Tuesday 21 February 2012

EPFO may fix minimum pension at Rs 1,000 per month tomorrow


Retirement fund body EPFO could take a final call on fixing the minimum pension for its subscribers at Rs 1,000 per month, during a meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) scheduled tomorrow.

According to an Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's trustee, D L Sachdev, the CBT could fix minimum pension at Rs 1,000 per month for its subscribers.

The proposal is listed on the agenda for the meeting of CBT, the EPFO's apex decision making body.

The trustees body headed by the labour minister, will also discuss the proposal to issue contribution cards similar to bank passbooks to its over 4.72 crore subscribers, which would be updated on monthly basis from April 1, this year.

According to EPFO data, as of March 31, 2010, there were 35 lakh pensioners subscribed to the retirement fund body, of which 14 lakh persons get a monthly pension of less than Rs 500.

The number of EPFO pensioners getting a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 is 7 lakh. The data reveals there are cases where pensioners are getting a monthly pension as low as Rs 12 and Rs 38.

As per estimates, the proposal to hike the minimum pension to Rs 1,000 per month will require an additional contribution of 0.63 per cent of subscribers' basic pay and dearness allowance to the pension account.

The hike in contribution will be over-and-above the 8.33 per cent contributed by employers toward the pension account of employees, as well as the 1.16 per cent provided by the government under the scheme.


Source:ET

CHILDREN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE

solution for R net Communication Error HTTP IS not registered



Do the following steps to rectify this problem

1. Go to the folder C:\windows\System32\drivers\etc ( if you have installed windows on D partition  then the path will be like D:\windows\System32\drivers\etc)

2. Open the file “Hosts” file using notepad

3. There will be an entry like the following inside the hosts file
 127.0.0.1       localhost

 Add one more entry below.
 218.248.43.143 regnnet.ptcmysore.gov.in
 
-
With Regards

                                                      Help Desk
                                                      Center for Excellence in Postal Technology 
                                                      Postal Training Center Campus
                                                      Mysore 570010
                                                      Karnataka , India

Post Office Savings Schemes at a glance......


Scheme
Interest payable, Rates, Periodicity etc.
Investment limits and Denominations
Salient features including Tax Rebate
4.0% per annum on individual/ joint accounts.
Minimum INR 50/-.
Cheque facility available.  Interest Tax Free.
On maturity INR 10/- account fetches INR 738.62/-. Can be continued for another 5 years on year to year basis.

Minimum INR 10/- per month or any amount in multiples of INR 5/-. No maximum limit.
One withdrawal upto 50% of the balance allowed after one year. Full maturity value allowed on R.D. Accounts restricted to that of INR. 50/- denomination in case of death of depositor subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. 6 & 12 months advance deposits earn rebate.
Interest payable annually but calculated quarterly.
Period          Rate
1 yr. A/c      7.70%
2 yr. A/c      7.80%
3 yr. A/c      8.00%
5 yr. A/c      8.30%
Minimum INR 200/- and in multiples thereof. No maximum limit.
Account may be opened by individual.   The investment under this scheme qualify for the benefit of Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 from 1.4.2007.
8.2% per annum   w.e.f. 01.12.2011
In multiples of INR 1500/- Maximum INR 4.5 lakhs in single account and INR 9 lakhs in joint account.
Maturity period is 5 years. Can be prematurely encashed after one year with some conditions.  No Bonus   is admissible on maturity in respect of MIS accounts opened on or after 01.12.2011.
8.6% per annum w.e.f. 01.12.2011

Minimum INR. 500/- Maximum INR. 1,00,000/- in a financial year. Deposits can be made in lumpsum or in 12 installments.
Deposits qualify for deduction from income under Sec. 80C of IT Act. Interest is completely tax-free. Withdrawal is permissible every year from 7th financial year. Loan facility available from 3rd Financial year. No attachment under court decree order.
INR. 100/- grows to INR 150.90 after 5 years.

Minimum INR. 100/- No maximum limit available in denominations of INR. 100/-, 500/-, 1000/-, 5000/- & INR. 10,000/-.
A single holder type certificate can be purchased by an adult for himself or on behalf of a minor or to a minor. Deposits qualify for tax rebate under Sec. 80C of IT Act.
The interest accruing annually but deemed to be reinvested will also qualify for deduction under Section 80C of IT Act.
INR. 100/- grows to INR 234.35 after 10 years.
Minimum INR. 100/- No maximum limit available in denominations of INR. 100/-, 500/-, 1000/-, 5000/- & INR. 10,000/-.
A single holder type certificate can be purchased by an adult for himself or on behalf of a minor or to a minor.

Interest on these certificates shall be liable to tax under the Income-Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961, on the basis of annual accrual specified in rule15, but no tax shall be deducted at the time of payment of discharge value.
9% per annum, payable from the date of deposit of 31st March/30th Sept/31st December in the first instance & thereafter, interest shall be payable on 31st March, 30th June, 30th Sept and 31st December.
There shall be only one deposit in the account in multiple of INR.1000/- maximum not exceeding rupees fifteen lakh.
Maturity period is 5 years. A depositor may operate more than a account in individual capacity or jointly with spouse.  Age should be 60 years or more, and 55 years or more but less than 60 years who has retired on superannuation or otherwise on the date of opening of account subject to the condition that the account is opened within one month of receipt of retirement benefits. Premature closure is allowed after one year on deduction of 1.5% interest & after 2 years 1% interest. TDS is deducted at source on interest if the interest amount is more than INR 10,000/- p.a.  The investment under this scheme qualify for the benefit of Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 from 1.4.2007.

source:- indiapost

Mouse and keyboard should match the user


With or without a cable, special keys or an ergonomic shape — when buying a mouse and keyboard there are a lot of decisions to be made. The experts say that the most important factor is what will the devices be used for — game players will have different needs to office workers.

