Employment News : 29 April to 5 May 2017

Employment News : 29 April  to 5 May 2017

JOB HIGHLIGHTS 

INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED

Name Of Post : Jr. Engineering Assistant IV, Jr. Materials Assistant and Junior Quality Control Analyst

No.of Vacancies : 74 Last Date :19.05.2017

PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK

Name Of Post : Manager (Security)

No.of Vacancies : 45 Last Date :06.05.2017

UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Name Of Post : Foreman (Chemical, Electronics, Mechanical etc)

No.of Vacancies : 17 Last Date :11.05.2017

NATIONAL SEEDS CORPORATION LIMITED

Name Of Post : Assistant (Legal), Management Trainee, Sr. Trainee etc

No.of Vacancies : 188 Last Date :06.05.2017

CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCE

Name Of Post : SI, ASI, Draughtsman and CT Pioneer

No.of Vacancies : 240 Last Date :05.05.2017

INDIAN NAVY

Name Of Post : Tradesman Mate TMM

No.of Vacancies : 384 Last Date :21 Days after Publication

Source : http://employmentnews.gov.in

Committee on 7th CPC Allowances : Finance Ministry Press Release

The Committee on Allowances, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India to examine the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances, submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday. The Committee was headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure),M/o Finance, Government of India and had Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Post and Chairman, Railway Board as its Members and Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) as its Member Secretary.

The Committee was set-up in pursuance of the Union Cabinet decision on 29.06.2016 when approving the 7th CPC recommendations on pay, pensions and related issues were approved. The decision to set-up the Committee was taken in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th CPC in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various Staff Associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various Ministries / Departments. The 7th CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 Allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.

The Committee took note of all the representations received from various stakeholders on the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances. Representations and demands for modifications were received in respect of 79 allowances which have been examined in detail by the Committee. In doing so, the Committee interacted with all the members of the Standing Committee of National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) as well the representatives of various Staff Associations of Railways, Postal employees, Doctors, Nurses, and Department of Atomic Energy. It also interacted with the representatives of the Defence Forces, DGs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) namely CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles as also senior officers from IB and SPG to understand the viewpoint of their personnel. As mentioned in the Report, the Committee held a total of 15 meetings and was assisted by a Group of Officers headed by Additional Secretary (D/o Expenditure) in examining the representations.

Based on such extensive stakeholder consultations and detailed examination, the Committee has suggested certain modifications in the 7th CPC recommendations so as to address the concerns of the stakeholders in the context of the rationale behind the recommendations of the 7th CPC as well as other administrative exigencies. Modifications have been suggested in some allowances which are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories such as Railway men, Postal employees, Scientists, Defence Forces personnel, Doctors and Nurses etc.

The Report, now being examined in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set-up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. It may be recalled that while recommendations of the 7th CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of Cabinet, allowances continue to be paid at old rates. After consideration by the E-CoS, the proposal for implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances after incorporating the modifications suggested by the Committee on Allowances in its Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval.

Armed Forces news – Non implementation of 7CPC hurting morale of armed forces, says Veteran

Almost a year after recommendations made under the 7th Pay Commission was implemented by the Union Government for civilian central government employees, a large number of Armed Forces officials are upset with the government. Some union members have already suggested that the “demand’s on separate pay commission made by armed forces are genuine”. According to Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd) who was quoted by The North Lines, the non-implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, almost a year after it was implemented for the civilian employees has started hurting the morale of a large number of armed forces officials.

In the article “Mr Modi Please Heed Loss of Morale In Armed Forces“, Brigadier Kanwal argues that a salient trend has already started emerging that future wars will be increasingly fought by machines but he further says that “ultimately it is the man behind the gun who carries the day”.

Brigadier Kanwal further warns the government that immediate action is required to restore the morale by identifying the causes and adopting all possible measures to eliminate them.

In last few months soldiers across the country had started asking their commanding officers why they are not being given their new pay scales when their relatives, friends and acquaintances working for the central government have got the pay hike.

However, a committee was earlier appointed to look into the issues raised by the armed forces but it is not known whether the committee had submitted its final report. The Brigadier further argues that inspite of 29 per cent of total central government employees are of armed forces there is no single member, serving or retired, from the armed forces on this committee.

Some of the major disparities pointed out by Brigadier Kanwal includes, Non-functional upgradation (NFU), which has already being given to civilian employees, should also be given to the Services as well; the Defence Pay Matrix (DPM) should be brought in sync with the Civilian Pay Matrix (CPM); and the Military Service Pay (MSP) given to the rank of Brigadier earlier must also be given to Major Generals.

Further Brigadier Kanwal raises some questions on hardship allowance and compared it with civilian employees. According to the reports, Superintendent of Police posted in Ladakh or Shillong will receive Rs 54,000 as Special Duty allowance and Army officer posted in Ladakh get Rs 13,900. Also, Army officials in Ladakh are not entitled to any allowance at all.

