Thursday, August 7, 2014

PIB NEWS -- IN LOK SABHA - GENERAL MATTERS


Small Saving Schemes for the benefit of all including Weaker Sections of Society 
The Small Savings Schemes that are currently in operation in the country are: Post Office Savings Account, Post Office Time Deposits (1,2,3 & 5 years), Post Office Recurring Deposits, Post Office Monthly Income Account, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, National Savings Certificate (VIII-Issue), National Savings Certificate (IX-Issue) and Public Provident Fund.

The above accounts can be opened by a person who has attained the age of majority and is of sound mind, except the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme which can be opened by a retired person who has attained the age of 55 years or 60 years on the date of opening of account. The accounts can be opened by an individual and the guardians on behalf of minor also.

Benefits of small savings schemes are equally available to all persons which include weaker sections of the society.

With the objective of facilitating payment of various Government benefits transferred under different schemes of Central and State Government, a new category of savings account called ‘Basic Savings Account’ was notified. An individual adult and also a guardian of any minor, including people from the weaker sections, whose names are registered for any Government Welfare Scheme, may avail benefits from the said schemes. They can open Basic Saving Account, without depositing any amount, in any post office for the said purpose.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Sanctioned and Acutal Strength of Employees in Central Government; 30,84,530 Civilian Employees in Position 
As per the information available, the estimated sanctioned and actual strength of Civilian Employees (Group-wise) in the Central Government is:

Group-wise number of sanctioned posts
Number in position
A(G)
100869
87960
B(G)
86840
76724
B (N.G)
144454
113477
C (N.G)
3352380
2806396
Total
3684543
3084530

In view of the prevailing economic scenario and in order to promote fiscal discipline, Government of India has issued Economy instructions which, inter alia, impose a ban on creation of new posts. However, proposals for creation of posts are examined/concurred to in the Ministry on case to case basis if supported by adequate functional justification.

All Ministries/Departments are required to review their vacancies vis-a-vis the work load regularly to take necessary steps for filing up vacancies as per their requirements subject to extant guidelines and rules on the matter.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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Utilisation of Accumulated Pension Wealth on exit from the National Pension System for Corporates 

            As per the rules regarding exit of government employees from the National Pension System (NPS) before the age of normal superannuation, at least 80% of the accumulated pension wealth of the subscriber needs to be utilised for purchase of annuity providing for monthly pension to the subscriber and the balance is to be paid as a lump-sum payment to the subscriber. A subscriber at the time of exit from NPS can lodge his claim through his/her nodal office at NPS Claims Processing Cell (NPSCPC) at Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA).

            The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) settle the claims of the subscribers who have lodged their claims along with complete set of documents with NPS Claims Processing Cell through the CRA

            The details of the NPS account settled in Government Sector are:

Sector
No. of PRANs
Total amount disbursed (Rs.)
Central Government
431
27,890,438.19
State Government
 46
  3,748,157.53

All contributions received from Government and employees are accounted for and invested once they are uploaded in the CRA System by the concerned Government department.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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