Head to a post office for a vehicle loan

CHENNAI, May 18, 2016 : The next time you plan to get a loan for a new two or three-wheeler, walk to the nearest post office. The Department of Posts has tied up with Bajaj Auto Finance Limited to assist in financial enquires about loans. 

In yet another attempt to reinvent itself and connect to customers, post offices will now offer services to provide details about the finance option available through brochures. Officials of the postal department said post offices would act as an intermediary and provide information on various two- and three-wheeler loan schemes and offers. 

Of the 400 post offices chosen in the Tamil Nadu circle for the facility, nearly 100 post offices are in the city. 

The service will be extended to other e-payment-enabled post offices depending on the performance. 

Customers who apply through post offices would get a discount in processing fee and also a waiver in rate of interest for the loan obtained. 

Patronage-based 

Pointing out that Kerala postal circle was already accepting monthly instalments, officials said such measures would be adopted based on the patronage of the service. 

Among the retail services, payment of electricity bills and reservation of railway tickets are among the most-sought ones. Post offices are also involved in sales of various products such as solar lamps and Penta mobiles. 

Officials said last year, the department earned revenue of Rs.3.5 crore through retail services. 

Customers who apply through post offices will get discounts, waiver in rate of interest. 

Source : http://www.thehindu.com

7th Pay Commission Award: PM may make a formal announcement in June: The Sen Times News

Central govt employees in wait for 7th Pay Commission award: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may make a formal announcement on 7th Pay Commission award in June

The 7th pay commission recommendations are not helpful for maintaining central government employees employees’ living standard, Finance Ministry sources told The Sen Times on Tuesday. 

They had also said the salaries of government employees should increase which would give them some financial comfort, a step they had hoped might be taken within in June, when government will announce 7th Pay Commission award with major changes. 

Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi may make a formal announcement on 7th Pay Commission award in June. 

The government has a plan to constitute a permanent pay commission, but Finance Ministry officials are in doubt whether it will be succeeded. 

They also said the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to approve the proposal of review committee, which will propose minimum pay Rs 21,000 and maximum a round Rs 2,50,000 to Rs 2,70,000 to help central government employees cope with the inflation. 

This will cost the exchequer Rs 1.02 lakh crore. However, in the Budget 2016 proposal, the government provided Rs 70,000 crore for the implementation of Seventh Pay Commission. 

“The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley promised that the government will implement the 7th Pay Commission award in this financial year,” sources said. 

The government has made allocation in the current fiscal’s budget to meet the 7th Pay Commission award which will require the government to spend Rs 1.02 lakh crore in addition to existing regular salary. 

The 7th Pay Commission headed by Justice A K Mathur recommended on November 19, the highest basic salary at Rs 250,000 and the lowest at Rs 18,000 and its increased the pay gap between the minimum and maximum from existing 1:12 to 1:13.8, while all pay commissions made up pay gap between employees and officers from second Pay Commission 1:41 ratio to Sixth pay commission 1:12. 

A 13 member a secretary-level Empowered Committee or review committee headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha was formed in January to review Pay Commission’s report before cabinet nod. 

Read more at: The Sen Times

Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 242 : Post Offices in rented / temporary buildings

Observance of Anti-Terrorism Day on 21st May

SBI associate banks staff to go on strike tomorrow against merger

A section of employees of five associate banks of SBI has threatened to go on strike tomorrow against their proposed merger with parent.

Earlier this week, SBI proposed merger of five associate banks and newly created Bharatiya Mahila Bank with itself.

"Despite opposition and protest by all the AIBEA's Workman Directors and few other independent Directors, about the proposal and the procedure adopted, the resolution was approved in this regard.

"We also call upon all our members in the 5 Associate Banks to observe protest strike on May 20," All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) said in a statement.

Most of the associate banks have informed customers about banking operation to be hit due to strike call given by State Sector Bank Employees Association (SSBEA), an associate of AIBEA.

