Asia Pacific Postal Union(APPU)

Asia Pacific Postal Union (APPU)

Brief History
The idea of a restricted union in this part of the world came up first in the late 1950s. In order to give a concrete shape to the idea, in August 1960, after informal discussions, the Philippine government sent through diplomatic channels invitations to 18 countries for a roundtable in Manila on January 10 – 23, 1961. Among the countries invited were Afghanistan, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The roundtable drew up the Asian-Oceanic Postal Convention.
The convention was to come into force on 1 April 1962 if at least eight countries had ratified it. By then, however, only four had done so – China, Korea, the Philippines and Thailand. All same, on that date, they formed a union among themselves and established its headquarters in Manila with Mr. Palomar as its first Director.
In due course others countries of the Asian Pacific Region joined this restricted union making it today an inter-governmental body of 31 countries of the region.
The purpose of APPU is clearly laid down in Article 1.2 of the Constitution. The article reads as:
“The purpose of the Union is to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.”
Organisation
The Congress, the Executive Council and the Bureau are the three organs of the Union. The main roles of these three organs are given below.
a) Congress
Congress, being the supreme organ of the Union, is composed of representatives of member countries. The representative of the member countries of the Union meet in congress not later than two years after holding of each Universal Postal Congress in order to revise the Acts of the Union, if necessary, and to consider, as necessary, other postal problems of common interest to the member countries.
b) Executive Council
To ensure the continuity of the work of the Union in the intervals between Congresses, the Executive Council meets, in principle once each year, unless the majority of member countries decide otherwise.
The functions of the Council are:
(A) To perform any duty assigned to it by a Resolution of the Congress;
(B) To lay down the international postal service rules which shall provide for details necessary for the operation of the international postal service between the member countries;
(C) To maintain contacts with postal administration of the member countries of the Union with a view to improving the postal service;
(D) To prescribe rules for the administration of the Bureau and to supervise the activities of the Bureau;
(E) To review and approve the annual budget and accounts of the administrative section prepared by the Bureau in the intervals between Congresses;
(F) To make useful contacts with the various organs of the Universal Postal Union, with the Restricted Unions or with other specialized agencies of the United Nations with special interests in the area, and if necessary, to appoint representatives to conference of such organizations;
(G) To conclude agreements on behalf of the Union with the Universal Postal Union, and other Restricted Unions and international organizations with regard to such matters as technical co-operation, with the concurrence of at least two-thirds of the members of the Union. The Council may authorize the Director of the Bureau to execute such agreements;
(H) To assemble, prior to each Universal Postal Congress, in accordance with the provisions of Article 115, paragraph 2; and
(I) To make necessary steps, with the agreement of the majority of the members of Union, provisionally to carry out such other administrative Acts which are not covered by the Acts of the Union and cannot await the next Congress for the settlement;
Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Executive Council are elected by the first Executive Council meeting called after every APPU Congress. In the normal course that chairmanship will devolve by right on the host country of Congress. The present officers (elected after Seoul Congress in 2005) are Korea as Chairman and India as Vice-Chairman.
c) Bureau
The Bureau serves as a medium of liaison, information, inquiry and training for the member countries of the Union. The Bureau is composed of the administrative section and the training section. The Bureau is composed of a Director and such other staff as the Union may require. The Bureau provides the secretariat for meetings of the Union, jointly with the postal administration of the country where each meeting is held. The Director of the Bureau is chosen, from among qualified postal officials, by the Executive Council, or in Congress year by Congress. The tenure of office is fixed by the body which selects the Director. The Bureau is under the general supervision of the Executive Council.
The Bureau provides training facilities and advisory services in the training section to improve postal services within Asia and the Pacific. This training section is administered by a Governing Board, composed as per Article 111 of the General Regulations of the Asian Pacific Postal Union. The training section of the Bureau is known as the Asian Pacific Postal College.

Asian Pacific Postal College

The Asian Pacific Postal College, formerly the Asian Pacific Postal Training Centre was established on 10 September 1970 in Bangkok, following the recommendation of the first Congress of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (then the Asian and Oceanic Postal Union) held in Manila in 1965.
To date, APPC has trained more than 5,000 postal managers from various postal administrations in the Asian Pacific region and from the African continent.
Member Countries
Afghanistan Australia Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Darussalam Cambodia China Fiji India Indonesia Iran Japan Lao Korea, Republic of Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nauru Nepal New Zealand Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines Singapore
Solomon Islands Sri Lanka Thailand Tonga Vanuatu Vietnam

Questions often asked for Clarification....

