PM Modi to launch India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) on September 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 1 will launch long-awaited India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) that will have at least one branch in every district and focus on financial services in rural areas, a senior official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to launch IPPB on August 21. IPPB will leverage reach of 1.55 lakh post office branches to provide banking and financial service to people in rural areas. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 1 will launch long-awaited India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) that will have at least one branch in every district and focus on financial services in rural areas, a senior official said. “The launch of India Post Payments Bank has been rescheduled for September 1. The Prime Minister will launch,” a senior government official told PTI. The launch of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) was recently rescheduled in the wake of seven-day national mourning declared after the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to launch IPPB on August 21. IPPB will leverage reach of 1.55 lakh post office branches to provide banking and financial service to people in rural areas. “Government is trying to link all the 1.55 lakh post office branches with IPPB services by the end of this year,” the official said. This will create the country’s largest banking network with direct presence at village level.

IPPB CEO Suresh Sethi had earlier said that IPPB will go live with 650 branches in addition to 3,250 access points co-located at post offices and around 11,000 postmen both in rural and urban areas will provide doorstep banking services. IPPB has permission to link around 17-crore postal savings bank (PSB) accounts with its account.

With IPPB in place, people in rural area will be able to avail digital banking and financial services, including money transfer, to any bank account either with help of mobile app or by visiting a post office. IPPB was the third entity to receive payments bank permit after Airtel and Paytm.

Payments banks can accept deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh per account from individuals and small businesses. The postal payment bank has permit to carry RTGS, NEFT, IMPS transaction that will enable IPPB customers to transfer and receive money from any bank account. With the third party tie-ups, account holders in IPPB will be able to avail financial services as in case of a regular banking customer. The payment bank will be used by government to distribute NREGA wages, subsidies, pension etc.

The IPPB app which is expected to be launched on same day will enable customers to pay for services of around 100 firms including phone recharges and bill, electricity bill, DTH service, college fees etc that are present on Bharat Bill payments system of National Payments Corporation of India.

CASUAL LABOUR REGULARISATION - MOST IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT APPLICABLE TO THOSE APPOINTED AFTER 1993 AND AFTER 2006 WHO COMPLETED 10 YEARS SERVICE

CASUAL LABOUR REGULARISATION - MOST IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT APPLICABLE TO THOSE APPOINTED AFTER 1993 AND AFTER 2006 WHO COMPLETED 10 YEARS SERVICE

GDS Orders by Department of Posts

GDS Orders by Department of Posts

Introduction of Maternity Leave for the female Gramin Dak Sevaks (Female GDSs) in the Department of Posts 

Implementation of recommendations of one-man committee on Social Security Benefits for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS)


Implementation of recommendations of One-man committee on wages and allowances of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs)


REVIEW OF THE SCHEME FOR ENGAGEMENT OF A DEPENDENT OF DECEASED GDSs ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS
 
Reservation for persons with disability in engagement of GDS posts [Directorate Order] 

Your friendly neighbourhood postman is about to become a banker [IPPB]

NEW DELHI: Do you think the once-ubiquitous postman has been reduced to an anachronism in the age of the internet? Think again. Now postmen will be bringing digital banking to the doorsteps of crores of people with the launch of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).

The government is planning to launch IPPB at a grand function in Delhi’s Talkatora stadium on August 21. Set up us a 100% government-owned public limited company under the Department of Posts, IPPB is aimed at making banking easy for ordinary citizens. It will go live with 650 branches in addition to 3,250 access points co-located at post offices and around 11,000 postmen both in rural and urban area will provide doorstep banking services. It has permission to link around 17 crore postal savings bank accounts. The government plans to link all the 1.55 lakh post office branches with IPPB services by the end of this year. Earlier this year, IPPB had launched its pilot operations in Raipur and Ranchi.

What is a payments bank?

A payments bank is like any other bank, but operating on a smaller scale without involving any credit risk. In simple words, it can carry out most banking operations but can’t advance loans or issue credit cards. It can accept demand deposits (up to Rs 1 lakh) and offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases and other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking and third-party fund transfers.

The objectives of setting up of payments banks is to increase financial inclusion by providing small savings accounts and payments/remittance services to migrant labourers, low-income households, small businesses and other unorganised sector entities.

Here are a few unique services offered by the India Post Payments Bank:

Doorstep banking

Doorstep banking service is one of the most distinct features of IPPB, making it very accessible. With an aim to ease access and encourage adoption of new-age banking and payment instruments, IPPB will utilise the services of postmen to offer doorstep banking in rural areas. IPPB’s doorstep banking will offer following services: account opening; cash deposits/withdrawals; money transfers; recharge and bill payments; third-party services like insurance, loans and investments; and other account-related services like updating PAN/nomination details, requesting account statement, issuing standing instructions and QR card issuance.

