Post Retirement Complimentary Passes (PRCP) admissible to Ex-servicemen or CG employees - Railway Board's clarification

Post Retirement Complimentary Passes (PRCP) admissible to Ex-servicemen or CG employees - Railway Board's clarification

Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)

No. E(W)2016/PS5-8/2

New Delhi, dated 19.04.2018

The General Managers (P)
All Zonal Railways &
Production Units.

Sub: Clarification regarding entitled number of sets of "Post Retirement Complimentary Passes" (PRCP) admissible to lateral entrants in Railways Service.
Ref: (i) Board's letter No.E(W)2006/PS5-1/28 dated 18.04.2007.
(ii) Board's letter No.E(W)2006/PS5-1/28 dated 08.05.2008.
(iii) Board's letter No.E(W)2013/PS5-1/7 dated 16.12.2013.
(iv) Board's letter No.E(W)2013/PS5-1/28 dated 12.03.2014.

In the PNM/NFIR meeting with Board, the Federation have raised an issue that lateral entrants in Railways Service, especially ex-servicemen, who have retired or ceased to be a railway servant, after having rendered more than 20 years of qualifying service (i.e. after addition of admissible past non-railway service) are not being issued entitled number of PRCPs.

2. In this context, your attention is drawn to the amendment made vide Advance Correction Slip (ACS) No.53 to Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition - 1993), circulated vide Board's letter cited under Ref.(i) which provided for giving weightage only to the extent of half of the period of past non-railway service rendered by "Ex-servicemen or Central Government employees" for determining their eligibility to PRCP. The said provision was further amended vide ACS No.56, circulated vide Board's letter cited under Ref.(ii). It provided for counting of half of the period of past non-railway service rendered by the lateral entrants in non-railway departments or establishments to determine their eligibility ot PRCP subject to the condition that the said period of past non-railway service has been counted along with the railway service for pensionary benefits. It was also made clear that the number of PRCPs of such lateral entrants shall be at par with those railway servants who have retired with minimum 20 years of qualifying railway service.

3. Furthermore, in terms of ACS No. 74, circulated vide Board's letter cited under Ref.(iii), read with Board's letter cited under Ref.(iv), railway employees who retired on or after 01.01.2006 were made entitled to the following PRCP facility:-

Category		No. of PRCPs admissible in one year
Group A & B	With railway service of 20 years or more	3 Sets
Group C		2 Sets
Group D		1 Set

4. Accordingly, it is clarified that the lateral entrants who have retired or ceased to be a railway servant w.e.f. 01.01.2006 after having rendered 20 years or more of qualifying service (i.e. either railway service plus half of the period of past non- railway service counted along with railway service for pensionary benefits or railway service exclusively), are entitled to the number of PRCPs as stipulated in preceding para 3.

5. The Railways are advised to follow the extant provisions of statutory rules scrupulously and issue passes accordingly.

(V. Muralidharan)
Dy. Director Estt. (Welfare)-I
Railway Board

Source: IRTSA

Clarification on Reimbursement of Tuition Fee and Hostel Charges provided to the children of Armed Forces Officers / PBORs missing / disabled / killed in action

Clarification on Reimbursement of Tuition Fee and Hostel Charges provided to the children of Armed Forces Officers / PBORs missing / disabled / killed in action

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:5354
ANSWERED ON: 28.03.2018

Reimbursement of Tuition Fee

RAJAN BABURAO VICHARE
Will the Minister of

DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has curtailed the reimbursement of tuition and hostel fees provided to the children of working and retired armed forces personnel including martyred, disabled and missing soldiers / officers;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the likely saving in Government exchequer as a result thereof;

(c) whether servicemen and ex-servicemen are distressed by the Government decision;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to reconsider the decision; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b) The combined amount of tuition fee and hostel charges provided to the children of Armed Forces Officers / PBORs missing / disabled / killed in action has been capped at Rs.10,000 p.m. in accordance with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) as accepted by the Government.

Keeping in view that both the number of students and the tuition / hostel fee are open-ended, no fixed / uniform amount of savings can be indicated. Out of total reported 2679 students during the year 2017-18, 193 students have been reported to be drawing more than the capped amount of tuition / hostel fee and savings have been reported to be Rs.3.20 crore (Approximately).