How the user experiences the computer depends a lot on the input devices, according to a study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. For example the wrong keyboard can lead to wrist problems.
Users should think carefully before buying input devices. In the office particularly a person’s hands are on the keyboard and mouse all day so it’s vital that they’re comfortable.
“The size of the mouse should not be based solely on the size of the hand,” said Christoph Giese of the German computer magazine Chip.
“It’s also important how the user holds the mouse.” For example some users put their whole hand over the mouse so the mouse must match the size of the palm while other people who use just three fingers on the device can live with a smaller model.
With modern mice which use optical scanning a mouse pad is no longer required. In this case the important thing is that the mouse is on the right surface. Glass, precious metals, mirrors or black velvet should be avoided, according to Giese.
When choosing a keyboard the situation is similar to picking a mouse: whether it has forward or backward-inclined keys, a wrist rest or a split keyboard layout, what matters most are individual needs.
Many keyboards now come with keys that can be programmed to carry out special functions such as volume control.
When game-playing is the goal, personal taste is again the dominant factor. “While one player likes to use the keyboard for game functions, another prefers to use the mouse buttons, for example in first-person-shooter games to shoot or jump,” said Frank Stoewer of German computer magazine PC Games Hardware.
The number of special keys also depends on the game, for example command combinations that can be achieved with a single keystroke.
But a good player keyboard requires more than just gimmicks and macro-keys, according to Stoewer. “The feel, the ergonomic aspects such as height adjustment, the wrist rest, a clear layout, the shape, as well as the tactile feel of the keys, in my opinion these are more important.” Cable-free keyboards and mice have long been available and latency is no longer an issue for these wireless devices, said Stoewer.
However, there are other drawbacks such as the need for batteries.
Devices that communicate wirelessly are clearly preferable to ones that communicate via infrared with a receiver, Giese said.
The touchscreen keyboards of tablet computers can be difficult to operate. In this case an external keyboard can be attached. “Buyers should always look first at the accessories shop of the manufacturer for the right parts for their device,” said Giese.
Thanks to Bluetooth, mice and keyboards are compatible with most tablets. Connections have a range of at least 10 metres and are less susceptible to interference than radio technology, although more power is used.
Source : thehindu dtd 20/02/2012

Cadre Review and DOPT’s Guidelines



As per the DOPT guidelines, cader reviews are supposed to happen every five years.

The DOPT directed that the following points to be followed by the Cadre Controlling Authorities formulating proposal for Cadre Review. 

1.The proposal for cadre review may be formulated in accordance with the guidelines and instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training and Department of Expenditure.  If there are any deviations, full justification therefore may be given.

2.The proposal should begin with a brief background of the Service and the development which have taken place since last cadre review.

3.It should contain the requisite data in prescribed proforma.

4.All contents may be chapterised suitably.

5.The abbreviations used in the proposal may be clubbed alphabetically in a list at the end of the proposal.

6.Full justification may be given individually for each upgradation/creation of posts, especially those at S.A.G. and higher levels. 

7.While sending cadre review proposals to Department of Personnel & Training, the Cadre Controlling Authorities may indicate precisely the functional requirements of various categories of posts and group them in terms of duties and responsibilities.  This can be done by conducting a general job evaluation exercise, which would help in ensuring that different grades in a cadre reflect distinctly different level of functions and that higher posts do have higher level of duties and responsibilities.  

8.The existing level of stagnation vis-à-vis that after the proposed cadre review may be brought out clearly.

9.Various kinds of reserves may be shown separately (Training, Deputation, Probation, and Leave).

10.The existing training facilities and proposed augmentation, if any, may be indicated.

11.The existing strength and proposed strength (grade/pay-scale wise) may be given in a tabular statement.

12.Different mode of recruitment/promotion to various grades may be indicated.

13.All Instructions of the Government concerning downsizing the Government are duly taken into account.

14.Confirmation to the effect that the proposal will not result in any increase in the overall strength of the cadre or in introduction of new scales / grades. 

15. Matching savings may be provided from within the cadre and financial implications of the proposal (which should be budget neutral) should be amplified.

16.If the posts in the lowest grade are proposed to be abolished, its effect, if any, on the promotion prospects of the incumbents of the feeder posts may be indicated.

17.While forwarding the cadre review proposals of Group ‘A’ Services, it may be ensured that cadre review of feeder posts from Group ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ be completed beforehand, so as to reflect the impact of the same on the induction into Group ‘A’ Services, whenever the same is envisaged in the Statutory Rules. 

18.The position of a pending SIU Report, if any, may be stated.  The concerned Ministry/Department should give a certificate that there is no ongoing SIU study having a bearing on posts covered in the Cadre Review Proposals and that no recommendations of SIU study pertaining to the cadre are pending implementation. 

19.The position regarding applicability or otherwise of NFSG instructions to the Service may be brought out.

20.The status of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, if any, about the Service, may be given.
 
21.A copy each of the latest Civil List of the Service and the latest Service Rules (Recruitment Rules) together with all amendments may be enclosed.