What you pay for doorstep banking:

• Customer On-boarding: NIL

• Digital Transaction (Transaction other than cash deposits and withdrawals): Rs 15 per Transaction

• Cash Transaction (Cash Withdrawal, Cash Deposit): Rs. 25 per Transaction

Limits of Cash Deposit & Cash Withdrawal at Access Points & Doorstep

*Limits are per customer per day

  

QR card

Besides mobile banking, phone banking and SMS banking, QR card is another service IPPB is offering. With the help of QR card, you can access your bank account, and make transactions without having to remember the account number. All the transactions will be authenticated via biometric verification, which means if you lose your QR card, your money would still be safe. You can make transactions using your QR Card in three steps: scan the code, authenticate through biometric verification; complete the transaction.

Linkage with post office savings account

Existing India Post savings bank account holders will be allowed to link their accounts to IPPB accounts. IPPB's regular savings account has a cap on maximum end-of-day balance of Rs 1 lakh. With the linkage feature, the end-of-day balance above Rs. 1 lakh can be swept into the customer's linked post office savings account. IPPB's regular savings account offers interest rate of 4% p.a. which is paid quarterly and does not require customers to maintain any monthly average balance. Also, there's no restriction on the number of cash deposits and withdrawals.

HELP KERALA

DONATE LIBERALLY IN CHIEF MINISTER KERALA

DISTRESS RELIEF FUND

DETAILS OF BANK ACCOUNT

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 67319948232

STATE BANK OF INDIA CITY BRANCH

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IFS CODE: SBIN0070028

PAN: AAAGD0584M

Grand Felicitation to Com. M. Subba Rao

Happy Retirement

Review of Work Performance

Review of Work Performance under FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972

Review of Work Performance

The below statement said in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 1st August, 2018 regarding steps taken to identify dull officers and action taken against such officers…

Review of performance of Government servants is an ongoing process under Fundamental Rule 56(j) and Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, which provide that the performance of a Government servant on attaining a specified age or qualifying years of service is to be reviewed and he/she can be retired in public interest.The instructions on the procedure to be adopted and various aspects to be kept in view while conducting periodical review under provisions of the said rules have been issued from time to time.

As per available information provided by cadre controlling authorities, performance of a total of 25,082 Group ‘A’ and 54,873 Group ‘B’ officers has been reviewed up to May 2018; and provisions of Fundamental Rule 56 (j)/ relevant rules were invoked/ recommended against 93 Group ‘A’ and 132 Group ‘B’ officers out of these.

Confidential Rolls (CRs) / Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) of IAS officers are written for each financial year or as may be specified by the Government in the form and as per the schedule prescribed in the All India Services (Performance Appraisal Report) Rules, 2007.The appraisal form of IAS officers, inter alia, provides for comments on the overall quality of officers including areas of strength and his attitude towards weaker sections.

Authority: http://loksabha.nic.in/

counting of induction training period for MACPS

Respected  viewers,

            This article is regarding the counting of induction training period for MACPS.

In this connection, the following orders may be referred.

1.     Directorate letter no 44-2/2011-SPB dt 5.5.2016

2.     DOPT OM no 16/16/89-Estt(Pay-I) dt 22.10.1990

3.     DOPT OM no 16/16/89-Estt(Pay-I) dt 31.3.1992

4.     Directorate letter no 4-7/(MACPS)/2009-PCC dt 18.9.2009

5.     Directorate letter no 4-7/(MACPS)/2009-PCC dt 23.6.2006

6.     Directorate letter no 4-7/(MACPS)/2009-PCC dt 2.7.2018

The counting of induction training period for TBOP/BCR/MACPS is now discussed everywhere.

Separate orders are issued in this regard on various dates as cited in the above references.

            Whether the period of training is included for TBOP/BCR/MACPs is not the case. What is important is that whether such induction training period is counted for increment or not. Without going in to this vital issue there are so many questions regarding this issue. If any period is counted for increment, it would automatically counted for the promotions/financial upgradations. Let us see the developments in these cases.

            As per the reference cited 2 above, the induction training period was ordered to be counted for increment. This benefit was extended to those officials who underwent training on or after 1.1.1986 and the benefit was notional from 1.1.1986 to 30.9.1990 and on actual basis from 1.10.1990 vide reference 3 above. Those officials enjoy this benefit of counting their induction training period for increment. By virtue of this fact, this training period is also counted for TBOP/BCR automatically.

            After a prolonged battle, this benefit was extended to those officials who underwent training prior to 1.1.1986 vide communication cited 1 above. This is implemented in very few divisions, that too partially as mentioned in my previous article.

            As per Government of India’s orders (1) below FR 26, training period before appointment on stipend or otherwise counts for increment.

