Reclassification/upgradation of Cities/Towns to grant HRA & TA to Central Govt Employees

Nellore town in AP is upgraded as "Y class city and the Central Govt employess working in Nellore will get 20% HRA  with effecr from 01.04.2014.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure for reclassification/upgradation of certain cities/towns on the basis of Census-2011, for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance to Central Government employees.

On the basis of the final population figures of Census-2011, two cities have qualified for being upgraded from 'Y' class to 'X' class and 21 cities have qualified for being upgraded from 'Z' to 'Y' class for the purpose of HRA. Six cities have qualified for being upgraded from "Other Places" to specified higher class for the purpose of Transport Allowance.

The revised classification of cities shall take effect from 01.04.2014. The impact on the exchequer on account of upgradation of 29 cities, would be approx. Rs.128 crore for the year 2014-15.

The existing qualifying limits of population for classification for HRA purpose is 50 lakhs & above for 'X', 5 - 50 lakhs for 'Y' and below 5 lakhs for 'Z' class city. Transport allowance is payable at 'higher rates' in 13 specified cities classified earlier as 'A-1' / 'A' (that is those cities having population of 20 lakhs & above) and at 'lower rates' in all other places.

Cities/towns to be upgraded on the basis of census-2011 for grant of House Rent Allowance

Cities to be upgraded/re-classified as "X" ( 30% HRA Cities)

1.Ahmadabad(UA) 2.Pune (UA)

 Cities to be upgraded/re-classified as "Y" (20% HRA Cities)

1.Nellore (UA) 2.Gurgaon (UA) 3.Bokaro Steel City (UA) 4.Gulbarga (UA) 5.Thrissur (UA)

6.Malappuram (UA) 7.Kannur(UA) 8.Kollam (UA) 9.Ujjain (M. Coprn.) 10.Vasai-Virar City (M. Corpn.) 11.Malegaon (UA) 12.Nanded-Waghala (M.Corp.) 13.Sangli (UA) 14.Raurkela (UA)

15.Ajmer (UA) 16.Erode (UA) 17.Noida (CT) 18.Firozabad (NPP) 19.Jhansi (UA) 20.Siliguri (UA)

21.Durgapur (UA)

 Cities/towns to be upgraded on the basis of census-2011 for grant of Transport Allowance

Cities to be added for higher rates of Transport Allowance (i.e. which have population of more than 20 lakh to qualify for earlier classification as “A-1”/ “A” as stipulated in O.M. No. 21(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 29.8.2008): 

1.Patna (UA) 2.Kochi (UA) 3.Indore (UA) 4.Coimbatore (UA) 5.Ghaziabad (UA)

Source : PIB Release ID :122151

No Objection Certificate (NOC) is not required for Govt Employees to Obtain Passport

New Delhi: No Objection Certificate (NOC) is not now a mandatory requirement for government employees to get a passport.

To streamline and check the undue delay in getting passports to the government employees, the Ministry of External Affairs has relaxed provisions for issue of passport and asked the government employees to attach the copy of prior intimation letter submitted by the government employees to their controlling authority before applied for passport.

The Ministry of External Affairs has recently issued an Office Memorandum No.VI/401/01/05/2014 making the ‘Prior Intimation Letter’ valid proof like ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ to obtain passport for government employees, public sector undertakings (PSU) employees and autonomous body employees.

Government employees, who applies for passport with ‘Prior Intimation Letter’, they do not need to police verification.

The above provision is applied for getting passport only not for VISA, the government employees are required to obtain ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ from their departments concerned for getting VISA from foreign embassies for travelling abroad as per CCS (Conduct) Rules and the instructions have been issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) from time to time.

Income tax forms simplified, date for filing returns extended to Aug 31

The finance ministry on Sunday came out with a new three-page income tax return (ITR) forms, in a corrective measure after facing strong criticism from public. The new forms no longer require mandatory disclosure of foreign trips and dormant bank accounts as mandated by the previous form. The new form can be submitted till August 31 this year instead of the regular July 31 deadline.

The new forms will be up on websites for e-filing from the third week of June since the government is yet to update the software with new proposed changes.

According to a finance ministry statement, the new forms — ITR 2 and ITR 2A — will have only three pages and other details will have to be filled in schedules, as per each individuals criterion and income.

The revenue department has also proposed to come out with a new ITR 2A form, which can be filed by an individual or HUF, who does not have capital gains, income from business/ profession or foreign asset/foreign income. This according to the government will cover a maximum number of tax payers.

On the major sticky issues like details and source of income of foreign trips and bank accounts, the government eased the disclosures sought earlier and said: "It is now proposed that only passport number, if available, would be required to be given in forms ITR-2 and ITR-2A. Details of foreign trips or expenditure thereon are not required to be furnished."

For information related to bank accounts the ministry has decided to ask information of only those dormant accounts which were operational during the last three years, from the filing year.

"As regards bank account details in all these forms, only the IFS code, account number of all the current/savings account which are held at any time during the previous year will be required to be filled-up. The balance in accounts will not be required to be furnished," the statement added.

Further clarifying for non Indian citizen individuals, the income tax department said that it is not mandatory for them to report the foreign assets acquired by him during the previous years in which he was non-resident and if no income is derived from such assets during the relevant previous year.

"Individuals having exempt income without any ceiling (other than agricultural income exceeding Rs 5,000) can now file form ITR 1 (Sahaj). Similar simplification is also proposed for individuals/HUF in respect of form ITR 4S (Sugam)," the statement added.

Following the controversy over the ITR forms for assessment year 2015-16, which sought details of bank accounts and foreign visits, the revenue department had put them on hold.

The ITR forms, which was notified last month by the CBDT for the current assessment year, had specific columns for banks accounts, IFSC Code, names of joint account holders and foreign visits, including the ones paid by companies.

REVISION OF SERVICE TAX RATE FROM 01.06.2015

As intimated by CEPT, Mysore to implement the changes in the software on the basis of the tax revision, it will take at least 10 days to CEPT to modify the software.   After development is completed, it is to be tested before release.

Separate suitable instructions are to be issued separately by the Circles to implement the revised tax structure.  The collection of service tax at revised rates is likely to be effected manually till implementation of changes in the software.

Announcement of Result of LGO Examination held on 23.11.2014

It was learnt that the result of LGO Examination for promotion to the cadre of PA/SA held on 23.11.2014 has been sent to concerned Postal Circles by the Directorate.Preparation of division wise merit list is under process at circles.It is expected that division wise result will be announced on any day in next week.

DOPT to hold a meeting of NC JCM meeting on 29.05.2015

March to Parliament was held on 28.04.2015 and call of strike has been given by JCA on 23.11.2015 on the demands of central government employees. On the backdrop of the pressure mounted by JCA, DOPT has called a meeting of NC JCM on 29.05.2015 to discuss and consider the issues of central government employees.

No.3/1/2015-JCA

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension

Department of Personnel & Training

New Delhi,dated the 21st May, 2015

To
Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra,
Secretary, Staff Side,
National Council (JCM)
13, C Ferozshah Road
New Delhi

Sir,

Please refer to your online grievance No.PM0PG/2015/83480 dated 28th April, 2015 regarding proposed call for Strike on 23.11.2015.
2. You will be aware that the meeting of the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) is scheduled to be held on 29.05.2015 and also meeting of the National Council (JCM) is likely to be held shortly. Some of the issues will be discussed and considered during the meetings.

Yours faithfully

(A.Asholi Chalai)

Director (JCA)

Grant of Special Casual leave on 4.6.2015 & 5.6.2015