Among the associates, State Bank of Hyderabad is the largest with over 1,800 branches followed by State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur with 1,350, State Bank of Patiala with 1,300, State Bank of Travancore with 1,200 and State Bank of Mysore with 1,050 branches as of end December.

Re-set of Postal Life Insurance Government of India Special Floating Rate Security 2022

To view please Click Here.

Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund Rules, 2016

To view please Click Here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to proposed India Post Payments Bank

To view please Click Here.

SENIORITY OF DIRECT RECRUITS AND PROMOTEES

Click here to view DOPT brochure on "Seniority of Direct Recruits and Promotees" 

Suggesting a name to "IT Modernization Project of Department of Posts"

There is a proposal to give a name to the "IT Modernization Project of Department of posts" as desired by the Hon'ble MOC & IT. The suggested name should be a reflection of wide reach of India Post Network across the country and also project the modernization in the Department through IT Modernization project.

In this regard Department of Posts (Project Management Unit) has requested to All Head of Circles, All DDGs, Dak Bhawan, CGM (BD&M Directorate, CGM, PLI Directorate and Director, RAKNPA, Ghaziabad to suggest a suitable name to the "IT Modernization Project of Department of Posts".

Avoiding use of bottled water during meetings, conferences, workshops etc

Development of Single Window Service for Central Civil Pensioners

Click here to view Central Pension Accounting Office Memorandum No CPAO/IT&Tech/Single Window Service/2016-17/38 dated 17th May, 2016

Implementation of 7th CPC and Enhancement of Minimum Wage/Multiplying Factor – NJCA

Implementation of 7th CPC and Enhancement of Minimum Wage/Multiplying Factor – NJCA “A Cabinet Note is being prepared and is likely to be submitted to the Cabinet, Government of India, very shortly. We are not very sure that, the demands raised by the Staff Side, NC/JCM have been incorporated in that Cabinet Note”. – NJCA NJCA

Payments and settlements in India moving towards electronic mode with more e-payments

Payments and settlements in India are fast moving towards the electronics mode. Both business and retail transactions are increasingly being settled through electronic channels like RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) and NEFT (National Electronics Funds Transfer). With the spread of banking habits, more and more cash in banks is also being withdrawn as and when required as is evident in the growth of ATM transactions. Besides, there are a host of new-age channels like mobile wallets and mobile banking besides credit and debit cards that are gaining popularity among the younger generation.



Source : Economic Times

What has the Govt done to put Postal Dept to good use? : MoC Answers

The postal department is a huge machinery of both manpower as well as infrastructure. What has the government done to put this machinery to good use?

Extract of Interview with Ravi Shankar Prasad

India Post is a fine 150-year-old body, which always remained in the background. I have pushed them in a big way. Improving their operations, and pushing them for bigger things. Speed Post has been adjudged as the best courier service by the CAG in eight states of India, and the report is before Parliament. Their revenue has grown by 7.1 per cent … We have also gone for a lot of modernisation of the department. In 2004, we had only four ATMs. Now there are 913 postal ATMs. We have about 1,54,000 post offices all over the country, out of which about 25,000 are regular post offices and the rest are rural post offices.

This vast network has been put to work for e-commerce delivery, and this is a very outstanding success story that I need to acknowledge. What is important is that the entire postal department is very inspired. We are supposed to play a role in the field of digital growth and financial inclusion. The postal department has opened 84,00,000 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts. All the banks combined have opened only 4,00,000 accounts.

CHQ News - Request letter to Member (P) for repatriation of PS Gr. B officers to their parent circle.

No. CHQ/AIAIPASP/Suppl./DPC-2015-16/2016          Dated :   17/5/2016.

To,

Shri Ashutosh Tripathi,

Member (P),

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.

Subject : Holding of supplementary DPC for PS Gr. B cadre for the vacancies of 2015-16 and repatriation of PS Gr. B officers to their parent circle.

