Concerned Ministries advised to issue their Orders on Allowances governed by them immediately so that

Resolution conveying the Central Government’s decision on recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on Allowances has been published in Gazette of India yesterday i.e.6^th July, 2017.

Based on the Report of Committee on Allowances (CoA) and the recommendation of E-CoS, the Cabinet had earlier approved the modifications in 34 Allowances in its Meeting held on 28th June 2017. 

All allowances are given effect from 1st July 2017. 

Concerned Ministries have now been advised to issue their Orders on Allowances governed by them immediately so that the revised rates of allowances get reflected in the current month's Salary Bills of the Government employees.

Major Highlights of the Allowances approved by the Union Cabinet are as follows:

• Cabinet approved recommendations of 7^th CPC on allowances with 34 modifications - revised rates effective from 01.07.2017
• It will benefit 34 lakh Civilian employees and 14 lakh Defence Forces personnel
• 7^th CPC examined 197 allowances, recommending abolition of 53 allowances and subsuming 37 in others.
• 7^th CPC recommended revised rates commensurate with Dearness Allowance
• Fully DA-indexed allowances - no raise, not DA indexed raised by 2.25, partially indexed raised by 1.5, % based rationalised by 0.8
• Risk & Hardship Matrix evolved for allowances linked to risk and hardship
• 7^th CPC projected additional financial implication at Rs.29,300 cr per annum, modifications to have additional implication of Rs.1448.23 cr
• Combined additional financial implication estimated at Rs.30748.23 crore per annum.

1.        Number of allowances recommended to be abolished and subsumed:

·          Government decided not to abolish 12 allowances in view of specific functional requirements

·         3 of 37 subsumed allowances will continue as separate identities due to unique nature of these allowances.

2.        House Rent Allowance (HRA)

·         HRA will be paid @24%, 16% & 8% for X, Y & Z cities respectively

·         HRA not to be less than Rs.5400, 3600 & 1800 for X,Y&Z cities, calculated @30,20,&10% of min pay ofRs.18000 - to benefit >7.5 lakh employee

·         7^th CPC recommended revision of HRA when DA reaches 50% & 100%, Govt decided to revise rates when DA crosses 25% and 50% respectively.

3.        Siachen Allowance:

• Rates of Siachen Allowance increased from Rs.14000 pm (Soldiers) to Rs.30000 & Rs.21000 pm (Officers) to Rs.42500 for extreme risk & hardship.

4.        Dress Allowance:

·         Government decided to pay Dress Allowance to Nurses on monthly basis due to high maintenance and hygiene requirements.

·         Higher rate of Dress Allowance for Special Protection Group accepted by Govt.

5.        Tough Location Allowance:

·          7^th CPC recommended-TLA not to be granted with SDA-Govt decided to give option of SCLRA at pre-revised rates with SDA at revised rates

6.                     Recommendations in respect of some important allowances paid to all categories:

·           Children Education Allowance increased from Rs.1500 pm/child (max.2) to Rs.2250/child and Hostel Subsidy increased from Rs.4500 pm to Rs.6750 pm.

·           Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities doubled from Rs.1500 pm to Rs.3000 pm

·            Higher Qualification Incentive for Civilians increased from Rs.2000 - Rs.10000 (Grant) to Rs.10000 –Rs.30000 (Grant)

7.        Recommendations in respect of some important allowances paid to Uniformed Services: Defence, CAPFs, Police, Indian Coast Guard and Security Agencies

·       Abolition of Ration Money Allowance and free ration to Defence officers in peace areas not accepted, RMA to be credited in bank account

·       Technical Allowance (Tier-II) not to be merged, Govt. decided to continue Technical Allowance (Tier-II) @Rs.4500 pm-courses to be reviewed

·       Aeronautical Allowance increased Rs.300 pm to Rs.450 pm and extended to Indian Coast Guard also

·       Counter Insurgency Ops (CI Ops) Allowance for counter – insurgency ops increased from Rs.3000 - Rs.11700 pm to Rs.6000 – Rs.16900 pm