(c) Representations have been received for removal of cap of Rs.10,000 p.m. on combined amount of tuition fee / hostel charges from some of the affected beneficiaries.

(d) & (e): The Government has decided to continue the educational concession without the cap of Rs.10,000 p.m.

Read in Hindi

Source: Lok Sabha

WHO IS AN EX-SERVICEMEN ?

Meaning of an Ex-Servicemen - Revised Definition

WHO IS AN EX-SERVICEMEN

DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN

Those who were released between 01 Jul 66 and 30 Jun 68 (both days inclusive) - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union, has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency

(Authority : Min of Home Affairs Notification No F.14/26/64-Estt(D) dated 11 Oct 1966)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 68 and 30 Jun 71 (both days inclusive) - Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months and released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency

(Authority : Min of Home Affairs Notification No 14/11/68-Estt(D)/Estt -C) dated 13 Feb 69)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 71 and 30 Jun 74 (both days inclusive) Any person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency

(Authority : Cabinet Secretariat, Department of Personnel Notification No 13/3/71-Ests(C) dated 14 Oct 71)

Those who were released between 01 Jul 74 and 30 Jun 79 (both days inclusive)  ESM means a person who has served in any rank(whether as a combatant or non -combatant) in the Armed forces of the Union, for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and has been released there from otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

(Authority : Cabinet Secretariat, Department . of Personnel & Administrative Reforms Notification No 13/24/73-Estt(C) dated 26 Oct 74)

Those who were releasedbetween 01 Jul 79 and 30 Jun 87 (both days inclusive) Any person who has served in any rank(whether as combatant or not)in the armed forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation if discharged for reasons other than at their own request or by way or dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and not less than five years service if discharged at own request.

(Authority : Department . of Personnel & Administrative Reforms Notification No 39016/10/79-Estt(C) dated 15 Dec 79)

Those who were released on or after 01 Jul 87 – Any person who has served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the armed forces of the Union and was released/retired with any kind of pension from Defence Budget or released on completion of specific terms of engagement with gratuity otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

(Authority : DOP&T OM No 36034/5/85-Estt(SCT) dated 14 Apr 87)

Personnel of Territorial Army  Who are pension holders ;for continuous embodied service, persons with disability attributable to military service and gallantry award winners retired on or after 15 Nov 86.

(Authority : DOP&T OM No 36034/5/85-Estt(SCT) dated 14 Apr 87)

Personnel of Army Postal Service  Personnel of Army Postal Service , who are a part of regular Army and retire from such service (that is directly from APS without reversion to P&T Department) with a pension or who have been released from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension shall come within the definition of ex-servicemen

(Authority : Min of Defence OM No 9(52)/88/D)(Res) dated 19 Jul 89)

Note : As per Govt. of India, Min of Def/Department of ESW OM No 1(9)/2010/D(Res-I) dated 20/21 Jul 2011, personnel who were on deputation in APS for more than six months prior to 14 Apr 87 would also be considered as ex-servicemen with all consequential benefits.

Recruits  Who are boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension. However, the operation of the OM has been kept in abeyance for issuance of notification by DOP&T.

(Authority : Min of Def/Department of ESW OM No 12/1/2005/D(Res) dated 01 Feb 2006)

Those who were released on or after 10 Oct 2012

An ex-servicemen means a person-

(i) Who has served in any rank whether as a combatant or non combatant in the Regular Army, Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union and

(a) Who either has been retired or relieved or discharged from such service whether at his own request or being relieved by the employer after earning his or her pension; or

(b) Who has been relieved from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond his control and awarded medical or other disability pension; or

(c) Who has been released from such service as a result of reduction in establishment; or

(ii) who has been released from such service after completing the specific period of engagement, otherwise than at his own request, or by way of dismissal, or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and has been given gratuity; and includes personnel of the Territorial Army, namely, pension holders for continuous embodied service or broken spells of qualifying service; or

(iii) personnel of the Army Postal Service who are part of Regular Army and retired from the Army Postal Service without reversion to their parent service on medical grounds attributable to or aggravated by military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension; or

(iv) Personnel, who were on deputation in Army Postal Service for more than six months prior to the 14th April,1987; or

(v) Ex-recruits boarded out or relieved on medical ground and granted medical disability pension irrespective of the date of boarding out/release.