Ref.        : Directorate memo No. 9-02/2015-SPG dated 14-9-2015

R/Sir,

              

This Association once again conveys its sincere thanks for the staff of SPG Division of Directorate for timely processing of the Supplementary DPC for PS Gr. B cadre for vacancies of 2015-16 and regular DPC for promotion to PS Group “B” cadre for the vacancy year 2016-17.

You will agree that a large number of STS/JTS vacancies are lying vacant in Circles since long and PS Group “B” officers are officiating against these posts creating resultant vacancies in Group “B” in circles and imbalance thereof up to IP/ASP level affecting timely promotion in each cadre and also repatriation of deserving officers to their parent circles. Many times odd situation occurs wherein the approved PS Gr. B officers from circles are required to work outside the home circle despite having good number of vacancies in their parent circles. As on date Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan circles where 12, 8 and 6 clear vacancies respectively are available in PS Gr. B cadre against which junior officers have been officiating for months/years together. On the contrary, regular senior officers are presently working outside these circles. The request applications of these officers for repatriation to their parent circle are already been registered at SPG division at Directorate.  

This Association would like to bring to your kind notice that Directorate vide Memo No. 9-23/2014-SPG dated 15/9/2014 had issued instructions, Para No. 2 (iv) of the memo indicates allotment of newly promoted Postal Service Group ‘B’ officers to their Home Circles that would be considered only after     re-allotment of seniors working outside Home Circle. In such cases of re-allotment of senior officers, the condition of completion of one year in the current Circle / Unit would be relaxed by the Competent Authority.

 Furthermore, if Directorate considers the request of officers for repatriation to their parent circle before issue of result of supplementary DPC of PS Gr. B cadre, Department’s finances would be saved, expenditure on which, otherwise would be incurred on TA/TP of these officers.

In view of the above, it is urged upon to implement the above instructions issued by Directorate for re-allotment/repatriation of PS Gr. B officers against vacant posts in letter and spirit.

With warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/- 

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary

Special Cover on Ujjain Darshan – 9th May 2016.

The second Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) of month-long Simhastha Kumbh mela began on 9th May 2016 (Shukla/Akshey Tritya). Traditions vis-à-vis Shahi Snan during Simhastha at Ujjain are still intact. Observing the same traditions, Shaivite Akharas had the first opportunity to take the holy dip in Kshipra river. The holy dip taken by Naga Sadhus chanting Har Har Mahadev brought to light the unique and unparalleled culture of India. According to myth, holy dip in Kshipra river is very important during this festival.

On the occasion of second Shahi Snan at Simhastha Kumbh mela, Ujjain a Special Cover was released by Shri T. Murty, Member (Operations), Department of Posts, Shri M. E. Haque, Chief Postmaster General, M. P. Circle and other dignitaries on ‘Ujjain Darshan’ on 9th May 2016 at Ujjain.

MACP benefits in the promotional hierarchy – Clarification orders issued by Dopt on 17.5.2016

To view DoPT OM No. 22034/04/2013-Estt (D) dated 17.5.2016, please CLICK HERE.

Know the new rules of the Sukanya scheme

Non-resident Indians can no longer open a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) account. In fact, if your or your child's residential status changes to non-resident or she takes up another country's citizenship during the term of the scheme, no interest shall be paid from the date of citizenship or residential status changes and the account shall be considered closed.

A girl child would be eligible for an SSY account only if she is a resident Indian citizen when the account is opened, and remains so until maturity or closure of account. This new rule was clarified by a notification issued in March by the Finance Ministry. 

As per the new rules , a change in residential status has to be reported by the parent/guardian within one month. In case the bank or post office is not notified and an interest is credited to the account after the change of resident status or citizenship, the earnings will be returned to the government and the balance returned to the SSY account holder. 