·       MARCOS and Chariot Allowance paid to marine commandos increased from Rs.10500 - Rs.15750 pm to Rs.17300 – Rs.25000 pm

·       Conditionality of 12 hrs reduced to 4 hrs for Sea Going Allowance and rates increased from Rs.3000 - Rs.7800 pm to Rs.6000 – Rs.10500 pm

·       COBRA Allowance granted to CRPF personnel in Naxal hit areas increased from Rs.8400 - Rs.16800 pm to Rs.17300 – Rs.25000 pm

·       Modified Field, Field & Highly Active Field Area Allowances increased from Rs.1200 - Rs.12600 pm to Rs.6000 – Rs.16900 pm.

·       Flying Allowance increased from Rs.10500 - Rs.15750 pm to Rs.17300 – Rs.25000 pm and extended to BSF Air Wing also

·       High Altitude Allowance increased from Rs.810 - Rs.16800 pm to Rs.2700 – Rs.25000 pm

·       Higher Qualification Incentive for Defence Personnel increased from Rs.9000 – Rs.30000 (Grant) to Rs.10000 – Rs.30000 (Grant).

·       Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Allowance increased from Rs.1500 / 3000 pm to Rs.4100 / 5300 pm

·       Additional Free Railway Warrant (Leave Travel Concession) extended to CAPFs.

·       Territorial Army Allowance increased from Rs.175 - Rs.450 pm to Rs.1000 –Rs. 2000 pm

·       Ceilings of Deputation (Duty) Allowance for Defence Personnel increased from Rs.2000 - Rs.4500 pm to Rs.4500 - Rs.9000 pm

·       Detachment Allowance increased Rs.165 - Rs.780 per day to Rs.405 – Rs.1170 per day

·       Para Jump Instructor Allowance increased from Rs.2700/3600 pm to Rs.6000/10500 pm

·       Govt. increased Special Security Allowance for Special Protection Group to 55% and 27.5% of BP for ops and non – ops duties

·       Housing provisions for PBORs and their families residing at other stations significantly improved and linked to HRA, process simplified

Thanking for reading my article. . . . . . .

The Central Government: There is no change made in any subject relating to education in the GST era, except to reduce tax rate on certain items of education such as school bags etc.; Denies the reports that education will become expensive under GST; Rather services provided by an educational institution to students, faculty and staff are exempt.

The Central Government denies all such reports that education will become expensive under GST. It states that such reports are completely unsubstantiated.  In fact, there is no change made in any subject relating to education in the GST era, except to reduce tax rate on certain items of education such as school bags etc.

            It may be mentioned that services provided by an educational institution to students, faculty and staff are exempt:

(i) pre-school education and education up to higher secondary school or equivalent;

(ii) education as a part of a curriculum for obtaining a qualification recognised by any law for the time being in force;

(iii) education as a part of an approved vocational education course.

            Transportation of students, faculty and staff services provided to an educational institution (providing pre-school education and education up to higher secondary school or equivalent) are exempt from GST. Similarly, catering, including any mid-day meals scheme sponsored by the Central Government, State Government or Union territory, to an educational institution providing education upto higher secondary school or equivalent, are also exempt from GST. Further, security or cleaning or housekeeping services performed in such educational institutions are also exempt from GST. Finally, services relating to admission to, or conducting of examination by, such institutions, upto higher secondary, too are exempt from GST.

Thus, education up to Higher Secondary School level does not suffer GST on output services and also on most of the important input services.  Some of the input services like transport, canteen etc. provided by private players to educational institutions were subject to service tax in pre-GST era and the same is continued in GST regime.

             Furthermore, services by an entity registered under section 12AA of the Income-tax Act by way of charitable activities relating to advancement of educational programmes or skill development for

(a) abandoned, orphaned or homeless children

(b) physically or mentally abused and traumatized persons

(c) prisoners

(d)  persons over the age of 65 years residing in a rural area 

are also exempt from GST.

            Hence, there has been no change in taxability of educational and other services on account of GST.