On the other side, while a soldier retiring with 100 per cent disability will receive an additional monthly pension of Rs 12,000, whereas a civilian official with a similar disability gets Rs 27,690.

Meanwhile, Shiv Gopal Mishra convenor of National Joint Council of Action also believes that the demand of Separate Pay Commission by armed forces is genuine. “Their demand is genuine, their dissent is genuine and their agitation is also genuine,” Shiv Gopal Mishra said

Since last couple of years, the armed forces have been demanding a separate pay commission and had also approached Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for the same. Around 12 lakh armed forces officials have been eagerly waiting for the pay hike under 7th Pay Commission.

Source: India.com

Income Tax for Salaried Income – Frequently asked questions

What is considered as salary income?

section 17​​ of the Income-tax Act defines the term ‘salary’. However, not going into the technical definition, generally whatever is received by an employee from an employer in cash, kind or as a facility [perquisite] is considered as salary.

​What are allowances? Are all allowances taxable?

Allowances are fixed periodic amounts, apart from salary, which are paid by an employer for the purpose of meeting some particular requirements of the employee. E.g., Tiffin allowance, transport allowance, uniform allowance, etc.

There are generally three types of allowances for the purpose of Income-tax Act – taxable allowances, fully exempted allowances and partially exempted allowances.​

​My employer reimburses to me all my expenses on grocery and children’s education. Would these be considered as my income?

During the year I had worked with three different employers and none of them deducted any tax from salary paid to me. If all these amounts are clubbed together, my income will exceed the basic exemption limit. Do I have to pay taxes on my own?

Yes, you will have to pay self-assessment tax and file the return of income.​

Even if no taxes have been deducted from salary, is there any need for my employer to issue Form-16 to me?

Form-16 is a certificate of TDS. In your case it will not apply. However, your employer can issue a salary statement.​

​Is pension income taxed as salary income?

Yes. However, pension received from the United Nations Organisation is exempt.​​

​Is Family pension taxed as salary income?

No, it is taxable as income from other sources.

​If I receive my pension through a bank who will issue Form-16 or pension statement to me- the bank or my former employer?

The bank.​

​Are retirement benefits like PF and Gratuity taxable?

​​In the hands of a Government employee Gratuity and PF receipts on retirement are exempt from tax. In the hands of non-Government employee, gratuity is exempt subject to the limits prescribed in this regard and PF receipts are exempt from tax, if the same are received from a recognised PF after rendering continuous service of not less than 5 years.​

​Are arrears of salary taxable?

Yes. However, the benefit of spread over of income to the years to which it relates to can be availed for lower incidence of tax. This is called as relief u/s 89​ of the Income-tax Act.​​

Can my employer consider relief u/s 89 for the purposes of calculating the TDS from salary?

​​Yes, if you are a Government employee or an employee of a PSU or company or co-operative society or local authority or university or institution or association or body. In such a case you need to furnish Form No. 10E to your employer

My income from let out house property is negative. Can I ask my employer to consider this loss against my salary income while computing the TDS on my salary?

Yes, however, losses other than losses under the head ‘Income from house property’ cannot be set-off while determining the TDS from salary.​​

Is leave encashment taxable as salary?

It is taxable if received while in service. Leave encashment received at the time of retirement is exempt in the hands of the Government employee. In the hands of non-Government employee leave encashment will be exempt subject to the limit prescribed in this behalf under the Income-tax Law.​

​Are receipts from life insurance policies on maturity along with bonus taxable?​

​​​As per section 10(10D), any amount received under a life insurance policy, including bonus is exempt from tax. However, following receipts would be subject to tax:

1. Any sum received under sub-section (3) of section 80DD; or
2. Any sum received under Keyman insurance policy; or
3. Any sum received in respect of policies issued on or after April 1st, 2003, in respect of which the amount of premium paid on such policy in any financial year exceeds 20% (10% in respect of policy taken on or after 1st April, 2012) of the actual capital sum assured; or
4. Any sum received for insurance on life of *specified person (issued on or after April 1st 2013) in respect of which the amount of premium exceeds 15% of the actual capital sum assured.

* Any person who is –

i) A person with disability or severe disability specified under section 80U​; or

ii) suffering from disease or ailment as specified in the rule made under section 80DDB.

Following points should be noted in this regard:

• Exemption is available only in respect of amount received from life insurance policy.

• Exemption under section 10(10D)​ is unconditionally available in respect of sum received for a policy which is issued on or before March 31, 2003.

• Amount received on the death of the person will continue to be exempt without any condition

Source : incometaxindia.gov.in

Isro to launch five communication satellites by year-end

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch five communication satellites by the year-end, its chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said on Thursday. The satellites are aimed at improving the communication system within the country, he said.