Frequently Asken Questions on Pensions

1.Which rules Govern Pension?
Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules,1972.
2.Who is the Pension Sanctioning Authority?
The Head of Office in the Ministry/Department/Office where a Government servant last served is the pension sanctioning authority.
3.What should a Government servant do to claim his pension?
The Head of Office is required to undertake the work of preparation of pension papers in Form No. 7 of Pension Rules two years before the date on which a Government servant is due to retire on superannuation. Eight months prior to the retirement date, a Government servant is required to furnish certain information (e.g. joint photo with spouse, family details, name of the branch of the authorised bank through which he desires to draw his pension etc.) to his Head of Office in the prescribed Form No. 5. After complying with the requirements of CCS Pension Rules 59 & 60, the Head of Office has to forward to the Pay & Accounts Officer Form 5 and Form 7 duly completed with a covering letter in Form 8 alongwith service book of the Government servant duly completed up-to-date and any other documents relied upon for the verification of service, not later than six months before the date of retirement of the Government servant.
4.Who is to authorize the pension?
On receipt of pension papers from Head of Office, the Pay & Accounts Officer concerned will, after applying requisite checks, assess the amount of pension and issue the Pension Payment Order (both halves of Pension Payment Order, i.e. disburser’s portion and pensioner’s portion) not later than one month in advance of the date of retirement of the Government servant with forwarding authority letter, duly ink-signed and embossed, to Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) who in turn will generate on computer a Special Seal Authority on the basis of details given in the Pension Payment Order and authority letter of the Pay & Accounts Officer and forward both halves of PPO with Special Seal Authority to the concerned Link Branch of the authorised Public Sector Bank in the State/Union Territory, which after keeping the details in the Index Register will transmit the documents received from the CPAO to its paying branch opted by the pensioner, for arranging the payment.

5. What to do in case the pension has not been fixed correctly?
The Pay & Accounts Officer while issuing the pension authorization will forward one copy of the pension calculation sheet (out of three received by him from the Head of Office) as certified by the Head of Office and countersigned by him (Pay & Accounts Officer) to the pensioner along with the intimation of his having sent the pension payment authority/PPO to the CPAO. In case it is found from the pension calculation sheet that pension has been fixed incorrectly, the matter may be taken-up with the Head of Office, PAO concerned who, if necessary, will issue an amendment authority letter to Central Pension Accounting Office for onward transmission to the paying branch through its Link Branch to carry out necessary amendments in both halves of PPO.

6.Whether retirement gratuity, death gratuity can be paid by PAO/CPAO?
No. The amount of retirement/death gratuity as determined by the PAO shall be intimated to the Head of Office who will draw and disburse the amount to the retired Government servant or to the nominee/family as the case may be.

7.Is the Dearness Relief payable on original basic pension or on reduced pension after commutation?
The Dearness Relief is payable on original basic pension before commutation.

8.Is any authorization from PAO/CPAO required for payment of dearness relief on increased rates to pensioners/family pensioners?
No. Whenever any additional relief on pension/family pension is sanctioned by Government, an intimation to this effect is sent by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension (Deptt. of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare) to the authorised representative of each nominated Public Sector Bank. Each Link Branch will be responsible for ensuring that copies of the orders sanctioning additional relief have actually been received by their paying branches and payment of additional relief at the revised rates to the pensioners has been commenced by them without any undue delay. Whenever there is change in the rates of dearness relief on pension, paying branch will keep a note of rates along with the date from which relief would take effect in disburser’s portion and the pensioner’s half of the PPO under attestation by the Branch Manager or in-charge before commencing payment of relief at the revised rates and/or payment of arrears, if any, due to the pensioner on this account.
9.Is there any restriction on commutation of pension?
Yes. No Government servant against whom departmental or judicial proceedings as referred to in Rule 9 of the Pension Rules, have been instituted before the date of his retirement or the pensioner against whom such proceedings are instituted after the date of retirement, shall be eligible to commute a fraction of his provisional pension authorised under Rule 69 of the Pension Rules or the pension, as the case may be, during the pendency of such proceedings.
10.Is there any limit on commutation of pension?
A Government servant shall be entitled to commute for a lump sum payment up to 40 per cent of his pension.
