This clarification aligns with the Ministry of Finance’s earlier notification (dated 24 January 2025) introducing the UPS for Central Government civil service recruits from 1 April 2025, offering a one-time option for existing NPS-covered employees to transition to the new scheme.

The gratuity benefits will be governed by the Central Civil Service (Payment of Gratuity under NPS) Rules, 2021.

EXTENSION OF BENEFIT OF RETIREMENT GRATUITY AND DEATH GRATUITY TO EMPLOYEES OPTING FOR UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME (UPS)

Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Service vide its Notification No. FS-1/3/2023-PR dated 24.01.2025 had notified introduction of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) as an option under NPS for the recruits to the Central Government civil service w.e.f. 01.04.2025 giving one time option to the Central Government employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) for inclusion under the Unified Pension Scheme.

In view of the above, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare vide its OM No. 57/01/2025-P&PW(B)/UPS/10498 dated 18.06.2025, has issued clarification that the Central Government employees opting for Unified Pension Scheme shall be eligible for benefit of ‘Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity’ under the provisions of the Central Civil Service (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021.

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Ministry of Education directs State/UT to align their age of admission for Grade-I to 6+ years

States/UTs also requested to initiate process of designing and running a two years Diploma in Preschool Education (DPSE) course

22 FEB 2023

The National Education Policy 2020 recommends strengthening of learning of children at the ‘foundational stage’ as a national priority for the country. The foundational stage consists of 5 years of learning opportunities for all children (between 3 to 8 years) that includes 3 years of pre-school education and 2 years of early primary Grade-I and Grade-II. The policy thus promotes seamless learning and development of children from pre-school to Grade- II. This can only be done by ensuring accessibility to three years of quality preschool education for all children studying in Anganwadis or Government/ Government-aided, private and NGO run preschool centers. Besides, the most important factor at the foundational stage is the availability of qualified teachers who are specially trained in the age and developmentally appropriate curriculum and pedagogy. The National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) has also been launched recently on 20.10.2022.

To fulfill this vision, the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education through D.O. letter 22-7/2021-EE.19/IS.13 dated 09.02.2023, has reiterated directions to all the State Governments and UT administrations to align their age to admission with the policy and provide admission to Grade-I at the age of 6+ years.

The States have also been advised to initiate the process of designing and running a two years Diploma in Preschool Education (DPSE) course in their State and UT. The course is expected to be designed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and run/ implemented through District Institute of Education & Training (DIETs) under supervision and hold of SCERTs.

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Cabinet

Cabinet approves the incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M)

Posted On: 11 JAN 2023

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (person-to-merchant) for a period of one year from April 2022.

• The approved incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M) in FY 2022-23 has a financial outlay of ₹ 2,600 crore. Under the said scheme, acquiring banks will be provided financial incentive, for promoting Point-of-Sale (PoS) and e-commerce transactions using RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M) for the current financial year FY 2022-23.
• The Finance Minister, in her speech on the Budget for FY2022-23, announced Government’s intent to continue the financial support for digital payments announced in the previous Budget, with a focus on promoting use of payment platforms that are economical and user-friendly. The scheme has been formulated in compliance with the aforesaid Budget announcement.
• In FY2021-22, the government had approved an incentive scheme in compliance with the budget announcement of FY2021-22 to give a further boost to digital transactions. As a result, total digital payments transactions have registered a year-on-year growth of 59%, rising from 5,554 crore in FY2020-21 to 8,840 crore in FY2021-22. BHIM-UPI transactions have registered a year-on-year growth of 106%, rising from 2,233 crore in FY2020-21 to 4,597 crore in FY2021-22.
• Various stakeholder in the digital payments systems and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expressed concerns regarding potential adverse impact of the zero MDR regime on the growth of the digital payments ecosystem. Further, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) requested, among other things, for incentivisation of BHIM-UPI and RuPay Debit Card transactions to create a cost-effective value proposition for ecosystem stakeholders, increase merchant acceptance footprints and faster migration from cash payments to digital payments.
• The Government of India is taking various initiatives for promotion of digital payments across the country. Over past years, digital payment transactions have witnessed tremendous growth. During the Covid-19 crisis, digital payments facilitated functioning of businesses, including small merchants, and helped in maintaining social distancing. UPI has achieved a record of 782.9 crore digital payment transactions with a value of ₹ 12.82 lakh crore in the month of December 2022.

