01/02/2017

POSTAL DEPARTMENT BECOMES SMART WITH CSI TECHNOLOGY

Pilot project in Pune City East Division offers reliable mail delivery services by improving online tracking system

Now, tracking letters or documents sent by the post offices will become easier. The postal department has started the Core System Integration (CSI) as part of its IT modernisation project. This is the first time in Pune that regional post offices have been chosen for this initiative.

The postal department has picked the Pune City East Division for the pilot roll-out. CSI is an integrated system that includes counter operations, delivery operations, financial activities and human resource management. The CSI is designed to augment the service delivery efficiency of the post offices.

Ganesh V Sawaleshwarkar, postmaster general of Pune Region, informed, “With the implementation of CSI, Pune will have the distinction of implementing all modules of the IT modernisation project — core banking solution, core insurance solution, core system integration and rural information and communications technology. So far, the department would use different systems for various functions. With CSI, there will be one system and hence the work will be streamlined. We will be able to provide better services to the customers.”

Once the documents are sent, a notification will be available to know when it can be expected to reach the recipient. The sender can also track the stage of delivery by using the verification code, which will be generated by the postal office.

Cheering the initiative, Neshrul Ansari (35), a Lohegaon resident, said, “I received a document on Friday morning, which was sent on Sunday by my friend based in Nagpur. Nearly five hours later, my friend received a message on the phone that the package has been delivered. I am very pleased with the service.”

Delivery boys, who are under constant pressure to transport documents or other packages on time as well as furnish proof about the same to their seniors, are heaving a sigh of relief after this development.

Chirag Bhairavkar, who works for Lohegaon Post Office, shared, “Earlier, we used to put packages in the letter box of the recipient. Sometimes, if the documents did not reach the correct recipient, then they would come to the post office and create a ruckus. With the notifications on phone, the process becomes simpler for all.”

India Post Payments Bank will be a game changer for financial inclusion - Manoj Sinha

Press Information Bureau,

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

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30-January, 2017 18:27 IST

India Post Payments Bank will be a game changer for financial inclusion - Manoj Sinha IPPB branches launched in Ranchi & Raipur

Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley and Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha launched the operations of the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) here today as two pilot branches at Raipur and Ranchi through video conferencing from Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jaitley said that about 650 IPPB branches will be opened by September this year and that will have a multiplier impact as far as banking in India is concerned. He said with IPPB, banking at the doorstep will no longer remain a mere slogan, but will become a reality due to huge postal network in the country. He said that financial Inclusion is critical for the socio-economic development of the country, but there are significant gaps in this area and a large proportion of country’s population remain unbanked or underbanked. IPPB will effectively leverage the ubiquitous post office network with its pan-India physical presence, long experience in cash handling and savings mobilization, backed by the ongoing project of IT-enablement, to bridge this gap in Financial Inclusion.

In his address, Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has commended the hard work done by the Department of Posts in setting up the India Post Payments Bank and hoped that both organizations will work in tandem to take the benefits of government schemes and financial services that are not easily available in rural areas to customers across the country and to the marginalized population in urban and rural areas alike. He said, the objective of IPPB will be public service rather than promoting commercial interests.

Secretary, Department of Posts, Shri B.V.Sudhakar said that the IPPB is widely expected to be a game changer for financial inclusion in the country as the USP of this initiative is doorstep banking, particularly in the rural areas.

As mandated by the RBI, the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) would focus on providing basic financial services such as all kinds of payments; including social security payments, utility bill payments, person to person remittances (both domestic and cross-border), current and savings accounts up to a balance of Rs 1 lac, distribution of insurance, mutual funds, pension products and acting as business correspondent to other banks for credit products especially in rural areas and among the underserved segments of the society.

Set up us a 100% Government of India owned Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts, it will open around 650 branches in district HQ locations. All 1.55 lacs post offices including the 1.39 lac of the rural post offices will be mapped to the IPPB branch at the district headquarter and function as access points for IPPB. IPPB will usher in state of the art internet and mobile banking platforms, digital wallets and use innovative and emerging technologies to catalyse the shift from a cash dominant to a less cash economy.