11.What will be the effective date of reduced pension if,
a) The applicant is drawing pension from PAO? b) The applicant is drawing pension from a branch of Public Sector Bank? c) A Government servant who retired on superannuation and commutation applied in Form 1-A of CCS(Commutation of Pension) Rules up to the date of retirement and commutation paid through Head of Office within the first month of retirement ?
a) The reduction in the amount of pension on account of the commutation shall be operative from the date of receipt of the commuted value of pension or at the end of three months after issue of authority by the PAO for the payment of commuted value of pension, whichever is earlier.
(b) The reduction in the amount of pension on account of commutation shall be operative from the date on which the commuted value of pension is credited by the bank to the applicant's account to which pension is being credited.
(c) The reduction in the amount of pension on account of commutation shall be operative from its inception. The commuted value is paid in two stages as such the reduction in the amount of pension shall be made from the respective dates of the payment as per (a) or (b) above, as the case may be.
12.How does the period of 15 years for restoration of commuted portion of pension reckon?
The 15-year period for restoration may be reckoned from the date of retirement itself only in case where the payment of commuted value of pension was/is made during the first month of retirement leading to appropriate reduction on account of commutation in the first pension itself. In all other cases, where the commutation of pension led/leads to a reduction in the second or subsequent month, the 15-year period will be reckoned from the date on which reduction in pension became/becomes effective.
13.Whether the family can be given the benefit of 40 per cent commutation if a pensioner dies before exercising option?
In view of Governments clarificatory orders, no such benefit can be given to the family.
14.Is any authorization for restoration of commuted portion of pension after 15 years required from PAO/CPAO?
No. Restoration of commuted portion of pension after 15 years (from the date of crediting of commuted value) or as fixed by the Government from time to time is to be made automatically by bank on receipt of application in prescribed pro forma from the eligible pensioner. In cases where the date of commutation is not readily available in the PPO, the bank will obtain the information from the concerned PAO who issued the PPO through CPAO before restoring the commuted portion of pension.
15.Whether retirement gratuity/death gratuity, commuted value of pension is taxable ?
Retirement/death gratuity and the lump sum amount received on account of commutation of pension is not taxable under Income Tax Act.
16.Is the payment of pension in cash or through a joint account with or without "EITHER or SURVIVOR" facility permitted in the Scheme for Payment of Pension to Central Government Civil Pensioners by Public Sector Banks?
Payment of pension in cash is not permitted in the scheme. However, the pension payment is now permitted to be credited to a joint account operated by the pensioner with his spouse (either by ‘Former or Survivor’ or ‘Either or Survivor’ basis) in whose favour an authorization exists in the Pension Payment Order, subject to certain terms and conditions.
17.Can a pension account be operated by a holder of Power of Attorney ?
No. The pension account cannot be allowed to be operated by a holder of Power of Attorney except in case of the account of former President of India or of the spouse of the deceased President. However, the facility of allowing cheque books and acceptance of standing instructions for transfer of funds from the account is admissible as per instructions of R.B.I.
18.Can the deduction of Income Tax at source be made from pension payments ?
Yes, the paying branch will be responsible for deduction of Income Tax at source from pension payments in accordance with the rates prescribed from time to time. While deducting such tax from pension payments the paying branch will also allow deduction on account of relief available under Income Tax Act from time to time on production of proper and acceptable evidence of eligible savings by pensioners. The paying branch will also issue the pensioner in April each year a certificate of tax deducted in the form prescribed in the Income Tax Rules.
19.Can the excess payment, if any, credited to the pensioner’s account be recovered by the bank?
Before commencing payment of pension, the paying branch is required to obtain an undertaking in the prescribed form Annexure-XI of the Scheme from the pensioner. On the strength of this undertaking the excess payment, if any, credited to his/her account can be recovered by the paying branch.
20.Can the payment of retirement/death gratuity be made by the bank?
Unless otherwise specified, payment of death/retirement gratuity by the bank is not covered under the scheme.
21.What to do if a pensioner/family pensioner desires to get his pension payment account transferred?
(a) From one paying branch to another of the same Public Sector Bank within the same station or a different station ? (b) From one Public Sector Bank to another Public Sector Bank within the same station. (Such transfers to be allowed only once in a financial year)? (c) From one Public Sector Bank to another Public Sector Bank at a different station ?