This incentive scheme will facilitate building of a robust digital payment ecosystem and promoting RuPay Debit Card and BHIM-UPI digital transactions. In-line with the objective of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, the scheme will also promote UPI Lite and UPI 123PAY as economical and user-friendly digital payments solutions and enable further deepening of digital payments in the country, across all sectors and segments of the population.

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Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh releases book and also launched the e-Book version on major reforms and achievements of DoPT of last eight years in New Delhi today

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been the guiding force behind reforms like self-attestation and abolishing the interviews with his out of the box thinking and encouragement to work for the ease of governance, resulting in ease of living for the common man : Dr. Jitendra Singh

Prime Minister Modi accords high priority to administrative reforms that he announced decision like abolishing the interviews from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the Independence Day speech

PM Modi’s vision of minimum government, maximum governance is the idea behind all such reforms brought out by the DoPT in last eight years : Dr. Jitendra SIngh

The Union Minister termed all these reforms as socio-economic, futuristic and citizen-centric, ensuring equal opportunity for every citizen of the country

Prevention of Corruption Act is a tool to bring transparency in governance by ensuring enough safeguards for honest officials; Zero tolerance against corruption has been the top priority of the Modi government

MoS of Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today released a book and it’s e-Version on 8 Years of Administrative and Pension reforms (2014-2022).

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, eight years of administrative and pension reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi are aimed at social transformation.

Delivering the inaugural address at a webinar on Administrative Reforms and Pension Reforms (2014-2022) in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the large scale use of technology and integration approach are the twin pillars of both the revolutionary Governance and Pension Reforms carried out in the last eight years.

Dwelling on Pension Reforms, Dr Jitendra Singh said, ever since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare had introduced a number of revolutionary reforms including relaxation in the provision of Family Pension for divorced daughters and Divyangs, the introduction of Face Recognition Technology through the mobile app for ease in submitting Life Certificate by elderly pensioners, Electronic Pension Pay Order, assistance from Postal Department to facilitate pension process etc.

He said, moreover steps like an extension of Family Pension to the differently-abled child of a deceased Government employee/Pensioner or giving a major hike in the Family Pension emoluments for Divyang children of a deceased government servant/pensioner are not only pension reforms but these are social reforms having wide implications.

On Administrative Reforms, Dr Jitendra Singh listed several out of the box ideas like abolishing the century-old colonial practice of attestation of documents by a gazetted officer and replacing it with self-attestation, doing away with interviews for Group-B (Non-Gazetted) and Group – C posts in the Central Government since 2016, three-month Central stint for fresh IAS officers as Assistant Secretary, change in the nature of PM Excellence Award and the abolition of around 1450 rules, which have become obsolete.

Referring to Mission Karmayogi’s main mantra of moving from “Rule to Role”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Civil Servants must train themselves for a new and challenging assignment as most of the flagship schemes of the Government are now hugely Science and Technology based.

The Minister also released an e-Book on 8 Years’ Achievements of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare and that of DARPG on the occasion.

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Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announces setting up of Single Window Portal for benefit of pensioners and superannuated elder citizens

Portal will enable constant contact with pensioners and their associations across the country and will also regularly receive their inputs, suggestions as well as grievances for prompt response: Dr Jitendra Singh

The Minister Chairs the 32nd Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) for Review and Rationalisation of Pension Rules i.e (CCS) (Pension) Rules, 2021

12 APR 2022

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today announced setting up of Single Window Portal for benefit of pensioners and superannuated elder citizens. The Portal, he said, will not only enable constant contact with pensioners and their associations across the country but will also regularly receive their inputs, suggestions as well as grievances for prompt response.