            On the basis of the above, for those officials who underwent training on or after 1.1.1986, this period should automatically counted for MACPS also. All the orders issued for MACPS to these officials should have been issued by counting the training period for this MACPS, in as much as such training period had already been counted for increment.  Any period which counts for increment will automatically counts for promotion.  As is the case, for these officials, since their training period had already been ordered to be counted for increment, this period should be counted for MACPS also, without any orders. In my opining no separate orders are required in this regard.

            For those who underwent training prior to 1.1.1986, orders for counting their induction training period for increment has been issued vide reference cited 1 above. Till such time the benefit could not be extended as the period of training had not been counted for increment. After the issue of this order dated 5.5.2016 and clarification thereof, these officials are also entitled for counting the training period for increment and consequently for TBOP/BCR/MACPS.

            The orders for MACPS and clarifications thereof had been issued vide references cited against 4,5 and 6. For these officials who underwent training prior to 1.1.1986, till 5.5.2016 there was confusion about the inclusion of training period for TBOP/BCR/MACPs. After the issue of the orders dated 5.5.2016, which extends the same benefit of counting the induction training period for increment on par with their counter parts trained on or after 1.1.1986, every official is entitled for this benefit of counting such training period for TBOP/BCR/MACPS, as the case may be.

            It is very important that counting of training period for increment and hence for TBOP/BCR/MACP is entirely different from counting of such period as qualifying service pension. Both are on entirely different footing. In the case of the erstwhile RTPs in whose case there is a break between the period of training and the date of appointment, this training period will be counted for increment but not as qualifying service for pension. This is because, for pension, the service should be continuous. It is suffice to add here that there are provisions to count such period of training for pension which is out of scope of this article. Unless and until action for condoning the break is issued, such training period cannot be taken as qualifying service for pension.

            To conclude, in my opinion, even in the absence of the 3 orders on MACPS, all the officials who underwent training on or after 1.1.1986 are eligible to count the training period for MACPS on the strength of orders dated 31.3.1992. Also those officials who underwent training prior to 1.1.1986 are eligible to count the training period for MACPS on the strength of orders dated 5.5.2016 and clarifications issued thereof.

            I hope action will be taken at appropriate level to include this period of training for TBOP/BCR and MACPS.

            Thank you.

Article by:

R.Hariharakrishnan

Manager,

Postal Stores Depot,

Tirunelveli 627002                              

Books for LGO Exam to be held on 09.12.2018

Happy Retirement

By when the benefit of reservation provided to Scheduled Tribes would come to an end

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1098

ANSWERED ON-26.07.2018

Extension of time limit of reservation for Scheduled Tribes

1098 . Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena

(a) the extent to which the people belonging to Scheduled Tribes, including the Meena tribe, have been benefitted, as a result of reservation of posts for them as on date;

(b) by when the benefit of reservation provided to them would come to an end; 

(c) whether Government proposes to extend the time-limit of reservation for the people of Scheduled Tribes for the next ten years;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) by when the time-limit for reservation is likely to be extended for them by Government? 

ANSWER

(a) Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is the nodal agency for framing policy for reservation of Scheduled Tribes. As per Department of Personnel & Training, the benefit of reservation for the Central Government posts and services is provided to the Scheduled Tribes as a composite group and not caste/sub-caste wise. The representation of Scheduled Tribes in the posts and services of the Central Government as on 01.01.2016 is 2,76,007 as against the total employee of 32,58,663, which comes to about 8.4%.

(b) to (e): Reservation to Scheduled Tribes is continuing in Direct Recruitment in all Grades. In Promotion, reservation for Scheduled Tribes is available up to entry level of Group ‘A’. No Specific time limit was fixed in DOPT’s OM dated 13.08.1997 for continuing reservation in promotion for Scheduled Tribes. However, this OM was quashed by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court on 23.08.2017 against which Special Leave Petition has been filed by Union of India in the Hon’ble Supreme Court, which is pending. 

Implementation of reservation in promotion for employees

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1067

ANSWERED ON-26.07.2018

Implementation of reservation in promotion for employees

1067 . Smt. Vijila Sathyananth

(a) whether it is a fact that Government has asked all its departments and the State Governments to implement reservation in promotion for employees belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes categories; 

(b) if so, the details thereof; 

(c) whether it is also a fact that the move comes following a recent verdict by the Supreme Court in this regard; and 

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d): The Supreme Court in Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.30621/2011 has passed the following order on 17.5.2018:-

“It is directed that the pendency of this Special Leave Petition shall not stand in the way of Union of India taking steps for the purpose of promotion from ‘reserved to reserved’ and ‘unreserved to unreserved’ and also in the matter of promotion on merits..”.