(a)Applications for transfer of pension payment account falling under this category may be entertained by the paying branch of the Public Sector Bank itself. In case the transfer is at the same station, Link Branch will make necessary entries in the register maintained by them in the prescribed form in Annexure-VIII of the scheme and forward the disburser’s portion of PPO to the paying branch at which payment is desired under intimation to the CPAO and the pensioner. In case transfer is at different station, Link Branch after keeping the requisite note, will forward disburser’s portion of the PPO to the Link Branch at new station for arranging payment through the new paying branch. Necessary intimation of effecting such transfer will be sent to CPAO by the new as well as old Link Branches in the form Annexure XXI for keeping a note of change in their records under intimation to the pensioner. The receiving Link Branch on receipt of the pension documents, will ensure forwarding the PPO to the paying branch within three days and intimate the facts to the pensioner simultaneously. Before forwarding the disburser’s portion of PPO to the new paying branch/Link Branch, it will be ensured that the month upto which the payment has been made is invariably indicated in the disburser’s portion of PPO.
(b)In cases request falling under category (b) & (c), when a pensioner applies for transfer on a simple sheet of paper the old bank (transferor paying branch) will send a letter duly signed by its Branch Manager to the Branch Manager of the new paying branch, wherever located, alongwith photocopy of the pensioner’s PPO showing the last payment made. This will be sent by Speed Post/Courier/Regd. Post to the new paying branch at the new location, alongwith a copy each to the pensioner, CPAO and for information to the Link Branch of the old paying branch. Simultaneously, the old paying branch will send the bank’s copy of the PPO to its Link Branch, duly completing all entries for transmission to the new Link Branch. However, pensioner’s copy of PPO will be retained by pensioner and produced at the new paying branch. The new paying branch will commence the pension payment immediately on receipt of letter of the last payment certificate as above. Simultaneously, it will send an intimation to its Link Branch with full details of the commencement of the pension. The old paying branch and its Link Branch will ensure that the bank’s copy of PPO is transmitted to the new paying branch through its Link Branch. Pension will be paid for three months on the basis of the photocopy of the pensioner’s PPO at transferee (New) branch, from the date of last date of payment made at the transferor (Old) branch. During this time, it will be the joint responsibility of both transferor (old) and transferee (New) bank branches to ensure that all the documents under the procedure, are received by the transferee (New) branch within the period of three months. To avoid the risk of overpayment at the time of transfer, the following certificate is required to be recorded on the Disburser’s portion of PPO by the paying branch of the Public Sector Bank: Certified that payment of pension has been made up to the month ----------------- and that this PPO consists of ---------------------continuation sheets for recording disbursement." Except as stated above , the transfer of a pension account from one payment point to another will not ordinarily be permitted.
22.What is the procedure for switchover of pension payment from Pay & Accounts Office or treasury to Public Sector Bank ?
The existing pensioner will be required to submit his transfer application in the form in Annexure IX of the Scheme in duplicate to his Pension Disbursing Authority i.e. Pay & Accounts Office or Treasury as the case may be. Transfer application in duplicate shall be forwarded immediately by the Pay & Accounts Office along with the disburser’s copy of the PPO halves, duly authenticated and written up-to-date to the CPAO for transmission to the Link Branch of the Public Sector Bank for arranging payment after keeping necessary note in their records. Pay & Accounts Office should also update the entries of payment made in the pensioner’s portion of the PPO if not already done, before the transfer application is sent to the CPAO. In case of transfer from Treasury to Public Sector Banks, the transfer application along with PPO, should be routed through the concerned A.G. whose authorised officer will countersign and also emboss special seal before transmitting the same to the CPAO.
23.Who is to authorize payment of family pension and death gratuity when a Govt. servant dies while on deputation ?
In the case of a Govt. servant who dies while on deputation to another Central Govt. Deptt.,action to authorize family pension and death gratuity in accordance with the provisions of chapter IX of the pension Rules shall be taken by his Head of Office of the borrowing department. In the case of a Govt. servant who dies while on deputation to a State Govt. or while on Foreign Service action to authorize the payments of family pension and death gratuity in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IX of the pension Rules shall be taken by the Head of Office or the cadre authority which sanctioned the deputation of the Govt. servant to the State Govt. or to his Foreign Service.
24. When should a family member become eligible for the grant of family pension to get the family pension?
Normally, family pension is sanctioned and authorized at the same time as pension and indicated in the Pension Payment Order and is to be drawn after the death of the pensioner. In case of Govt. servant dying while in service, the widow or widower has to make a claim in Form 14 to the Head of Office who will sanction and authorize the family pension through its Pay & Accounts Officer. Where the deceased Govt. servant is survived only by a child or children, the guardian (in case of minor child/children) or such child or children may submit a claim in Form 14 to the Head of Office for sanction and authorisation of family pension with its PAO. For getting family pension, the deceased pensioner's family should apply in Form No. 14 along with a copy of the death certificate of the deceased pensioner (i) to the Pension Disbursing Authority if, the amount of family pension is already indicated in the Pension Payment Order (ii) to the Head of Office for sanction of family pension in all other cases.