Addressing the 32nd Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) for Review and Rationalisation of Pension Rules i.e (CCS) (Pension) Rules, 2021, Dr Jitendra Singh said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several revolutionary changes were brought in since 2014 in Pension Rules for bringing “Ease of Living” to the common man.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the objective of Common Pension Portal is to create a single window digital mechanism for pensioners to raise their grievances and get the same resolved without approaching different authorities in person. He said, all Ministries responsible to process, sanction or disburse pension dues, are interlinked to this system and grievances are forwarded after assessment to the concerned Ministry/Department for resolution. Pensioners as well as Nodal officer can view the status of the grievance online till disposal in the system.

Dearness Relief Order to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners from 1st January 2022

SCOVA is a useful platform for holding consultation with the stakeholders i.e. the pensioners through their Associations and concerned Ministries/Departments. It provides the Associations an opportunity for raising their issues concerning pensioners’ welfare etc. directly before the concerned Ministries/Departments. Pensioner Associations from Jammu, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chandigarh and other parts of the country participated in the meeting.

In today’s meeting, discussions were held on the issues relating to shortage of doctors in CGHS wellness centres, periodical health check-up of pensioners, various issues related to CGHS wellness centre at Jammu, Nomination of Pensioners for life time arrears, Pension Adalat and Sanction of Grand-in-Aid and Laptop to Identified Pensioners’ Associations.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said we need to emphasise making good use of the knowledge, experience and efforts of the retired employees which can help in value addition to the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed that since the launch of Doorstep Service for submission of Digital Life Certificate (DLC) through Postman in November 2020, more than 3,08,625 Life Certificates through India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) have been done. The facility to submit life certificate online through Jeevan PramaanPortal was launched by the Prime Minister in November, 2014 with the objective to provide a convenient and transparent facility to pensioners for submission of Life Certificate. He also added that Doorstep banking for collection of Life Certificates is in place in 100 cities by Public Sector Banks and the number of Life Certificates done through Banking Agents is 4253.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that Face Authentication Technique through Android phone for submission of life certificate digitally has been launched on 29.11.2021 and till date, more than 20,500 Life Certificates through face authentication have been done. Similarly, he informed that as on date total number of DLCs submitted by the Central Government Pensioners is around 1,07,75,980 /- since 2014. In 2021 total DLCs submitted till date is 19,80,977.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the ‘Bhavishya’ platform, an integrated online pension processing system is at present being successfully implemented in the main Secretariat of 96 Ministries/ Departments including 813 Attached Offices. As on date, more than 1,50,000 cases have been processed ie. PPOs issued which includes more than 80,000 e-PPOs. The Minister also informed that Bhavishya 8.0 released in August, 2020 with a new feature to PUSH the ePPO in Digilocker. Bhavishya’ is the first application to use the Digilocker Id based PUSH Technology of Digilocker.

The Minister said that the Department had started in 2017 the unique experiment of holding Pension Adalats to resolve chronic grievances of Central Government Pensioners, falling within the four walls of extant policy and the First Pension Adalat was held on 20.09.2017. So far, the Department has conducted a total of 6 Pension Adalats. The next Pension Adalat is scheduled to be held on 05.05.2022.

Dr Jitendra Singh directed the officials to create widespread awareness of the initiatives for the welfare of pensioners through official and social media channels.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the earlier Pension Rules were notified 50 years ago in 1972. Since then, a large number of amendments to the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 have taken place. He said, in the light of such changes and several office memoranda clarifying different provisions of these Rules, the Department has brought out a revised and updated version of the Rules i.e. Civil Services (CCS) (Pension) Rules, 2021.

Dr Jitendra Singh clarified that the revised Rules do not make any changes in regard to entitlement of amount of pension, family pension or gratuity. However, the new Rules bring about several new policy and procedural improvements over the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. Also, some provisions in the old rules, which have become redundant over a period of time, have been omitted from the new Rules, the Minister added.

Secretary, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, Shri V Srinivas also spoke about the recent reforms and initiatives of the Department.

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Ministry of Finance

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2021-2022 Issue price Series-X

25 FEB 2022

In terms of Government of India Notification No.4(5)-B(W&M)/2021 dated October 21, 2021, Sovereign Gold Bonds 2021-22 (Series X) will be opened for subscription during the period February 28- March 04, 2022 with Settlement date March 08, 2022. The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period shall be Rs 5,109 (Rupees five thousand one hundred nine only) – per gram, as also published by RBI in their Press Release dated February 25, 2022.

