Subject: Economy in expenditure – serving of refreshments during meetings etc.

5. This issues with the approval of Secretary (Expenditure).

Revision of Rates for serving refreshment/working lunch during meetings/seminars/conferences etc: Finance Ministry OM

Subject: Economy in expenditure – serving of refreshments during meetings etc.

5. This issues with the approval of Secretary (Expenditure).

Click here to download Original Order by Finance Ministry

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SWACHH BHARAT KOSH OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
1. Short Title and Commencement:

These will be called Swachh Bharat Kosh Operational Guidelines, 2014 and will come into force with immediate effect.

2. Objective of Setting-up the Fund (Kosh):
Individuals and philanthropists have expressed interest in contributing to efforts to achieve the objective of Clean India (Swachh Bharat) by the year 2019. The Swachh Bharat Kosh has been set up to facilitate channelization of philanthropic contributions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds towards this cause.

3. Governing Council:
The Swachh Bharat Kosh (henceforth called Kosh) would be administered by a Governing Council chaired by Secretary, Department of Expenditure. Other Permanent members will be Secretary (Planning), Secretary (Drinking Water and Sanitation), Secretary (Urban Development), Secretary (Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation), Secretary (Rural Development), Secretary (Panchayati Raj) and Secretary (School Education and Literacy). Departmental Secretaries from Tourism, Culture or any other department would be invited as and when their proposals are being deliberated.

4. Secretariat:
The Governing Council would be assisted by a division to be set up in the     Department of Expenditure, which will serve as its secretariat, headed by an
Administrator, at the Joint Secretary level.

5. Bank Account & Receipt of Contribution:

a) Contributions from companies and philanthropists shall be received in a single bank account opened in the State Bank of India, Central Secretariat Branch, North Block, New Delhi. The bank account will be operated jointly by the Administrator and the Chief Controller of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
b) Donations into the Kosh may be made through online payments through net banking, or by debit and credit cards or Cheque/Demand Draft.
c) The donor would receive an automated, digitally signed receipt of the contributions. Besides, the following mode of acknowledgement with regard to receipt of donations will be adopted.

http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/swachhbharat/SWK_Operational_Guidelines2014.pdf

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No.1/1/2014-F-II (B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 27th March. 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees – Revised Rates effective from 1.1.2014.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s Office Memorandum No.I-8/2013-E-II (B) dated 25th September, 2013 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 90% to 100% with effect from 1st January, 2014.

2. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M. No.1(3)/2008-E-11(B) dated 29th August, 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

3. The additional installment of Dearness Allowance payable under these orders shall be paid in cash to all Central Government employees.

4. The payment of arrears of Dearness Allowance shall not he made before the date of disbursement of salary of March. 2014.

5. These orders shall also apply to the civilian employees paid from the Defence Services Estimates and the expenditure will be chargeable to the relevant head of the Defence Services Estimates. In regard to Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, separate orders will he issued by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, respectively.

6. In so far as the employees working in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

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(A.Bhattacharya)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/da/da01012014.pdf]

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At the Cabinet Committee meeting that was held on 28/02/2014, approval was given for a 10% hike in the Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for Central Government employees and pensioners. Nearly a month has passed but the Finance Ministry has still not issued relevant orders to the departments concerned.

Despite the consent of the Cabinet Committee, the enhanced amount of DA will be given only after the Finance Minister issues the orders. The month of March ends on Monday and orders will have to be issued before then. Only then will the employees receive the DA amount for the month of March along with the month’s salary. Since all the banks will remain closed on the 2nd due to Annual closing of accounts, it will be available only on Tuesday, the 3rd.

Since all the DDOs under Central Government have been computerized and since DA calculation is a routine task, they would immediately take action as soon as they receive the fax. Moreover, in the press release announcing the Cabinet Committee’s approval, certain terms were clearly added that the “Cabinet approved the proposal to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.01.2014, in cash, but not before the disbursement of the salary for the month of March 2014 at the rate of 10 percent increase over the existing rate of 90 percent”.

If the Finance Ministry fails to issue the orders before the end of this month, then 3 months’ arrears will be given in April.