25.Up to which period family pension is payable?
Family pension is payable to one member of the family at a time in the order and for the period as under:
a)In the case of a widow or widower, up to the date of death or remarriage, whichever is earlier. b)When widow or widower becomes ineligible, children below 25 years of age in the order of their age, up to 25 years of age or till they get married, in case of daughter or till they start earning more than the minimum family pension along with dearness allowance thereon.c) After (a)& (b) above; for the lifetime to any unemployed son/daughter who is suffering from any disorder or disability of mind (including mentally retarded)or physically crippled or disabled.
d)Parents who were wholly dependent on the Govt. servant when he/she was alive provided the deceased employee had left neither a widow nor a child.
26.Is family pension payable to more than one person at a time?
Normally, the family pension is payable to one eligible member at a time. However, in certain specific cases, the family pension is divided among eligible members of the family. The family pension will be paid in equal shares where the deceased Govt. servant or pensioner is survived by –
a) More than one widow (except in the case of Hindu widow). On the death of one widow, her share of the family pension shall become payable to eligible child. If she is not survived by any child, her share of the family pension shall not lapse but shall be payable to the other widows in wife; the eligible child will be paid the share, which the mother would have equal shares. b)A widow and an eligible child through another
received had she been alive. c)A widow and an eligible child from a divorced wife; the child will be entitled to the share of family pension which the mother would have received had she not been divorced.
27.How is the family pension payable to twin children?
Where the family pension is payable to twin children, it will be paid to such children in equal shares provided that when one such child ceases to be eligible his/her share shall revert to the other child and when both of them cease to be eligible, the family pension shall be payable to the next eligible single child/twin children.
28.Is family pension payable to a spouse judicially separated?
Yes, family pension is payable to a spouse judicially separated but not to a spouse judicially separated on the ground of adultery.
29.What has the pensioner to do for restoration of commuted portion of pension? From what date is it restored?
Commuted portion of pension is to be restored after 15 years from the date of commutation. This restoration was introduced w.e.f. 1.4.85 i.e. those who completed 15 years on or after 1.4.85, their pension was to be restored. This period of 15 years is to be counted from date of discharge provided commutation was sanctioned simultaneously with service pension in the same PPO. However, where commutation was sanctioned subsequent to the date of discharge the restoration of commuted portion of pension will be done on completion of 15 years from the date from which the amount of capitalized value is paid or credited to the pensioner's account. Every pensioner has to apply to his PDA (Pension Disbursing authority) through an application after completion of 15 years for restoration of commuted portion of pension.
30.To whom is rounding off benefit of percentage of disability pension admissible?
In pursuance of Vth CPC recommendations, Govt.of India, Ministry of Defence vide their letter dated 31.01.2001 have issued orders for revision of disability pension in respect of Post 96 discharge / invalidment / death cases. For purposes of grant of disability pension, following two criteria have been adhered to. In invalidment cases disability element will be computed as under:
% of disability assessed by Medical Board. % to be recovered for computation of disability pension
Less than 50% 50%
Between 50 and 75% 75%
Between 76 and 100% 100%
Disability Element (DE) on Discharge Release Cases: In discharge release cases, no disability element shall be payable for disabilities less than 20%. Rounding off benefit in such cases will not be allowed.
31.Under Vth CPC orders remarriage of widow even with a person other than real brother of the deceased does not debar her from payment of special family pension. What is the exact rule position in this regard?
Before Vth CPC orders a widow, recipient of special family pension, on remarriage with real brother of the deceased was allowed special family pension. In case of remarriage of widow with a person other than the real brother of the deceased special family pension was discontinued from the date of marriage. However, in case of liberalised family pension ordinary family pension was payable on re-marriage with other than real brother. Under Vth CPC orders applicable from 1.1.96 the position has undergone a change. Now the payment of SFP to the widow in the event of remarriage will depend upon the circumstances as to whether or not she has children and whether she supports them after remarriage.