While many other banks and financial institutions are working on the same theme, the USP of IPPB will be its ability to ease access and handhold the adoption of new age banking and payments instruments among citizen of all walks of life through the delivery by postmen and Grameen Dak sevaks, savings agents and other franchisees who will take banking to door steps. IPPB thus aspires to the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man with the motto - "No customer is too small, no transaction too insignificant, and no deposit too little".

Given 'in principle' approval by the RBI along with 10 other aspirants on 19th Aug 2015, IPPB received the cabinet’s approval on 1st June, 2016 and was incorporated as on 17th Sept, 2106. Today it became the second payments bank to launch its operations. Having got its final banking license from the RBI on the 20th Jan 2017 it has commenced operations in record time of 10 days in partnership with the Punjab National Bank, after obtaining all necessary approvals and registrations from the RBI, NPCI etc.

A commemorative stamp and a logo of the new bank were also launched on the occasion.

31.01.2017

TECHNICAL RESIGNATION & LIEN HIGHLIGHTS – CONSOLIDATED GUIDELINES
Highlights of DoPT OM No. 28020/1/2010-Estt(C) Dtaed 17.08.2016

1. Technical Resignation:

• Government servant should have applied through proper channel for a post in same or some other Department.
• If the conditions are met, it will be taken as Technical resignation, even if it was not mentioned as Technical Resignation while applying and all admissible benefits should be extended.
• If competent authority not allowed the forwarding of application, it will not be treated as Technical resignation.
• Benefits are admissible even if the employee applied before joining the service and application was not routed through proper channel, provided employee should intimate such application immediately after joining the service.

2. Balance leave credited:

• Balance of utilized Child Care Leave and other leaves will be carried forward.
• In case of permanent absorption in PSU/Autonomous Body/State Govt. employee is eligible for cash equivalent of leave salary in respect of EL & HPL at his credit subject to the limit of 300 days.

3. LTC carry forwarded: Entitlement for LTC will be carry forward.

4. Pay Protection: Protection of Pay will be given.
If employee rejoins his previous post:

• In case employee rejoins his earlier post, he will be entitled for increments for the period of his absence from that post.
• Transfer of GPF will be governed.
• Seniority in the post held by the employee on substantive basis continues to be protected.

5. However the period spent in other department will not be counted for minimum qualifying service for promotion.

6. Past service counted for Pension: Employee originally joined before 1.1.2004, joined the new post on technical resignation after 1.1.2004, his past services are counted towards pension.

7. Transfer of NPS account: In case of NPS, the balance standing in Personal Retirement Account along with PRNA will be carried forward to new office.

8. Service Book transfer: Service Book from the date first appointment must be kept in the custody of head office in which employee is serving and transferred with him from office to office.

9. Medical Examination & verification:

• If standard of medical examination is same for the new post, then employee need not to undergo fresh medical examination.
• No need for verification of character & Antecedents of the employee, if period of discharging from previous post and appointment to new post is less than a year.

10. Lien will be maintained for two years normally, 3 years in exceptional cases.

11. Joining Time, Joining time pay & allowances:

• Central & State Govt employees are eligible for joining time, which will be included as qualifying service in new Job.
• During Joining Time, Eligible for pay equal to pay drawn in old post before relinquishment, DA &

HRA. No Transport allowance

• Entitled for Transfer Travelling Allowance.

Download Technical Resignation and Lien highlights and OM No. 28020/1/2010-Estt(C) Dtaed 17.08.2016 by clicking the below link

Download

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Inauguration snapshots of First India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Branches at Raipur & Ranchi on 30.01.2017

Click below link to view Inauguration video

India Post Payment Bank

India Post Payment Bank Account Opening Form

IPPB - Savings Account Opening Form Download

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RBI Circular: No Limit for Cash Withdrawal from ATMs from February 1

RBI/2016-17/217

DCM (Plg) No. 2905/10.27.00/2016-17

January 30, 2017

The Chairman / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer,

Public Sector Banks / Private Sector Banks / Foreign Banks,

Regional Rural Banks / Urban Co-operative Banks,

State Co-operative Banks / District Central Co-operative Banks

Dear Sir/Madam,

Limits on Cash withdrawals from Bank accounts and ATMs - Restoration of status quo ante