Since “50% DA Merger” is not going to happen now, orders are expected regarding 25% increase in some specific allowances. One of these allowances is the “Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy”. Last time, when DA touched 50%, the subsidy was increased from 12,000 to 15,000. Similarly, this time, it is expected to rise by 25% from 15,000 to 18,750.

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No.7(2)/E.Coord/2013
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, the 18th September, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Expenditure Management – Economy Measures and Rationalization of Expenditure.

Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure has been issuing austerity instructions from time to time with a view to containing non-developmental expenditure and releasing additional resources for priority schemes. The last set of instructions was issued on 31st May 2012,  1st November 2012 and 14th November 2012. Such measures are intended at promoting fiscal discipline, without restricting the operational efficiency of the Government. In the context of the current fiscal situation, there is a need to continue to rationalize expenditure and optimize available resources. With this objective, the following measures for fiscal prudence and economy will come into immediate effect:

2.1 Cut in Non-Plan expenditure:
For the year 2013-2014, every Ministry/Department shall effect a mandatory 10% cut in non-Plan expenditure excluding interest payment, repayment of debt, Defence capital, salaries, pension and the Finance Commission grants to the States. No re-appropriation of funds to augment the Non-Plan heads of expenditure on which cuts have been imposed, shall be allowed during the current fiscal year.

2.2 Seminars and Conferences:
(i) Utmost economy shall be observed in organizing conferences/Seminars/workshops. Only such conferences, workshops, seminars, etc. which are absolutely essential, should be held wherein also a 10% cut on budgetary allocations shall be effected.

(ii) Holding of exhibitions/seminars/conferences abroad is strongly discouraged except in the case of exhibitions for trade promotion.

(iii) There will be a ban on holding of meetings and conferences at five star hotels.

2.3 Purchase of vehicles:
Purchase of vehicles is banned until further orders, except against condemned vehicles.

2.4 Domestic and Foreign Travel:
(i) All officers are to travel in economy class only for domestic travel, except officers in the Apex Scale who may travel in executive class. Officers may travel by entitled class for international travel, however officers in Apex scale may travel only by business class. In all cases of air travel, only the lowest fare air tickets of the entitled class are to be purchased / procured. No companion free ticket on domestic/international travel is to be availed of. The existing instructions regarding travel on Leave Travel Concession (LTC) would continue.

(ii) It would be the responsibility of the Secretary of each Ministry/Department to ensure that foreign travel is restricted to most necessary and unavoidable official engagements based on functional necessity, and that extant instructions are strictly followed.

(iii) Where travel is unavoidable, it will be ensured that officers of the appropriate level dealing with the subject are sponsored instead of those at higher levels. The size of the delegation and the duration of visit will be kept to the absolute minimum.

(iv) Proposals for participation in study tours, workshops / conferences / seminars / presentation of papers abroad at Government cost will not be entertained except those that are fully funded by sponsoring agencies.

(v) Travel expenditure (including FTE) should be so regulated as to ensure that each Ministry remains within the allocated budget for the same. Re-appropriation proposals on this account would not be approved.

2.5 Creation of Posts:
(i) There will be a total ban on creation of Plan and Non-Plan posts.

(ii) Posts that have remained vacant for more than a year are not to be revived except under very rare and unavoidable circumstances and after seeking clearance of Department of Expenditure.

3. Observance of discipline in fiscal transfers to States, Public Sector Undertakings and Autonomous Bodies at Central/State/Local level:
3.1 Release of Grant-in-aid shall be strictly as per provisions contained in GFRs and in Department of Expenditure’s OM No.7(1)/E.Coord/2012, dated 14.11.2012.

3.2 Ministries/Departments shall not transfer funds under any Plan schemes in relaxation of conditions attached to such transfers (such as matching funding).

3.3 The State Governments are required to furnish monthly returns of Plan expenditure – Central, Centrally Sponsored or State Plan — to respective Ministries/Departments along with a report on amounts outstanding in their Public Account in respect of Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes. This requirement may be scrupulously enforced.