(i)
If she has no children
She will get full SFP
(ii)
If she has children and supports them
Full SFP
(iii)
If she has children but does not support
50% SFP to children & OFP to widow
The above position is valid only when the widow is the nominated heir. However, where first life award is sanctioned to parents, the payment of family pension will be regulated as under: -
(aa)
If widow continues to support child(ren) after re-marriage or has no issues
50% of SFP to Parents, 50% of SFP to Widow.
(ab)
If widow does not support children after re-marriage but the children are supported by the parents.
Full SFP to parents, Ordinary Family Pension to widow
(ac)
If children are not supported either by the remarried widow or the parents.
50% of SFP to parents, 50% of SFP to eligible children, Ordinary Family Pension to widow.
(ad)
On death or disqualification of parents and the widow supports the children or has no issues.
Full SFP to widow.
(ae)
On death or disqualification of parents and the widow does not support the children
Full SFP to children' Ordinary Family Pension to widow.
32.Whether family pension may be sanctioned to a handicapped child during lifetime of a pensioner who has no wife or any other children.
No. Family Pension in this case may be sanctioned only when the contingency arises. However, a note of such child will be kept in record of RO/HOO and P.S.A.
33.Continuance award of Special Family Pension is admissible from which date and in whose favour is the SFP Continued?
When Special Family Pension is sanctioned to widow and she becomes disqualified or dies and it is sanctioned to father or mother it is called continuance award of Special Family Pension. It is sanctioned from the date of application by the parents.
34.Whether in all cases service element is payable along with disability element in disability pension cases?
No. Those who are discharged from service on completion of their terms of engagement with service gratuity without earning a service pension, if found suffering from a disability which is accepted as attributable to or aggravated by service at 20% or above, may be sanctioned Disability Element in addition to service gratuity. Service element is not payable in such cases.
35.Whether restoration of commuted portion of pension is admissible to those who were absorbed permanently in autonomous bodies/PSUs and have drawn lump-sum capitalised value in lieu of pension?
Yes. Only 1/3rd portion of pension which was normally allowed to be commuted may be restored after 15 years from the date of commutation and dearness relief is also payable on this in terms of O.M. dated 6.9.2007 and O.M. dated 15.9.2008.
36.Describe Consolidation of family pension at the rate of 30% of pay in respect of pre-96 family pension cases and method of calculation thereof?
References have been received that the family pension should be calculated @ 30% of the notionally fixed pay on the basis of Fourth Pay Commission and consolidated thereafter as on 01/01/1996. This matter has been considered but it has not been found practicable to accede to the same as consolidation of pension can be done only with reference to the family pension already drawn prior to 01/01/1996. Family pension @ 30% is effective from 01.01.1996 only
37.Is the family pension admissible to parents; widowed/divorced/unmarried daughters?
As in reply to Q.25
38.What is the period of payment of enhanced family pension?
From 1.1.2006, where a person not governed by the Workmen’s Compensation Act dies while in service after rendering not less than seven years’ continuous service, the rate of family pension shall be equal to 50% of last pay drawn from the date of death of deceased Government Servant for a period of ten years. In the event of death of Government Servant after retirement the enhanced family pension shall be payable for a period of seven years or for a period up to the date the deceased would have attained the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier. In no case the amount of family pension exceed the pension authorised on retirement from Government service.
39.What is the formula for pension revision for pre-2006 pensioner/family pensioner?
In terms of para 4.1 of OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008, the pension/family pension will be consolidated w.e.f. 1.1.2006 by adding together (i) The existing pension/family pension,(ii) Dearness Pension, where applicable, (iii)Dearness Relief @24% of basic Pension/Basic Family Pension plus dearness pension as admissible vide OM No.42/2/2006-P&PW(G) dated 5.4.2006 and (iv) Fitment weightage @40% of the existing pension/family pension. Where the existing pension at (i) includes the effect of merger of 50% of DR w.e.f. 1.4.2004, the existing pension for the purpose of fitment weightage will be re-calculated after excluding the merged DR of 50% from the pension. The amount so arrived at will be regarded as consolidated pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006.
40.What is the minimum and maximum pension?
Minimum pension shall not be less than Rs.3500/- and maximum shall be 50% of the highest pay in Government. Pension/family pension shall not be less than 50%/30% of the minimum, of the revised scale of pay w.e.f 1.1.2006 of the post held by the pensioner.
41.How much of the pension can be commuted?
A pensioner can opt to commute up to 40% of the pension admissible at the time of retirement.
42.Is there any ceiling on gratuities and if so what is the maximum amount admissible?