The Government of India in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India has decided to allow discount of Rs 50 (Rupees Fifty only) per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and the payment is made through digital mode. For such investors the issue price of Gold Bond will be Sr 5,059 (Rupees five thousand fifty nine only) per gram of gold.

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Indian railways latest news today

Railway Protection Force (RPF) is entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property, passenger area, passengers and matters connected therewith. RPF personnel have been rendering outstanding service for the cause of security of railways and railway passengers. They also provide help to passengers in need and rescue of women and children in need of care and protection. To provide impetus to various activities of the force personnel which they are performing even beyond their assigned duties, it has been decided to launch several operations under different names starting from January 2022.

RPF has been saving lives of persons in danger of coming under the wheels of running trains at various railway stations and railway area night and day going beyond their call of duty risking their own lives. Now the activity has been undertaken in mission mode under “Mission Jeewan Raksha”. RPF personnel saved 42 persons, 20 males and 22 ladies under this mission during January 2022.

RPF has played important role in reuniting the children in need of care and protection, lost/separated from their family or escaped from their homes due to several reasons. They are vulnerable for getting exploited and trafficked, if not secured in time. The force personnel were motivated towards this noble cause and an all India program under the code name “Operation

Nanhe Fariste” was launched. During the month of January 2022, 1045 Children (701 Boys+344 Girls) in need of care & protection who came in contact with Indian Railways were rescued with the follow up action in coordination with the NGOs. Presently Child Help Desks are functional at 132 railway station across the Indian railways.

To provide better security to the women passengers several new initiatives were taken under the code name “Mahila Suraksha”. During the month of Jan. 2022, RPF has deployed “Meri Saheli” teams at major railway stations with an objective to provide security to lady passengers specially travelling alone and vulnerable to crime and covered approx 13000 nos of trains all over India for this purpose. Taking other preventive measures RPF arrested 05 persons in cases of molestation & eve-teasing and arrested 2185 persons found tr’avelling in ladies coaches.

RPF personnel especially ladies RPF personnel, who currently form about 9% of the total strength, go out of the way to help pregnant women who go into labor during their train journeys, in childbirth under “Operation “Matrishakti”. During the month of Jan- 2022, Lady RPF personnel provided assistance to 07 such women passengers and were instrumental in bringing their children to this beautiful world.

Though Policing is a state subject under 7^th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, RPF supplements the efforts of state police in the field of combating passenger crime under “Operation Yatri Suraksha”. During the month of Jan. 22, RPF arrested more than 300 criminals involved in 254 cases of offences against passengers and handed them over to concerned GRP/Local Police. Under the same Operation “Yatri Suraksha”, RPF is available on call (Toll Free 139 and other social media forums i.e. Twitter, facebook, instagram etc.) round the clock to receive and resolve security and other grievances of passengers. During the Jan 2022, more than 11230 calls/complaints received from passengers in distress on Toll Free Helpline No. 139 (24 X 7) and twitter related to Security were promptly attended & resolved.

To curb the menace of Human Trafficking through railways, RPF has been working in coordination with other stake holders round the clock. Taking action under the code name Operation “AAHT”, RPF has rescued 35 persons (22 minors) with arrest of 08 traffickers in the month of Jan 2022 and handed them over to Police.

Passengers, many a times, leave behind their belongings in haste to catch trains or leave the station. RPF personnel act as guardians and help secure these belongings with an aim to restore them to their rightful owners under “Operation Amanat”. RPF retrieved 1552 passenger belongings valued to the tune of more than Rs. 2.8 Crores under this operation during Jan 22.