Please refer to our circular DCM (Plg) No.1226/10.27.00/2016-17 dated November 08, 2016 placing limits on Cash withdrawals from bank accounts and ATMs in the wake of withdrawal of Legal Tender Character of Specified Bank Notes (SBN) and subsequent circulars DCM (Plg) Nos.1256, 1274, 1317, 1437, 2142 and 2559 dated November 11, 14, 21, 28, December 30, 2016 and January 16, 2017 respectively, providing for relief and relaxations therefrom.

2. On a review of the pace of remonitisation, it has been decided to partially restore status quo ante as under:

1. Limits placed vide the circulars cited above on cash withdrawals from Current accounts/ Cash credit accounts/ Overdraft accounts stand withdrawn with immediate effect.
2. The limits on Savings Bank accounts will continue for the present and are under consideration for withdrawal in the near future.
3. Limits vide the circulars cited above placed on cash withdrawals from ATMs stand withdrawn from February 01, 2017. However, banks may, at their discretion, have their own operating limits as was the case before November 8, 2016, subject to 2 (ii) above.

3. Further, banks are urged to encourage their constituents to sustain the movement towards digitisation of payments and switching over of payments from cash mode to non-cash mode.

4. Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully,

(P Vijaya Kumar)

Chief General Manager

30/01/2017

Promotion and postings of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) officers of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' to Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) of the Service and posting of an HAG officer of the Service 30-01-2017

To view please Click Here.

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IPPB Savings Account Charges and Remittance Charges Published

IPPB - Schedule of Charges

(Tariffs are excluding applicable taxes)

Savings account charges and features

Notes:

1. The above charges are in addition to the transaction charges (e.g. charges for AEPS are not included above). Please refer to the respective sections for transaction charges
2. The higher of financial and non-financial transaction charges for doorstep banking will be levied in case a customer avails both the facilities in a single visit (e.g. If a customer avails cash deposit of INR 10,000 and balance enquiry in a single doorstep visit, the customer will be charged INR 20 for that visit)
3. Only three transactions are allowed per visit. Fourth transaction would be treated as another visit, and charges would apply accordingly

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Inauguration of the pilot branches of IPPB at Raipur and Ranchi through video conferencing by Arun Jaitely and Manoj Sinha on 30th January 2017, at 5PM

29/01/2017

Budget 2017: The Make it or Break it one for Modi Government

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MTS &Mail Guard , Chennai Sorting 39th Division Conference 

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28/01/2017

ATTENTION TAX PAYERS!

As you are aware, a tax deduction is a reduction in tax obligation from a taxpayer's gross income and it can be the result of a variety of events that the taxpayer experiences over the course of the year, which lowers the taxpayer's overall tax liability. 

At present different tax codes allow taxpayers to deduct a variety of expenses from taxable income. Taxation authorities in both the Central and State governments set the tax code standards at different intervals. It is an un- disputed fact that the tax deductions set by government authorities are often used to entice taxpayers to participate in community service programs for the betterment of society. Thus the taxpayers who are aware or unaware of eligible central and state tax deductions greatly benefit through both tax deduction and service-oriented activities annually. 

We have been paying a huge amount of tax daily, monthly, quarterly half yearly or yearly towards different kinds of taxes to the Government, such as Service Tax, Building Tax, , Property tax, Gift Tax, Entertainment tax, Sales Tax, Excise tax/duty , Professional tax Income tax etc. In addition to that certain amount of cess is also levied along with taxes in some cases. Suppose the telephone bill for a particular month is Rs. 1000/-, we are paying an additional amount of Rs.150/- or more towards service tax and cess. Likewise if we recharge our mobile phone for Rs.100/- more than Rs.15 is immediately deducted and the remainder only is credited towards talk time. So also is the case of purchase for goods and availing of services. As such though aware or unaware of the fact, thousands of rupees are paid by us towards taxes including income tax every year. 