Yes. Ceiling on all gratuities has been raised to Rs.ten lakhs (earlier the limit was Rs.3.5 lakhs). DA also to be added with pay for calculation of gratuity.
43.What is the extent of neutralization of relief granted to pensioners?
100% neutralization of relief is granted to all pensioners at the same rate like serving employees.
44.Is Personal Pension to be discontinued with effect from 1.1.1996 ?
Yes.
45.What is the medical allowance for pensioners?
Rs.100/- is granted to each of the pensioners not covered by CGHS. Pensioners living in cosmopolitan cities not covered by CGHS dispensary are also eligible on production of a certificate to that effect.
46.When can pension be withheld or withdrawn?
Future good conduct is an implied condition of every grant of pension and its continuance under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.
The pension or a part there of can be withheld or withdrawn in such cases where a pensioner is convicted of a serious crime or found guilty of a serious or a grave act of misconduct/negligence after retirement, or during the period of service, including the service rendered upon re-employment after retirement.
47.What is restoration of pension and when is it due?
Restoration of the fraction of the pension commuted by the pensioners becomes due for restoration after completion of 15 years period from the date of payment of lumpsum value of commutation.
48.What is enhanced family pension and how long is it paid?
From 1.1.2006, where a person not governed by the Workmen’s Compensation Act dies while in service after rendering not less than seven years’ continuous service, the rate of family pension shall be equal to 50% of last pay drawn from the date of death of deceased Government Servant for a period of ten years. In the event of death of Government Servant after retirement the enhanced family pension shall be payable for a period of seven years or for a period up to the date the deceased would have attained the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier. In no case the amount of family pension exceed the pension authorised on retirement from Government service.
49.Are the employed family pensioners and the re-employed pensioners entitled to Dearness Relief (DR) on their family pension/pension ?
Yes, w.e.f. 18/07/97 onwards.
50.What is reduced pension?
Reduced pension is the part of pension which is payable after deducting commuted portion of the pension.
51.When can a Government servant apply for voluntary retirement?
A Government servant can apply for voluntary retirement only after completion of 20 years of his Government service. He/She should apply three months in advance.
52.When will my DCRG/part of DCRG be released?
After receipt of refund advice/ no claim certificate from pension sanctioning authority, the DCRG is released immediately.
53.What is the meaning of the following terms?
(a) Pension Disbursing Authority (b) Pension Sanctioning Authority (c) PPO Issuing Authority
(a) Pension Disbursing Authority: Bank Branch/Treasury/Post Office paying your pension (b) Pension Sanctioning Authority: The authority who sanctioned your pension before forwarding the case to Accounts. (c) PPO Issuing Authority: If you retired from HQ, the PPO issuing authority is head of accounts branch of that unit.

54. Whether older pensioners will get higher rate of pension?
Yes, from 1.1.2006, the quantum of pension/family pension available to old pensioners/family pensioners has been increased as follows:-
Age of pensioner/family pensioner Additional quantum of pension
From 80 years to less than 85 years 20% of revised basic pension/family pension
From 85 years to less than 90 years 30% of revised basic pension/family pension
From 90 years to less than 95 years 40% of revised basic pension/family pension
From 95 years to less than 100 years 50% of revised basic pension/family pension
100 years or more 100% of revised basic pension/family pension
55.What is the method of computing pension?
Pension is now payable @ 50% of the last 10 months’ average emoluments or last pay drawn, whichever is more beneficial to the retiring employee.
56. Is family pension available after remarriage ?
Family pension has now been made available even after remarriage to childless widow of the deceased employee subject to her earnings not exceeding the prescribed minimum family pension with DR.
57. Whether in the case of pensioners who are in receipt of more than one pension, the floor ceiling of Rs.3500 will apply to the total of all pensions taken together?
It was clarified in Deptt. of Pension & PW’s OM No.38/38/02-P&PW(A)(Pt.IV) dated 23.4.2004 that in respect of civil and military pension, the floor ceiling taking the two pensions together will not apply and the individual pensions will be governed by respective pension rules. These instructions would continue to apply in the context of revised floor ceiling of Rs.3500/-p.m. Accordingly, the floor ceiling will apply individually in the civil and military pension. In case, a person is in receipt of pension as well as family pension, the floor ceiling of Rs.3500 will apply individually to such pension and family pension.