Authority: DOP&T office Memo No.36034/1/2006-Estt(Res) dated 04 Oct 2012 and this order came into force from the date it is published in the Gazette of India vide G.S.R 757(E) dated 10th Oct 2012.)

Authority - Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare D(Res I) OM dated 07th July 2014 ex-recruits have been granted ESM Status irrespective of the date of boarding out/release.

Note : The eligibility of the person to the status of ex-servicemen will be governed by the definition in vogue at the time of his discharge and will not be affected by the changes in the definition subsequent to the discharge.

Authority: http://media.dgrindia.com/

Reservation for Ex-servicemen in direct recruitment Group C posts

Reservation for Ex-servicemen in direct recruitment Group 'C' posts

No. 11019/20/Misc./2015/MF.CGA(A)/NG/86

Government of India
Controller General of Accounts
Ministry sf Finance
Department of Expenditure
Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
GPO Complex, E-Block, INA
New Delhi - 110023

Dated. the 5th May, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Reservation for Ex-servicemen in direct recruitment Group 'C' posts - Regarding

Reference is invited to the reservation, concessions and relaxations applicable for ex-Servicemen in Central Government Services (Group 'C' posts). The Government of India has been issuing instructions from time to time for filling up of vacancies under prescribed quota reserved for ex-servicemen category. In this regard the DoPT has issued compendium of instruction on reservations for Ex-servicemen - consolidation of instructions vide OM. No.3603/4/3/2013-Estt.(Res.) dated 25th February, 2014.

All Pr.CCA.s/CCAs/CAs (with independent charge) are therefore requested to ensure that the provisions/ rules for Ex-servicemen notified under Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Central Services and Posts) Rules. 1979. as amended from time to time are being properly followed up/implemented while forwarding of vacancies or direct recruitment posts to this office for consolidation. The non-implementation of reservations prescribed for ex-servicemen shall be treated as violation of Govt. of India's instructions on the subject.
This. issues with approval of the Jt. Controller General of Accounts (Gr. 'B')

(G.Ramesh)
Asstt. Controller General of Accounts (Gr. 'B')

Source: www.cga.nic.in

Re-Employment of Ex-Servicemen

Re-Employment of Ex-Servicemen

As per Department of Personnel & Training's OM No. 36034/27/84-Estt(SCT), dated 2.5.1985, on an Ex-servicemen joining the Government job on civil side after availing of the benefits given to him as an Ex-servicemen for his re-employment, his Ex-servicemen status for the purpose of re-employment in Government would cease. As per DOP&T OM No. 36034/6/90-Estt(SCT), dated 10.10.1994, an ex-servicemen already secured regular employment under the Central Government in a civil post would be permitted the benefits of age relaxation as admissible for ex-servicemen for securing another appointment in any higher post or service under the Central Government. However, such candidates will not be eligible for benefits of reservation, if any, for ex-servicemen in Central Government jobs.

As per DOP&T's OM No. 36034/1/2014-Estt(Res), dated 14.8.2014 if an ex-serviceman applies for various vacancies before joining any civil employment, he / she can avail of the benefit of reservation as ex-servicemen for any subsequent employment. However, to avail of this benefit, an ex-serviceman as soon as he / she joins any civil employment, should give self-declaration / undertaking to the concerned employer about the date-wise details of application for various vacancies for which he / she had applied for before joining the initial civil employment. This benefit would be available only in respect of vacancies which are filled on direct recruitment and wherever reservation is applicable to the ex-servicemen.

In addition to above, a proposal has been referred to DOP&T to the effect that an Ex-servicemen be allowed the benefit of reservation for second time and even thereafter in subsequent recruitments for civil employment, if the vacancies, which are to be filled on the basis of direct recruitment and where reservation is applicable to Ex-servicemen, has not been filled up with by those Ex-servicemen, who are getting / claiming benefit of reservation for the first time.

The details of reservation available to Ex-servicemen is as under:

(I) In Central Government Ministries / Departments:
(i) 10% Direct recruitment posts upto the level of Assistant Commandant in Central Para Military Forces.
(ii) 10% Direct recruitment posts in Group 'C'.
(iii) 20% Direct recruitment posts in Group 'D'.

(II) In Central Public Sector Enterprise:
(i) 14.5% in Group 'C' Posts.
(ii) 24.5% in Group 'D' Posts.