IMD Issues Weather Warning For The Next Five Days

07JULY(Day1):♦ Heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Assam & Meghalaya; heavy at isolated places over Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sub­ Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

08JULY(Day2):♦Heavy  to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places with extremely heavy at isolated places over Assam Meghalaya; heavy at isolated places over Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram &Tripura.

09JULY(Day3):♦Heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places with extremely heavy at isolated places over Assam & Meghalaya; heavy to very heavy at isolated places over Sub­ Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim; heavy at   isolated places over Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram &Tripura.

10July(Day4):♦Heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya; heavy at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura and Kerala.

11July(Day5):♦Heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh; heavy at isolated places over Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sub­ Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram &Tripura, Konkan & Goa and Coastal Karnataka.

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan briefs about the recent decisions taken by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

Government decides to continue the same issue prices for food-grains under the National Food Security Act till June, 2018: Shri Ram Vilas Paswan

Department of Consumer Affairs allows change in MRP on unsold stock prior to implementation of GST till 30th September: Shri Ram Vilas Paswan

Shri Paswan says details of letters and digits for display of MRP, net-quantity and consumer support on the pack of food items must be followed

 Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, talking to media here today said that the Government has decided to continue the same issue prices for food-grains under the National Food Security Act till June, 2018. Shri Paswan said that the details of letters and digits for display of MRP, net-quantity and consumer support on the pack of food items must be followed. Shri Paswan informed that Government has allowed the manufacturers or packers or importers of pre-packaged commodities to declare the changed retail sale price (MRP) on the unsold stock manufactured/packed/imported prior to 1^st July, 2017 after inclusion of the increased amount of tax due to GST, if any, in addition to the existing retail sale price (MRP), for three months w.e.f. 1^st July, 2017 to 30^thSeptember, 2017.

  

National Food Security Act (NFSA) – The NFSA was enacted with effect from 5.7.2013. When the NDA Government came into power in the year 2014, only 11 States had implemented the NFSA. By November, 2016 it got implemented in the entire country.

 Highly subsidized food-grains are provided to the eligible households @ Rs. 1/- per kg. Coarsegrains, Rs. 2/- per kg. Wheat and Rs. 3/- per kg. Rice. As per the provisions under the Act these prices shall be valid for a period of 3 years from the date of commencement of the Act and, thereafter, may be revised by the Central Government. However, the Central Government did not change the issue prices till June, 2017.

 Now, the Government has decided to continue the same issue prices under the Act till June, 2018. This decision will benefit 80.55 crore persons presently covered under the Act across the States/UTs.

 Reservation in PDS Licenses – The State Governments issue licenses for operating FPS under the provisions of TPDS Control Order 2016. The scheme for distribution of highly subsidized foodgrains through the PDS is focused on the poor and deprived sections of the society. The State Governments have been requested to follow the reservation policy for the SC/ST or their group/organizations while granting license for FPS.

 Amendments to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011– Provision for displaying prescribed declarations under Packaged Commodities Rules for selling goods on  e-commerce platform.

 Declarations under Packaged Commodities Rules, in case of food items, have been aligned with declarations to be made under FSSAI, except 3 declarations required under Legal Metrology viz. MRP, Net-quantity and Consumer Care details.

 The size of words and numbers for mandatory declarations has been increased so that a consumer can easily read.

 The provision on dual MRP has been made clear by the explanation – “No person shall declare different MRPs on an identical pre-packaged commodity by adopting respective trade practices or unfair trade practices as defined under Consumer Protection Act 1986.

 Testing of net quantity and its declaration has been made more scientific in the interest of industries.

 Relaxation regarding change of MRP of Packaged Commodity due to implementation of GST – On account of implementation of GST w.e.f. 1^st July, 2017, there may be instances where the retail sale price of a pre-packaged commodity is required to be changed. In this context, we have allowed the manufacturers or packers or importers of pre-packaged commodities to declare the changed retail sale price (MRP) on the unsold stock manufactured/packed/imported prior to 1^st July, 2017 after inclusion of the increased amount of tax due to GST, if any, in addition to the existing retail sale price (MRP), for three months w.e.f. 1^st July, 2017 to 30^th September, 2017. Declaration of the changed retail sale price (MRP) shall be made by way of stamping or putting sticker or online printing, as the case may be.