Narcotics do not only destroy the health of the youth, they damage the economy and well being of the nation too. RPF has been empowered to conduct search, seizure and arrest under NDPS Act in 2019. In order to give focused attention to drive against smuggling of narcotics through rail, RPF has launched “Operation NARCOS”. Under this operation, RPF has recovered

Narcotic products valued Rs. 4.57 Crores with arrest of 87 persons during the month of Jan. 2022,

Transportation by trains has become a major conduit for tax evaders/law breakers. RPF has launched a separate operation called “Operation Satark” against illegal transportation of Tobacco Products, unaccounted cash, illegal liquor, unaccounted precious items, smuggled goods etc under which illegal tobacco products worth Rs. 19 Lakhs, Illegal liquor worth Rs. 19 Crores, Unaccounted gold worth Rs 4.90 Cr, unaccounted silver worth Rs I l Lakh, other smuggled foreign good worth Rs 2.18 Lakhs, and Unaccounted cash worth 2.50 Cr with apprehension of 119 persons. The unaccounted/illegal consignments seized with apprehended persons were handed over to concerned Law Enforcement Agency

Smuggling of Wildlife, animal parts and forest product is crime against Nature. RPF has been alive to the issue and has taken stringent action under “Operation WILEP” against the smugglers involved in illegal trade of wildlife through railways. In the month of Jap 2022, RPF detected I I cases with arrest of 2 persons and handed over the recovered items like rare turtles, various species of wild birds, endangered vultures to the forest department.

RPF acts as Sentinels on Rail and helps state police/law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in detection of serious cases reported from their respective areas of operation under Operation “Rail Prahari”. During January 2022, RPF helped police/LEAs detect 7 cases of serious crime like murder, rape, dacoity/robbery, kidnapping among others.

Under “Operation Dignity”, RPF rescued 80 adult men and 153 adult women who were in distress needing immediate care and protection. They were handed over to their respective families/NGOs. Under “Operation Sewa”, RPF provided assistance to more than 1000 elderly, sick, divyang persons during their travel by activities ranging from arranging medicines, infant food, wheel chairs, stretchers, medical help to carrying divyang/elderly persons on their shoulders.

RPF personnel acknowledge the responsibility of being “citizens in uniform” and will continue to secure, assist and serve in right earnest in the service of nation and its citizens to realize motto of the Force “Yash Labhaswa” or “Attain Honour”

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Indian railways latest news today

Ministry of Railways

Railway Minister reviews COVID Preparedness in all Railway Zones/Divisions

10 JAN 2022

In context of recent surge in COVID cases across the country, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, directed the senior officials of various Railway zones and divisions to facilitate use of Railway hospitals and health infrastructure for general public. Shri V K Tripathi, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board, Board Members and senior officials of the Ministry of Railways along with General Managers (GMs) & Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) of all Zonal Railways/PUs joined the meeting virtually.

In the review meeting, Shri Vaishnaw examined the following aspects related to COVID Preparedness:

• Railway Hospital Infrastructure
• Paediatric Ward functioning
• Vaccination – Vaccination of Children and staff of Railways including provisioning of booster dose to frontline workers of Railways
• Availability of medicines, oxygen supply, zeolite stock and other necessary medical support and functioning of ventilators, Liquid Medical Oxygen Tanks, and other equipment which is critical in COVID treatment
• Commissioning of Oxygen Plants (out of total sanctioned oxygen plants, 78 have already been commissioned and 17 are yet to be commissioned)
• Creating awareness
• Increasing the frequency of announcements at Railway stations about masking up, sanitisation of hands and other precautionary measures
• Discouraging entry of people without mask at Railway stations
• Running drives to promote wearing of mask and other precautionary measures
• To review the running of special stations for/to in case of emergency and/or sudden surge in number of passengers/ migrants at Railway stations during current situation of COVID

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Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Briefing about the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in the wake of the third wave of the pandemic, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that pregnant women employees and Divyang employees have been exempted from attending office. However, they will be required to remain available and work from home.

All officials and staff living in the Containment Zone shall also be exempted from coming to office till the time Containment Zone is denotified, he added.

The Minister further informed that the physical attendance of government servants below the level of Under Secretary has been restricted to 50% of the actual strength and the remaining 50% shall work from home. Roster will be prepared accordingly by all the departments concerned, he added.

However, the Minister said, the officials/staff who are not attending the office and are working from home shall remain available on telephone and other electronic means of communications at all times.

In view of the rapid spread of the Virus infection, Dr Jitendra Singh said that a DoPT O.M. has been issued with the advice that the official meetings shall be conducted as far as possible through video conferencing. Similarly, personal meetings with visitors are to be avoided, unless absolutely necessary, he said.

