Friday, 14 February 2025

Guidelines for formation of Quality Check Team in Department of Posts for Physical Verification of PMEGP Units

 Guidelines for formation of Quality Check Team in Department of Posts for Physical Verification of PMEGP Units


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Exploring feasibility to offer land by the Villagers might free of cost for erecting Departmental buildings or free built up spaces

Exploring feasibility to offer land by the Villagers might free of cost for erecting Departmental buildings or free built up spaces

 

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 A post office that floats? Only with India Post!

From the serene waters of Dal Lake, Srinagar, to the remotest corners of our nation, we make the impossible possible.

 


 

#PicOfTheDay #IndiaPost

Jyotiraditya M Scindia Dr.Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani MyGovIndia Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India All India Radio News Amrit Mahotsav DDNewsLive

 

 

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Thursday, 13 February 2025

Fiscal Priorities and Unjustified Withholding of DA/DR Arrears

 Fiscal Priorities and Unjustified Withholding of DA/DR Arrears


In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 172 answered on 3rd February 2025, the government reiterated its decision to withhold the arrears of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Government employees and pensioners covering the 18-month period from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. The Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, justified this move by citing the adverse financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fiscal burden of welfare measures, which, according to the government, made the release of these arrears unfeasible. However, this decision has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among the affected employees and pensioners, particularly when examined alongside the government's extensive financial expenditures in other areas. A closer look at these expenditures reveals a glaring disparity that questions the justification for withholding DA/DR arrears.
One of the major welfare measures taken during the pandemic was the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), launched in March 2020 to provide free food grains to approximately 80 crore people. While the scheme was undoubtedly necessary to mitigate economic hardship, its financial burden on the government was substantial. Initial reports from the Press Information Bureau indicated that the expenditure on the scheme amounted to nearly Rs.2.60 lakh crore, and by December 2022, the total spending had risen to Rs.3.43 lakh crore. The government’s commitment to ensuring food security for the vulnerable sections of society was commendable, but it also raises concerns about the selective approach in prioritizing fiscal allocations, particularly when the relatively modest DA/DR arrears are being denied to employees and pensioners.
Simultaneously, Indian banks have written off a staggering Rs.10.57 lakh crore in bad loans over the past five financial years. This includes write-offs of Rs.2.09 lakh crore in FY23, Rs.1.70 lakh crore in FY24, and Rs.2.34 lakh crore in FY20. The justification often provided for these massive write-offs is that they help clean up bank balance sheets, but in reality, they represent a significant loss of public funds. These write-offs often benefit corporate defaulters at the cost of the taxpayers, further highlighting the government’s misplaced fiscal priorities.

Adding to this financial leniency towards corporate entities, in 2019, the government implemented a reduction in the corporate tax rate to 22% for domestic companies and 15% for new domestic manufacturing companies. This move, while aimed at boosting economic growth and attracting investment, resulted in an estimated revenue loss of Rs.1.45 lakh crore. Such tax concessions to corporate houses stand in stark contrast to the stringent measures imposed on government employees and pensioners, who have been denied their rightful arrears on the grounds of financial constraints. Furthermore, the Union Budget for 2025-26 introduced significant income tax cuts, raising the tax-free income threshold to Rs.12 lakh per annum. This move is expected to cost the government approximately Rs.1 trillion in revenue. While these tax reforms are designed to boost consumption and economic activity, they also reflect the government's capacity to forgo substantial revenue to achieve policy objectives.
The decision to freeze DA and DR for 18 months was projected to save the government approximately Rs.34,402.32 crore. This amount, when compared to the Rs.10.57 lakh crore in bad loans written off and the Rs.1.45 lakh crore foregone due to corporate tax cuts, appears relatively insignificant. This amount is approximately 1% of the Rs.3.43 lakh crore spent on PMGKAY, about 0.28% of the Rs.12.3 lakh crore in loan write-offs over the past decade, and roughly 2.37% of the Rs.1.45 lakh crore revenue foregone due to corporate tax cuts. This comparison raises questions about the government's fiscal priorities, particularly concerning its employees and pensioners. If the government could absorb these massive financial setbacks without adverse economic consequences, the claim that releasing DA/DR arrears would harm the nation's fiscal health seems unconvincing.
The refusal to release these arrears is not just an economic issue but also a question of fairness. Central Government employees and pensioners served the nation through the pandemic, often working under challenging conditions. Releasing the DA/DR arrears would not only provide financial relief to them but also boost consumer spending, thereby stimulating economic activity. Denying them their rightful dues while allowing corporate tax cuts and loan write-offs creates a perception of fiscal discrimination.
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Stepping up Government Servant’s Pay under CCS (RP) Rules, 2016: Question raised in Rajya Sabha and answered on 11.02.2025

 Stepping up  Government Servant’s Pay under CCS (RP) Rules, 2016: Question raised in Rajya Sabha and answered on 11.02.2025

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTIONS No. 876
TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025/22 MAGHA, 1946 (SAKA)

“STEPPING UP GOVERNMENT SERVANT’S PAY” –

876: Shri Neeraj Shekhar

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

a) the details of references/representations received by Department of Expenditure, since 1st January, 2025 till date, from various Ministries/Departments and other organizations where CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2016 is applicable, regarding stepping up of pay of senior Government servants promoted to higher post on or before 01.01.2015 and drawing less pay in revised pay structure than their juniors who were promoted on or after 01.01.2016 under CCS (Revised Pay) Rule 7(10) read with Rule 13 of CCS (RP) Rule, 2016, Ministry /Department/organization-wise, and

b) the number of such references which are pending along with the reasons therefor, reference-wise?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY

(a) & (b): No such reference has been received since 1st January, 2025 in respect of senior government servants promoted on or before 01.01.2015.

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Directorate Instructions for non disturbance of postal services in c/w phase wise agitational programme by Postal JCA

 Directorate Instructions for non disturbance of postal services in c/w phase wise agitational programme by Postal JCA

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Parliament reply on Contractual appointments in Central Services

 Parliament reply on Contractual appointments in Central Services

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Optimal Utilization of resources at Post Offices for Business Activities

 Optimal Utilization of resources at Post Offices for Business Activities

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Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Celebration of International Women's Day on 8th March in Department of Posts

 Celebration of International Women's Day on 8th March in Department of Posts



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