 It is also clarified that  ‘for reducing the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), a sticker with the revised lower MRP (inclusive of all taxes) may be affixed and the same shall not cover the MRP declaration made by the manufacturer or the packer, as the case may be, on the label of the package’.

 Use of unexhausted packaging material/wrapper has also been allowed upto 30^th September, 2017 after making the necessary corrections.   

Thanking you so much..

Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India

Taking forward the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016, a ‘Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India’ has been launched by Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.

The Scheme aims at raising IPR awareness amongst students, youth, authors, artists, budding inventors and professionals to inspire them to create, innovate and protect their creations and inventions across India including Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 cities as well as rural areas in the next 3 years.

The Scheme for IPR Awareness aims to conduct over 4000 IPR awareness workshops/seminars in academic institutions (schools and colleges) and the industry ,including MSMEs and Startups, as also IP training and sensitization programmes for enforcement agencies and the judiciary.

Workshops will cover all vital IP topics including international filing procedures, promotion of Geographical Indications and highlighting the ill effects of piracy and counterfeiting.

The Scheme for IPR Awareness would be implemented through partner organizations to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, for which complete details can be viewed .

Kharif Crop Sowing Crosses 404 Lakh Hectare Area

 The total sown area as on 7^th July 2017, as per reports received from States, stands at 404.27 lakh hectare as compared to 371.39 lakh hectare at this time last year.

            It is reported that rice has been sown/transplanted in 79.81 lakh ha, pulses in 44.11 lakh ha, coarse cereals in80.78 lakh ha, sugarcane in 47.93 lakh hectare and cotton in 71.82 lakh ha.

             The details of the area covered so far and that covered during this time last year are given below:

                                                                                                                              Lakh hectare 

Crop	Area sown in 2017-18	Area sown in 2016-17
Rice	79.81	75.28
Pulses	44.11	35.88
Coarse Cereals	80.78	70.11
Oilseeds	72.87	69.74
Sugarcane	47.93	45.22
Jute & Mesta	6.95	7.27
Cotton	71.82	67.89
Total	404.27	371.39

Several initiatives taken by the Government for Northeast youth, says Dr Jitendra Singh

 The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh said that several new initiatives for the youth of Northeast have already been rolled out while others are in the pipeline, during an interactive session here yesterday, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has come out with a “Venture Fund” for the young Start-Ups. He said that, considering the incredible talent of the Northeast youth in excelling in international athletics and gymnastics, a state-of-the-art Sports University will soon come up in Manipur, for which the land has already been acquired.

Dr Jitendra Singh also mooted the idea of holding coaching classes for preparation of Civil Services Examination via satellite and tele-education for youth living in the remote parts of peripheral States, where they felt deprived of such facility unlike their counterparts in some of the metros and other cities.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that it is remarkable how the youth of Northeast had the capacity and determination to excel in diverse fields of activity, notwithstanding the constraints of lack of infrastructure or training/coaching facilities. Citing the example of the Tripura girl, Ms. Dipa Karmakar, who achieved world fame through her performance in Gymnastics, Dr Jitendra Singh said that he was pleased to note that the Ministry of DoNER had also tried to mentor her during her preparatory phase, even though in her early phase she did not have enough access to any formal training.

With a fast-track improvement in connectivity and means of transport during the last three years, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the business houses as well as investors have started showing interest in Northeast, which would ultimately augur well for job creation and employment. Even this year, he disclosed that there was a significant increase in the tourist flow, due to the priority given to the Northeast region by the tour operators from the rest of the country.

In response to a query, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Public-Private-Participation (PPP) model will help to carry forward all these initiatives and the private sector can also be encouraged to spend a substantial part of CSR (Corporate Social-Responsibility) funds in the remote areas of NER. He said that, for this purpose, he would take up with the Government, the feasibility of giving tax exemption for CSR spent in this region or fixing a certain mandatory percentage of CSR for this purpose.