In order to avoid overcrowding in the office premises, the Minister said, the officials/staff shall follow staggered timings i.e., (a) 9 am to 5.30 p.m. and (b) 10 am to 6.30 p.m.

Meanwhile, DoPT has advised all the officers/staff to ensure strict compliance of COVID-appropriate behaviour i.e. frequent washing of hands/sanitisation, wearing face mask/face cover and observing social distancing all the time.

Proper cleaning and sanitisation of the workplace, particularly frequently touched surfaces, may also be ensured.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the guidelines issued as per the DoPT O.M. will remain in force till 31st January 2022. In the meantime, regular review will be carried out from time to time and the guidelines may be revised accordingly depending on the situation.

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Union Health Secretary, Shri Rajesh Bhushan, chaired a workshop through video conference (VC) today with all States and UTs to review the rollout of vaccination for the age group 15-18 and Precautionary 3rd dose for vulnerable categories; Healthcare workers (HCW), Frontline workers (FLW), and those in the 60+ age group who have comorbidity.

As announced by the Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi on 25th December, 2021, the vaccination for the age-group 15-18 yrs is scheduled to begin from Monday, 3rd January, 2022 while administration of precautionary 3rd dose for the vulnerable categories is to commence from Monday, 10th January, 2022. The detailed guidelines regarding this were issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 27th December,2021

In context of the vaccination of the age group 15-18 yrs, the Union Health Secretary informed the States/UTs that only ‘Covaxin’ is to be administered in this population category and additional doses of ‘Covaxin’ will be sent to all States and UTs. Union Government will share the supply schedule of ‘Covaxin’ with all the States and UTs in the next few days. Potential beneficiaries can either register themselves on Co-WIN from the 1st of January, 2022 or avail of a walk-in registration when vaccination commences from the 3rd of January. Those with a birth year of 2007 or before will be eligible for vaccination under this category.

All established protocols regarding vaccination are to be followed for the 15-18 yrs age group; beneficiaries are to wait for half-an-hour when they will be monitored for AEFI and will be eligible for the 2nd dose only after 28 days. States were informed that they have the option to designate some COVID Vaccination Center (CVC)s as dedicated CVC for the 15-18 age group exclusively which can also be reflected on Co-WIN. Dedicated CVCs would ensure that there is no confusion in administering the vaccines. For CVCs that are intended to serve categories in addition to 15-18 age group, the States were requested to ensure separate queues for the 15-18 age group and separate vaccination teams. States were advised to form two separate vaccination teams at the same CVC, one for 15-18 age groups and other for all adults to avoid confusion in administration of the right vaccines.

With regards to the administration of the precautionary dose, the Union Health Secretary highlighted that 9 month (39 weeks) must have elapsed since the administration of the 2nd dose to make the beneficiary eligible. Drawing attention to misinformation being propagated through various media regarding the requirement of a doctor’s certificate to establish co-morbidity at the CVC, he categorically emphasized that the Union Government has not issued any directions on the said matter and prescriptions/certificates are NOT mandated to be produced at the CVC for administration of the precaution dose. He also informed that CoWIN will send reminder messages to all those eligible for Precaution dose and Precaution dose will be reflected in the digital vaccination certificates.

States/UTs were further advised to ensure the orientation of vaccinators and vaccination team members for vaccination of 15-18 years age-group and the identification of dedicated session sites for vaccination of 15-18 years age-group. States were exhorted to undertake proper planning in advance for distribution of Covaxin to identified session sites. To avoid the mixing-up of vaccines during administration, separate CVCs, separate session sites, separate queue (if at same session where adult vaccination is ongoing) and separate vaccination team (if at same session site) are to be strived for. States/UTs were also advised to share their requirement of vaccine doses through district wise estimation of beneficiaries using Co-WIN. They are to publicize sessions where vaccination will be available for 15-18 years age-groups. Sufficient vaccines will be provided to states to cover these beneficiaries

Dr. Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary (Health), Shri Vishal Chauhan, Joint Secretary (Health) were present in the meeting along with Principal Secretary (Health), Additional Chief Secretary (Health) and State Surveillance Officer of the concerned states/UTs.

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