3.4 The Chief Controller of Accounts must ensure compliance with the above as part of pre-payment scrutiny.

4. Balanced Pace of Expenditure:
4.1 As per extant instructions, not more than one-third (33%) of the Budget Estimates may be spent in the last quarter of the financial year. Besides, the stipulation that during the month of March the expenditure should be limited to 15% of the Budget Estimates is reiterated. It may be emphasized here that the restriction of 33% and 15% expenditure ceiling is to be enforced both scheme-wise as well as for the Demands for Grantas a whole, subject to RE ceilings. Ministries / Departments which arecovered by the Monthly Expenditure Plan (MEP) may ensure that the MEP is followed strictly.

4.2 It is also considered desirable that in the last month of the year payments may be made only for the goods and services actually procured and for reimbursement of expenditure already incurred. Hence, no amount should be released in advance (in the last month) with the exception of the following:

(i) Advance payments to contractors under terms of duly executed contracts so that Government would not renege on its legal or contractual obligations.

(ii) Any loans or advances to Government servants etc. or private individuals as a measure of relief and rehabilitation as per service conditions or on compassionate grounds.

(iii) Any other exceptional case with the approval of the Financial  Advisor. However, a list of such cases may be sent by the FA to the Department of Expenditure by 30th April of the following year for information.

4.3 Rush of expenditure on procurement should be avoided during the last quarter of the fiscal year and in particular the last month of the year so as to ensure that all procedures are complied with and there is no infrastructure or wasteful expenditure. FA’s are advised to specially monitor this aspect during their reviews.

5. No fresh financial commitments should be made on items which are not provided for in the budget approved by Parliament.

6. The instructions would also be applicable to autonomous bodies.

7. Compliance:
Secretaries of the Ministries/Departments being the Chief Accounting Authorities as per Rule 64 of GFR shall be fully charged with the responsibility of ensuring compliance of the measures out lined above. Financial Advisors shall assist the respective Departments in securing compliance with these measures and also submit an overall report to the Minister-in-Charge and to the Ministry of Finance on a quarterly basis regarding various actions taken on these measures/guidelines.

sd/-
(R.S.Gujral)
Finance Secretary

Source : www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/emre/ExpMan_EcoMeasure18092013.pdf]

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Grant of one increment in pre-revised pay scale – OM dated 19.03.2013 – clarification

F.No.1/1/2008-IC
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 22nd May, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of one increment in pre-revised pay scale – OM dated 19.3.2012 – clarification regarding.

The undersigned is directed to invite a reference to this Ministry’s Office Memorandum of even no. dated 19.3.2012 which provides that those Central Government employees who were due to get their annual increment between February to June during 2006, may be granted one increment as on 1.1.2006 in the pre-revised pay scale as a one time measure and, thereafter, will get the next increment in the revised pay structure on 1.7.2006.

2. As per this Ministry’s OM No. F. No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008. fitment tables have been prescribed in Annexure-1 thereto, specifying the stages of revised pay in the revised pay band with reference to each stage of pre-revised pay in various pre-revised pay scales. As per the fitment tables, the stage of revised pay in the pay band has been mentioned at the same stage in respect of two consecutive pre-revised stages of pay in cases of certain pre-revised scales.

3. This Ministry has been receiving references as to whether in cases where the fitment table provides for the same revised stage in case of two consecutive pre-revised stages in a particular pre-revised scale of pay, the
benefit of bunching is admissible after grant of one increment in the pre-revised pay scale by virtue of this Ministry’s OM dated 19.3.2012.

4. The matter has been considered and it is clarified that Fitment Table contained in the aforesaid OM dated 30.8.2008 is to he strictly followed for fixation of pay in the revised structure without any deviation.

5. In cases where the stages of fixation of pay in the revised pay band as per fitment table contained in the aforesaid OM dated 30.8.2008 provides for the same revised stage in the Pay Band with reference to two consecutive stages of pre-revised pay in the corresponding pre-revised scales, then in such cases due to application of this Ministry’s OM dated 19.3.2012, there will be no change in the revised pay as on 1.1.2006, if the revised stage with reference to the pre-revised pay after accounting for one increment in the pre-revised scale does not undergo any change as per the Fitment Table. It is also clarified that no further bunching will be allowed in such cases and no re-fixation of pay will be admissible in the revised pay as on 1.1.2006.

sd/-
(Amar Nath Singh)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source : www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/misc/Grant_1increment_prerevisePay.pdf]