A new clause has also been added for stricter penalties. Earlier, to regularise a default, where the account holder did not deposit the minimum yearly contribution of Rs 1,000, he was required to pay a penalty of Rs 50 for each year the condition was not met, along with the minimum contribution. Now, if the penalty is not paid, the entire deposit, including deposits made before date of default, will receive interest at post office savings bank account rate—currently 4%. If excess interest has been paid, it will be reversed. However, the long 15-year window to pay the penalty and make amends takes the sting out of this new rule. 

Further, premature closures on grounds of medical exigencies, earlier allowed at any time during the term of the scheme, has been restricted. Now, this cannot be done unless the account has been functioning for at least five. If the holder wishes to withdraw before completion of five years, his investment will earn interest at the rate of a post office savings bank account.

The investing term of the SSY scheme has also been increased from 14 to 15 years. Also, now you can e-transfer your contrbutions. 

Despite all these changes, the scheme still earns 8.6% return— higher than old-time favourites such as PPF , FD and recurring deposits. Plus, like PPF, SSY provides a tax benefit under Section 80C. For the conservative investor, with a daughter below 10 years of age, it continues to be the best debt instrument in the market today. 

Source:- The Economic Times

Preparation of Combined All India Seniority list of Inspector Posts for the year 2001 and onwards

A draft All India Combined Seniority List of Inspector Posts has been prepared by Directorate vide their letter No 7-1/2015-SPB-II dated 17 May 2016. To view its copy please Click Here. 

All concerned members i.e. Inspector Posts of 2001 and 2002 batch are requested to go through the list submit their grievances/comments,if any, to Directorate through proper channel within 45 days. 

Associate banks propose merger with parent SBI

New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) After over five years of hiatus, associate banks of SBI including State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur have proposed to merger with the parent lender.

The respective boards have proposed merger with the State Bank of India (SBI), the parent, in a meeting held today, sources said.

The meeting of central board of SBI is going to consider the merger, they added.

Meanwhile, a section of employee unions have registered protest against any such move and threatened to go on a strike if such move is approved by the SBI and the government.

All employees of Associate Banks will go on strike on May 20, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said.

The country's largest lender has five associate banks -- State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad.

Among these, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore are listed.

SBI first merged associate State Bank of Saurashtra with itself in 2008. Two years later in 2010, State Bank of Indore was merged.

The government recently set up the Bank Board Bureau (BBB) to look into the issues including consolidation in public sector banking space.

The BBB headed by former CAG Vinod Rai had conducted interview for appointments of Managing Directors of some of the banks where posts will be falling vacant during the current fiscal.

The Bureau was constituted to help the government select heads of public sector banks and financial institutions and assist banks in developing strategies with regard to capital-raising and consolidation.

Besides Chairman, the Bureau has three ex-officio members and an equal number of expert members.

Expert members are ICICI Bank's former joint MD H N Sinor, Bank of Baroda's former CMD Anil K Khandelwal and rating agency Crisil's ex-chief Rupa Kudwa.

Its ex-officio members are Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Financial Services Secretary and RBI Deputy Governor.

Source : Economic Times

New pay for central employees from July, Arrears likely in August

As per "The Sen Times", a popular website for Central Govt. employees, indicated that new pay for central employees will be disbursed from July and arrears to be paid in the month of August.

The text of the news published in The Sen Times is reproduced below.

" The central government is going to start payment of salaries to its 48 lakh officials and employees according to 7th Pay Commission award from July and six months’ arrears are to be paid in August.

As per official calculation, no huge amount will be required for the payment of arrears.

CHQ News - Reply to RTI i/c/w Direct Recruit IPs received from Directorate

Communication ministry to seek Cabinet nod for India Post payment bank in May

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is likely to seek the approval of the Union Cabinet for India Post's payment bank proposal in May.

"The postal department's payment bank will be a game changer for financial inclusion. Several international and national consortiums for third party services are keen to partner with us. Deutsche Bank, Citi Bank, Barclays, Templeton and all the banks of India and all mutual funds and insurance companies, except LIC, for third party delivery, are willing to partner," the Indian Express quoted Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, as saying. 