58. Whether the element of disability pension and invalid pension will be combined or treated as separate identity?
It was clarified in Deptt. Of Pension & PW’s OM No.45/86/87-P&PW(A) dated 7.8.2001 that the element of disability pension and invalid pension may be treated as distinct pensions. The invalid pension may continue to be regulated as per CCS(Pension) Rules subject top certain minimum amount * and the extraordinary disability pension may continue to be treated as a separate element and this should be fixed as per the degree of disability. This will be subject to the further condition that the amount of disability pension and invalid pension should in no case exceed the last pay drawn. These instructions would continue to apply in the context of revised minimum pension of Rs.3500/-. (*certain minimum amount refers to the amount calculated as per provisions of Rule 49(2)(c) of CCS(Pension) Rules.
59. Whether the provision of adding years in qualifying service for computation of pension is still in force?
The extent of benefit of adding years of qualifying service for computation of pension/related benefits has been withdrawn w.e.f. 2.9.2008.
60. Whether the provision of adding years in qualifying service has been withdrawn for calculating gratuity also?
Yes, w.e.f. 2.9.2008.
61. What is the revised quantum of ex-gratia lumpsum compensation to Civilian employees who die in performance of their bon fide official duties?
In modification of Deptt. Of Pension & PW’s OM No.45/55/97-P&PW(C ) dated 11.9.1998the ex-gratia lumpsum compensation to Civilian employees who die in performance of their bon fide official duties has been revised as under:

(a) Death occurring due to accidents in course of Rs.10.00 lakhs
Performance of duties
(b) Death occurring due to accidents in course of Rs.10.00 lakhs
Performance of duties attributable to acts of
violence by terrorists, anti-social elements,etc.
( c) Death occurring (a) enemy action in international Rs.15.00 lakhs
war or border skirmishes and (b) action against
militants, terrorists, extremists etc.
(d) Death occurring while on duty in specified high Rs. 15.00 lakhs
altitude, inaccessible border posts, etc. on account
of natural disasters, extreme weather conditions.

62. Whether the additional pension/family pension available to old pensioners would be payable from the date of attaining age of 80 years or above or from the first day of the month in which the date of birth falls?
The additional quantum of pension/family pension, on attaining the age of 80 years and above, would be admissible from the 1st day of month in which his date of birth falls. For example, if a pensioner/family pensioner completes age of 80 years in the month of August, 2008, he will be entitled to additional pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.8.2008. Those pensioners/family pensioners whose date of birth is
1st August, will also be entitled to additional pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.8.2008 on attaining the age of 80 years and above.
63. Whether the period of 10 years for payment of enhanced family pension would also apply in the case of a Government servant who died before 1.1.2006 and in respect of whom the family was receiving enhanced family pension as on 1.1.2006 ?.
Yes. The period of 10 years for payment of enhanced family pension will count from the date of death of the Government servant. These orders will, however, not apply in a case where the period of seven years for payment of enhanced family pension has already completed as on 1.1.2006 and the family was in receipt of normal family pension on that date.
64. From which date the Constant Attendant Allowance is payable ?.
Constant Attendant Allowance is payable from 1.1.2006.
65. Whether the pensioners who retired on disability pension before 1.1.2006 would also be entitled to Constant Attendant Allowance ?.
Yes, the pensioners who retired on disability pension before 1.1.2006 and fulfilling the conditions mentioned in para 10.1 of O.M. No. 38/37/08- P&PW(A) dated 2.9.2008 would also be entitled to Constant Attendant Allowance.
66. Whether Dearness Relief will be admissible on Constant Attendant Allowance?
No.
67. What would be the age to be used for commutation of additional commutable pension and which factor would be used for such additional commuted value of pension?
The age reckoned for calculation of commuted value of pension at the time of original application for commutation of pension will apply for calculation of commutation value of additional commutable pension. However, as mentioned in the OM dated 2.9.2008, the commutation factor in the revised Table of Commutation Value for Pension will be used for the commutation of the additional amount of pension that has become commutable on account of retrospective revision of pay/pension.
68. From which date the reduction in pension on account of additional commutation of pension will take effect?
Reduction in pension on account of additional commutation of pension will be in two stages as per the provisions contained in Rule 6 of the CCS(Commutation of Pension) Rules,1981.
69. What will be the date of restoration of additional commutation of pension?
The commuted portion of pension shall be restored after 15 years from the respective dates of commutation as provided in Government of India decision No.1 under the Rule 10 of CCS(Commutation of Pension) Rules,1981. Necessary endorsement should be made on PPO.