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No. 2(9)12012-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, 27th August 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject- Clarification on the admissibility of House Rent Allowance (HRA) during the Child Care Leave (CCL) – Reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Para 6(a)(i) of this Ministry’s O.M.No.2(37)-E.II(B)/64 dated 27.11.1965, as amended from time to time, on regulation of House Rent Allowance during Leave which stipulates that a Government servant is entitled to draw HRA…..during total leave of all kinds not exceeding 180 days and the first 180 days of the leave if the actual duration of leave exceeds that period, but does not  include terminal leave, ….. It has also been stipulated, thereunder, that drawal of the allowance (HRA) during the period of leave in excess of first 180 day availed of on grounds other than medical grounds mentioned in sub-para (ii), shall be subject to furnishing of the certificate prescribed in Para 8(d) of the O.M. ibid.

2. This Ministry has been receiving representations from the female employees that certain Central Government Ministries / Department / Establishments are not allowing HRA during the Child Care Leave (CCL), especially when taken in continuation of Maternity Leave of 180 days. The reason for their reluctance may be the fact that CCL has been first introduced on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission, though the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), vide their O.M .No 13018/1/2010-Estt.(Leave) dated 07.09.2010 inter-alia, reiterated that the leave (CCL) is to be treated like Earned Leave and sanctioned as such.

3. It is, therefore, clarified that the ‘total leave of all kinds’ as referred to in Para 6(a) of this Ministry’s OM dated 27.1.65 ibid, will include Child Care Leave for regulating grant of HRA during leave, subject to fulfiment of all other conditions stipulated thereuder, from time to time. It is also clarified that drawal of HRA during leave (including CCL) in excess of first 180 days, if otherwise admissible, shall be subject to furnishing of the certificate prescribed in Para 8(d).

4. These orders take effect from 01.09.2008. HRA during CCL, if not paid to women employees who are entitled to it as per this clarification, may be reconsidered, if so requested by the concerned employee.

5. Hindi version is also attached.

sd/-
(Anil Sharma)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/hra_cca/HRA_Clarif_onCCL.pdf]

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Rule 12 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 mandates that an individual or Hindu undivided family, if his or its total income or the total income in respect of which he is or it is assessable under the Act, during the previous year, exceeds ten lakh rupees, shall furnish the return electronically for the assessment year 2012-13 and subsequent assessment years.

It has been brought to the notice of the Board that the agents of non-residents, within the meaning of section 160(1) (i) of the Income –tax Act, are facing difficulties in electronically furnishing the returns of non-residents. This is because there may be more than one agent of the non-resident in India for different transactions or a person in India may be an agent of more than one non-resident. Such situations are not covered by the existing e-filing software which functions on the principle of one assessee-one PAN-one return.

It has also been brought to the notice of the Board that ‘private discretionary trusts’ having total income exceeding ten lakh rupees are facing problems in filing their return of income electronically in cases where they are filing their return in the status of an individual. This is because status of a private discretionary trust has been held in law as that of an ‘individual’. The existing e-filing software does not accept the return of a private discretionary trust in the status of an ‘individual’.

Accordingly it has been decided by the Board that:

(i) it will not be mandatory for agents of non-residents, within the meaning of section 160(1) (i) of the Income –tax Act, if his or its total income exceeds ten lakh rupees, to electronically furnish the return of income of non-residents for assessment year 2012-13;

(ii) it will not be mandatory for ‘private discretionary trusts’, if its total income exceeds ten lakh rupees, to electronically furnish the return of income for assessment year 2012-13.

PIB

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Extends the due date of filing of returns of income for the assessment year 2012-13 to 31.8.2012

Finance Ministry has decided to extend the due date for filing the returns of income for the assessment year 2012-13 to 31st August 2012. A notification has been issued by the department of revenue today on its website regarding the above subject that “Order under sectino 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961,
On consideration of the reports of disturbance of general life caused due to failure of power and further in consideration of the fact that the e-filing of returns for a specified category of individuals and HUF has been made mandatory, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, hereby extends the ‘due date’ of filing of returns of income for the Assessment Year 2012-13 to 31st August 2012 in respect of assessees who are liable to file such returns by 31st July 2012 as per provisions of section 139 of Income Tax Act, 1961”.

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