Actually, the amount equal to the sum total of such taxes is a part of our income earmarked for government purpose. In short, the beneficiary of this part our hard earned money the Government as it is not utilized by personal or family purposes by the tax payer. Due to the very reason, we the individual tax payers including the salary class are entitled to get deduction from income tax equal to the sum total of different taxes paid especially income tax. But it is disheartening that only Professional Tax is being deducted from our income while computing income tax. As a result a huge amount of loss is being sustained by the tax payers every year,

The following simple calculation would reveal this

Suppose the Gross income of an individual tax payer is Rs.700000/- before deduction of Rs.150000 under section 80 (C ). He had paid total tax of Rs. 50000/-(including income tax of previous year) .

Computation of income tax - present system(AY-2017-18)

Gross Income	Rs .700000
Deduction under Section 80 ( c)	Rs. 150000
Net taxable income	Rs. 550000
Income tax  payable (with out cess)	Rs.   35000

Computation of income tax under proposed system

Gross Income	Rs .700000
Deduction of  Taxes paid	Rs.   50000
Deduction under Section 80 ( c)	Rs. 150000
Net taxable income	Rs. 500000
Income tax  payable (with out cess)	Rs.   20000

Hence it would be advantageous is the Income tax computation system is revamped in such a way that un- necessary burden is shouldered by the individual tax payers who may have to take initiative to bring the matter to the notice of the government so as to remove the anomaly. 

1)India Post Payments Bank gets RBI nod to start ops

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2)Reflection of the recurrent lapses in observing financial discipline in the Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR)

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3)Yes, this is the Asian Century. But there’s still cause for Western optimism

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CSI Master Guide - Training Purpose only

27/01/2017

Limited Transfer Facility to GDS - Committee Recommendations

The Committee recommends relaxing the Limited Transfer Facility of GDS on request with following salient features.

NUGDS BRIEF NOTE SUBMITTED TO GDS PAY COMMITTEE

CSI Master Guide - Training Purpose only

To view, please CLICK HERE. 

CSI Hand Book prepared by RO, Pune

 

View/Download

650 districts in country to have post office PSKs

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has drawn up ambitious plans of opening post office Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in 650 districts across the country soon.

Disclosing this during the inauguration of a post office PSK here on Wednesday, MEA Secretary D.M. Mulay said the MEA was planning to collaborate with the Department of Posts by opening PSKs at district level across the country to meet the growing demand for passports. The demand for passports in India, which is around 2 crore a year, was the third highest in the world after China and the U.S. A total of 60,000 passports are issued every day in the country, he added.

While there are a total of 89 PSKs in the country, the first two post office PSKs were opened at the Metagalli Post office in Mysuru and the Head Post office at Dahod in Gujarat in pilot mode on Wednesday.

Usha Chandrashekar, member, Postal Services Board, who was also present at the inauguration, said the postal officials will be processing the applications for verification of documents and obtaining the photographs and biometrics of the applicants at the post office PSKs.

The Department of Posts, which was earlier only handling posts, has also been handling a variety of other services, including delivering e-commerce parcels, insurance, social security products, and agricultural seeds. Now, it will be handling delivery of passport-related services in an IT-enabled manner, she added.

Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who inaugurated the post office PSK in Mysuru, hoped that all the districts of the country will have a PSK in one year’s time and appreciated Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s initiative in the regard.

Pratap Simha, MP, recalled that the demand for a PSK for Mysuru was the first issue on which he had spoken in the Parliament after his election. He revealed that the decision to start a post office PSK in Mysuru from Wednesday was taken only last Friday and appreciated the officials of the Regional Passport Office, Bengaluru, led by RPO P.S. Karthigeyan for making the necessary arrangements in quick time.

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1)Pay Fixation of 4200 MACP on 15.3.2016 –misinterpretation of RPR 2016 leading to incorrect pay fixation of employees

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2)Clarification on purchase of Air Tickets from Unauthorized Agents

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3)Clarification regarding timely payment of GPF final payment to the retiring Government Servant – DoPT Order.

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4)Govt to look into issues of Aadhaar being made mandatory for select schemes

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