“There are five (satellites) that are coming up... All are communication satellites,” Kumar said. All the satellites would be put into space by the end of this year, the noted space scientist said. “Specific use is (to) improve the number of transponders available... (for communications). It will improve our communication capability within the country very significantly,” Kumar said. The Isro chief was speaking on the sidelines of a lecture organised on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Osmania University. In his lecture, Kumar gave an overview of the satellites launched by Isro and their purposes in the areas of weather forecasting, disaster management, space exploration, geo-spatial applications, education and agriculture among others.

Kumar said that India is the only country to achieve the feat of having a large number of satellites. Isro and the government have made GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation (Gagan) mandatory for all aircraft by 2019 to ensure safety and precision landing, he said. India has 4,000 heritage sites for which Isro plans to make an inventory and site management plan , Kumar said.

In February this year, the space agency scripted history by successfully launching 104 satellites, including India’s weather observation Cartosat-2 series, in a single mission on board its dependable polar satellite launch vehicle, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Source : Live Mint

SBI Card slashes fuel surcharge to 1%

NEW DELHI: SBI Card, with over 4 million customers, on Wednesday slashed fuel surcharge to 1 per cent from 2.5 per cent in line with overall reduction affected by oil marketing companies to promote digital transactions.

"Consequent to the revision in fuel surcharge levy on credit card payments from 2.5 per cent to 1 per cent, fuel surcharge waiver on your SBI Card has been revised to 1 per cent w.e.f April 26," the credit card company said in a statement.

SBI Card MD and CEO Vijay Jasuja said the fuel surcharge reduction is in line with the overall reduction done by oil companies.

"We have a policy that we will absorb fuel surcharge up to a certain amount. Earlier also we were absorbing the fuel surcharge and now also we are not charging anything to customers," he said.

SBI Card is a joint joint venture between State Bank of India and GE Capital.

7th Pay Commission: Fitment Panel Report Likely Today

Bhubaneswar: The wait could be excruciating for some, but good news might be on its way as the fitment committee constituted for implementation of 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations is likely to submit its report today.

Earlier, the fitment committee was supposed to submit its report on February 28 which was extended by 2 months. With the extended deadline ending an important meeting of the committee is scheduled today to review the draft prepared by the committee.

According to sources, the draft has been prepared keeping in mind the current salary, scale of pay, dearness allowance and the rank of the government employees.

“We have identified some issues. It is a process and we have already held a meeting in this regard. We will have another meeting and the future course of action will be decided,” said fitment panel chairman R Balakrishnan.

“We would urge that the report of the fitment committee be presented before the government tomorrow and salaries revised by the first week of May,” said Krushnaprasad Mohapatra, general secretary of Sachivalaya Sewa Sangh.

On the other hand, in the 2017-18 annual State Budget the State government has not clarified whether it has made any budgetary allocations for implementation the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.  However, under the administration head, the government has proposed Rs 47, 466 crore in the 2017-18 budget. Out of this, Rs 22,000 crore has been allocated for salaries and Rs 11,313 crores for pension.

With the implementation of the pay panel recommendations the additional burden is likely to be Rs 5,000 crore on the government. It is expected that there will be a hike of 23% in the basic pay of a government employee.

Dark chocolate may protect your brain from ageing

Chocoholics, take note! Eating dark chocolate may protect your brain from age-related stress and inflammation that are thought to play an important role in the neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings may help explain the beneficial effects on memory seen in people who consume dark chocolate, researchers said.

Oxidative stress and inflammation increase with ageing and are thought to play an important role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

In a new study, researchers from the University of California San Diego in the US showed that the epicatechin (Epi), a flavanol found in foods such as dark chocolate, reduced damaging oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of ageing.

Just two weeks of treatment with epicatechin not only suppressed levels of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation that would normally be increased in this mouse model, but also improved memory and anxiety levels in the mice.

“We previously reported on the beneficial effects of treatment with the cacao flavanol on ageing-induced oxidative stress and capacity to restore modulators of mitochondrial biogenesis in the prefrontal cortex of 26-month-old mice,” researchers said.

“In the current study, using a similar mouse model of ageing, we examined the capacity of Epi to mitigate hippocampus oxidative stress and inflammation leading to improved memory and anxiety levels,” they said.

Male mice underwent two weeks of treatment and samples of their brains were collected for the assessment of relevant endpoints. The assessment of the OS markers protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde levels show significant increases with ageing that are suppressed by Epi.

Altogether, results evidence a unique capacity of Epi to significantly mitigate neuroinflammation leading to improved brain function.

Source : Live Mint

Newly discovered ants species named after English rock band Radiohead

To honour their contributions to music and conservation efforts, a new species of ants has been named after English rock band, Radiohead.

Ana Jesovnik and Ted R Schultz of Washington’s Smithsonian Institution’s Ant Lab discovered three species of ants, while collecting data for a study in the Venezuelan Amazon, reported The Independent.