Further, in the matter related to Special Leave Petition (Civil) No.31288/2017 connected to Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) No.28306/2017, the Supreme Court held as under on 05.06.2018:-

“Heard learned counsel for the parties, Learned ASG has referred to order dated 17.05.2018 in SLP(C) No.30621/2011. It is made clear that the Union of India is not debarred from making promotions in accordance with law, subject to further orders, pending further consideration of the matter. Tag to SLP (C) No.30621 of 2011.”

Based on interim Orders/directions of the Supreme Court dated 17.05.2018 and 05.6.2018, Department of Personnel and Training vide Office Memorandum No. 36012/11/2016- Estt.(Res-I) {Pt-II} dated 15.06.2018 requested all the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India to carry out promotions in accordance with above directions of the Supreme Court on existing seniority / select lists subject to further orders which may be passed by the Supreme Court. The State Governments were advised to take necessary action in accordance with the above-mentioned orders passed by the Supreme Court.

Abolition of Contributory Pension Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-710

ANSWERED ON-24.07.2018

Abolition of Contributory Pension Scheme

710 . Shri Dharmapuri Srinivas

(a) whether the attention of Government is drawn to the matter of Contributory Pension Scheme and problems being faced by the employees;

(b) if so, the details thereof; 

(c) whether a number of requests from State Governments and Government employees have been received by Government to withdraw the CPS System, the status of such requests; and 

(d) whether Government is planning to resolve the matter and abolish the CPS System in view of the problems being faced by the employees?

ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance 

(a) to (d) Yes Sir. Representations have been received from various Associations of Government Employees on the problems being faced and the demand to withdraw the National Pension System (NPS). The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) also in its report examined the issues related to NPS and made recommendations for addressing these issues. Pursuant thereto, it was decided to constitute a Committee of Secretaries to suggest measures for streamlining NPS. The Committee has submitted its report. Due to rising and unsustainable pension bill and keeping in view of fiscal imperatives, it is not possible for the government to revert back to old pension scheme.

Post Office Not Liable To Pay Damages For Delay In Delivery Of Speed Post, Postal Articles: Chhattisgarh HC

‘He is only entitled for compensation equal to the composite speed post charges which he has paid and nothing less and nothing more.’

Can one get compensation from post office for the loss suffered by him when there is a delay in delivery of postal articles? Chhattisgarh High court says: No.

The Chhattisgarh High Court in Post Master vs. Rajesh Nag has held that post office is not liable to pay damages for delay in delivery of speed post, postal articles in light of Section 6 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.

Justice Sanjay K Agrawal set aside a permanent Lok Adalat order that granted damages to the extent of Rs. 25,000 to one Rajesh Nag. He had sent some application by speed post to university two days before the last date of submission. As it did not reach within two days, his application got rejected and he was not called for interview.

Assailing the Lok Adalat award, the Post Master had approached the high court contending that in view of provisions contained under Section 6 of the Act of 1898, for delay in transmission of the postal article, the post office is not responsible as the delay has not been caused fraudulently or willingly.

The bench referred to Section 6 of the Act which states the post office, which is run by the government, shall not be liable for delay caused in delivery of the postal articles either by ordinary or registered post, except the liability which may be expressed in terms undertaken by the Central Government.

Indian Post Office Rules, in this regard, state: “In case of delay in delivery of domestic speed post articles beyond the norms determined by the Department of Post from time to time, the compensation to be provided shall be equal to the composite speed post charges paid.” Also “In the event of loss of domestic speed post article or loss of its contents or damage to the contents, compensation shall be double the amount of composite speed post charges paid of Rs, 1,000 whichever is less.”

The court also observed that liability of the post office is not contractual but statutory and that the Post Office is the department of the Central Government and it is not a common carrier.

Setting aside the Lok Adalat order, the court said: “There was delay in course of transmission of the postal article sent by the petitioner to the Bastar University but by virtue of the provisions contained in Section 6 read with Rules of 1933 along with the notification dated 01st October, 2012, the petitioner is not liable to pay damages and respondent No. 1 is only entitled for compensation equal to the composite speed post charges which he has paid and nothing less and nothing more. Therefore, the Permanent Lok Adalat is absolutely unjustified in holding that the petitioner is entitled for Rs.25,000/- ignoring the mandate of Section 6 of the Act of 1898 and the Rules made thereunder merely on the ground that such a compensation is not practical when the Act provides.”

Post Office Savings Account - Number of Accounts, Outstanding & unclaimed balances and CBS facility - Lok Sabha Q & A

Post Office Savings Account - Number of Accounts, Outstanding & unclaimed balances and CBS facility - Lok Sabha Q & A

Proposals for opening of Post Offices in Rural Areas : LS Q & A (25-07-2018)

Proposals for opening of Post Offices in Rural Areas : LS Q & A (25-07-2018)