According to the report, the ministry has moved a Cabinet note for the proposal of India Post's payment bank.

The Reserve Bank of India had granted in-principle approval in August 2015 to 11 applicants which allowed them to set up payments banks, including India Post.

Revision of rates for release of Special Cover / Cancellation by DoP on various occasions

Transfers/Postings in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) of the Indian Postal Service, Group 'A'

To view Directorate Memo No. 1-4/2016-SPG dated 16th May 2016, please CLICK HERE. 

TRANSFERS AND POSTING IN JUNIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE (JAG) OF INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE GROUP 'A'

CAG Report calls Speed Post as 'The best courier service across the nation'

IndiaPost takes lead in securing girl child by opening 85lakh accnts under SukanyaSamriddhiYojana

India Post goes high-tech, geo-tags post offices on Bhuvan

As emails and SMSes become the order of the day, the good-old Postal Department is going hi-tech by geo-tagging the post offices and has begun monitoring timely clearance of the letter boxes through a mobile app.

In collaboration with the Department of Space, India Post has geo-tagged over 1.5 lakh post offices on the indigenous geo-portal Bhuvan, developed by ISRO, to help people search the nearest post office and know about services and timings.

India Post has over 1.55 lakh post offices of which more than 1.39 lakh are in the rural areas. An official in Communications and IT Ministry said that the remaining post offices would also be geo-tagged soon on Bhuvan, a Hindi word for ‘universe’.

The initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to use space technology by various departments of the government, he added.

“More than 1,50,000 post offices have been geotagged and their exact location on a GIS satellite imagery map along with photograph, services and office timings etc have been made available on the portal,” he added.

Bhuvan, developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is providing visualisation services and earth observation data to users in public domain.

Bhuvan, started in 2009 with simple display of satellite data and basic GIS functionality, now has more than 6,000 map services which are being used under various applications.

Regarding other achievements of India Post in the last two years, the official said core banking solution (CBS) for providing ‘anywhere banking’ has been rolled out in 21,319 post offices, covering more than 30 crore Post Office savings bank accounts.

Besides, 910 post office ATMs have been installed across the country.

“A mobile app is being used for monitoring timely clearance of letter boxes in more than 16 cities,” he added.

Source : Economic Times

RESERVATION REGISTERS AND ROSTER REGISTERS

DOPT is issuing instructions regarding policy and procedures for SC/ST and OBC reservation in Government jobs from time to time. The compilation of these instructions has also been given by DOPT. Check the following links for entire compilation of policy, instructions given by DOPT on SC/ST and OBC Reservation in Central Government jobs

Click here to view DOPT brochure on "DETERMINATION OF RESERVATION QUOTA"

Click here to view DOPT brochure on "RESERVATION  REGISTERS AND ROSTER REGISTERS"

Revision of time limit for drawal of advance for the purpose of LTC journey by train.

Bajaj Auto Finance inks pact with India Post

Motorcycle finance company Bajaj Auto Finance has entered into an arrangement with post offices across India to enable buyers get information through brochures available at post offices, as well as apply for two-wheeler loans from the company.

Subsequently, customers can also make loan repayments by depositing money in post offices.

The project is being launched with Tamil Nadu as pilot/nodal office and the arrangement will initially be rolled out across 18 locations in the State, Bajaj Auto said in a statement.

Pradeep Srivastava, Executive Director, Bajaj Auto, said: “By joining up with India Post we intend to reach all our customers in the remotest corners of the country.”

Charles Lobo, Chief Postmaster General, TN Circle, India Post, said: “Bajaj has been one of the brands and names we have associated ourselves with for ages. We hope to take this initiative to great heights by delivering easy and convenient finance options to our customers through all our post offices.” 