One of the species, Sericomyrmex radioheadi, was named after the upcoming Glastonbury headliner, as noted by Phys.org.

“We wanted to honour their music. But more importantly, we wanted to acknowledge the conservation efforts of the band members, especially in raising climate-change awareness,” said Jesovnik.

Earlier this month, a species of shrimp were named after Pink Floyd as the Synalpheus Pinkfloydi.

Source : Live Mint

Tamilnadu Public Service Commission TNPSC Group 2A 2017 Notification Released – Apply for 1953 vacancies for various posts on or before 26-05-2017

TNPSC Group 2A 2017 Notification – TNPSC Group 2A Exam 2017 notification has been published now to fill up 1953 vacancies. In its Annual Planner, TNPSC has intimated the tentative vacancies in the Group 2A 2017 was mentioned as 682. But now in the official Group 2A notification, TNPSC has released bumber vacancies 1953 for various posts. So, all interested and eligible candidates can apply for 1953 vacancies. All interested candidates can check details here.

TNPSC Group 2A 2017 Notification

TNPSC (Non-Interview Posts) (Group 2A Services) Recruitment 2017 | Personal Clerk, Assistant Job Vacancies Details:

Organization Name: Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)

Employment Category: Tamilnadu Govt Jobs

Total No. of Vacancies: 1953

Important Dates in Group 2A 2017 Notification

Notification Date : 27-04-2017
Date of Exam :06-08-2017
Last Date to Apply Online : 26-05-2017
Last Date to pay fee offline : 29-05-2017

Total Number of Vacancies in Group 2A Notification – 1953

List of Vacancies

Personal Clerk – 7
Steno Typist -6
Lower Division Clerk – 12
Assistant – 1928
Job Location: Tamilnadu

TNPSC (Non-Interview) (Group 2A) Notification & Online Application Form Link:  

TNPSC Group 2A Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Click Here to View

TNPSC Group 2A Previous Last 10 Years Question Papers: Click Here to Download

 
TNPSC (Non-Interview) (Group 2A) Official Notification PDF: Click Here to Download

TNPSC (Non-Interview) (Group 2A) Online Application Form: Click Here to Apply

Official Notification Website 

http://www.tnpsc.gov.in/latest-notification.html

TNPSC Group 2A Online Application Website 

http://tnpscexams.net/

North Eastern Post Circle Recruitment 2017-18 Notification Gramin Dak Sevak Posts

North Eastern Post Openings 2017-18: Applications are invited from the eligible applicants for filling up of 748 Gramin Dak Sevak – GDS Vacancy. Interested and eligible aspirants like who are having 10th certificate can apply for the post on or before 24th May 2017

Advt No.: EST/6-145/2016-17 DTD.24/04/2017

North Eastern Post recruitment 2017 notification

Organization Name: North Eastern Postal Circle

Post Name: Gramin Dak Sevak – GDS

Educational Qualification required: 10th pass

Job Category: Central Government Jobs/ Postal Jobs

North Eastern Postal Circle Community wise Consolidation of Posts Details:

Sl. No.CategoryNo of Posts1Unreserved3722OBC343SC434ST299

No of Vacancies: 748

Job Posting Location: North Eastern

Official Website: www.indiapost.gov.in

Job Level: State Level Jobs

Eligibility Details for North Eastern Postal Circle Recruitment 2017

Education Qualification: The applicant should have a pass 10th standard from approved state boards by the respective State Govt. / Central Govt, The candidate should have computer knowledge and will be required to furnish basic computer training certificate for at least 60 days from a recognized Computer Training Institute.

Nationality: Indian

Age Limit: Job aspirant’s age should be 18 years to 40 years as on date of 24th May 2017.Age Relaxation: Age relaxation will be applicable for deserving candidates as per norms

OBC – NCL category candidates 03 years

SC/ ST category candidates 05 years

Pay Scale: Not specified

How to Apply for North Eastern Postal Circle Recruitment 2017-18 Notification Gramin Dak Sevak – GDS Vacancies

Interested and eligible candidates have to visit Official website https://indiapost.gov.in or http://www.appost.in/gdsonline in order to fill their Online Application on or before 24th May 2017.

Applicants have to complete Registration process, before applying for desired post

Selection Procedure: Candidates will get on the basis of Merit List.

Application Fee: General and OBC category candidates have to pay Rs. 100 /- at any Head Post Office, and the applicant should need to provide the Registration No at the Post Office Counter, And SC/ ST/ Female category candidates are exempted form application fee.

Important Dates for North Eastern Postal Circle Openings 2017

ParticularsDateStarting Date for OnlineApplication Submission25th April 2017Last Date for OnlineApplication submission24th May 2017

Important Links:

Download Official Notification in PDF

Apply Online