Source : TheHindu

COMPILATION OF REVISED SELECTION PROCESS FOR ENGAGEMENT TO ALL APPROVED CATEGORY OF GDS POSTS

1	Approved Categories of GDS - The following are approved categories of GDS - (i)       Gramin Dak Sevak Branch Postmaster, (ii)      Gramin Dak Sevak Mail Deliverer, (iii)     Gramin Dak Sevak Mail Carrier, (iv)     Gramin Dak Sevak Mail Packer, (v)      Gramin Dak Sevak Stamp Vendor, (vi)     Gramin Dak Sevak Mailman (included in Rule 3 (d) of GDS (C&E) Rules, 2011 vide Directorate letter No 17-39/1/2012-GDS dated 14 Jan 2015)
2	Age - Minimum and maximum age limit for all approved GDS posts is 18 year and 30 years respectively. Relaxation of 3 years for OBC and 5 years to SC/ST Candidates, if candidate applies to the post earmarked for that community.
3	Maximum age of casual labourers shall be 35 years (38 years for OBC & 40 years for SC/ST)
4	Age should be checked as on the date of notification.
5	Educational Qualification - 'Secondary School Examination pass certificate' of 10th standard conducted by any recognized board of school education in India for all approved categories of GDS.
6	Computer training certificate - The candidates for all approved categories of GDS will be required to furnish at least 60 days' duration basic computer training certificate from a recognized Computer Training Institute.
7	Requirement of basic computer knowledge certificate shall be relaxable in cases where a candidate has studied computer as a subject in Matriculation or Class XII or higher educational qualification.
8	Adequate means of Livelihood - This condition is not pre-requisite for candidates for the purpose of applying to the GDS post/selection. Selected candidate is required to comply with the prescribed condition within 30 days after selection but before engagement.
9	Notification should be sent to Employment Exchange requesting nomination of suitable candidates (not less than 3) for the post within period of 30 days from the date of sending requisition.
10	Publicity will be given by displaying a notice at the concerned post office, the police station, the panchayat office and any other public place considered suitable allowing the same time 30 dyas for receipt of applications.
11	A copy of the notification will also be circulated to all Post Offices within the Division duly entered in Account Bag for display on Notice Board.
12	If last date falls on Sunday/Holidays, the cut of date will be reckoned as close of subsequent working day.
13	Record of the application received from the candidates should be maintained by recruiting authority. Closed covers will not be opened till the day earmarked for selection.
14	Committee - Committee consisting of three members including the recruiting authority with two others not below the rank of Inspector Posts will be nominated by the authority higher to recruiting authority.
15	Selection will be made by the committee strictly based on marks secured only in Secondary School Examination pass certificate of 10th standard conducted by any recognized Board of School Education in India.
16	Selection Panel - Vide Directorate letter No 19-10/2010-GDS dated 25.06.2010 and clarification dated 18.10.2013, for engagement of GDS a select panel of the candidate is required to be drawn up based on the sole criterion of merit. The panel should be operated in the event of the following contingencies - -        Refusal by the meritorious candidate -        Resignation by the 1st candidate even after joining within one year -        Review made by higher authority within one year
17	The select panel may be utilized in other contingencies too provided the select panel is valid.
18	The select panel will be in proportion of 5 candidates for one vacancy.
19	The select panel will be valid for one year from the date of finalization and after that it would lose its validity.
20	If any candidate declines to accept appointment, next candidate of the select panel will get opportunity for engagement.
21	In case all five candidates decline, the select panel gets exhausted. Then selection process is required to be initiated afresh.
22	Result will be communicated to the candidate standing first in the list on the same day of selection through Registered Post and copy of the result will be displayed on the notice board.

Detailed instructions are in Directorates letter No 19-10/2010-GDS dated 25.06.2010 & 18.10.2013, 17-39/6/2012-GDS dated 14.01.2015, 17-39/1/2012-GDS dated 14.01.2015 and 17-39/2012-GDS dated 16.09.2015.

Relaxation of eligibility condition for promotion to the cadre of PM Grade II and III

Selection Process for engagement to all approved categories of GDS Posts - Review thereof