(III) Nationalised Bank:
(i) 14.5% in Group 'C' Posts.
(ii) 24.5% in Group 'D' Posts.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri PC Mohan in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Pension to retired personnel

Pension to retired personnel

There are demands from the in service and retired Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles (AR) personnel for extending One Rank One Pension (OROP). CAPF & AR personnel retire only on attaining the age of 57/60 years and they are entitled for pension and other pensionary benefits as per Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. These rules are different from the pension rules applicable to Ex-Servicemen. Further CAPF & AR personnel, who are appointed on or after 01/01/2004 are covered under New Pension System (NPS).

The Government has taken several steps for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel including Next of Kin (NoK) of CAPFs personnel who lay down their lives for the country. Following benefits, inter alia, are given to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel including the Next of Kin (NoK) of those who lay down their lives for the country:-

(i) Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation @ Rs.35 lacs for death on active duty and @Rs. 25 lakhs for death on duty, as the case may be, is entitled to the Next of Kin of the deceased personnel.

(ii) The NoK of the deceased is entitled to get Liberalized Family Pension (i.e. last pay drawn) under Central Civil Service (Extra Ordinary Pension) Rules, 1939 and other pensionary benefits as admissible.

(iii) 5% vacancies are reserved in Group "C" & "D" for compassionate appointments for NoK of the deceased personnel.

(iv) Under the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme, amount @ Rs.2250/- pm for girls and Rs.2000/- pm for boys is being released to the wards of serving/retired CAPFs personnel. Prime Minister Scholarship is admissible to 1000 girls and 1000 boys.

(v) There is a reservation of 15 MBBS and 02 BDS seats for the wards of CAPFs personnel in the seats of Central Government for these courses.

(vi) Central Police Canteens at various locations in the country have been functioning.

(vii) A Welfare and Rehabilitation Board has been established for the welfare and rehabilitation of CAPFs personnel and their families including differently abled personnel.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to question by Shri Kamal Nath and Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Fixation of Pay of re-employed pensioners - treatment of Military Service Pay (MSP)

Fixation of Pay of re-employed pensioners - treatment of Military Service Pay (MSP) - reg.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

No.E(G) 2013/EM 1-5

New Delhi, dated 06, March 2017

The General Secretary,
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen.
3, Chelmsford Road,
New Delhi.

Sir.

Sub: Fixation of Pay of re-employed pensioners - treatment of Military Service Pay (MSP) - reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to your letter No.II/35/Part XIII dated 10.01.2017 on the above subject and to state that the illustration given in your letter regarding treatment of Military Service Pay (MSP) while fixing the pay of ex-servicemen re-employed in the Railways has been examined in consultation with the Finance Directorate is not as per the instructions contained in DoP&T’s OM No.3/19/2009 Estt. Pay II dated 08.11.2010 which was circulated to the Railways vide Board’s letter No.E(G) 2013/EM 1-4 dated 24.07.2013 and reiterated vide Board's letter of even number dated 15.12.2016. The DoP&T’s OM only provides that the MSP part of pension will not be deducted from the pay fixed on re-employment. It does not provide for including MSP in the pay fixed on re-employment.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
for Secretary/
Railway Board

Source: NFIR

Initial pay fixation of re-employed ex-servicemen who held post below Commissioned Officer rank in Defence Forces, retired before attaining the age of 55 years and have been appointed on re-employment basis in civilian posts

Initial pay fixation of re-employed ex-servicemen who held post below Commissioned Officer rank in Defence Forces, retired before attaining the age of 55 years and have been appointed on re-employment basis in civilian posts - Regarding.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

No.E(G)2013/EM 1-5

New Delhi, dated 7/12/2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Initial pay fixation of re-employed ex-servicemen who held post below Commissioned Officer rank in Defence Forces, retired before attaining the age of 55 years and have been appointed on re-employment basis in civilian posts - Regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to a demand by the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), a recognised Federation of Railwaymen, who have requested that the initial pay of non-commissioned ex-servicemen (PBOR) who are re-employed on the Railways should be fixed by taking into account the service endered by them in the Defence Forces. They are insisting that the fixation done in the minimum of the scale of the re-employed post should be according to the procedure laid down in para 4 (b) (ii) of DOP&T’s OM s dated 31/7/86 as amended vide OM dated 11th November 2008, 5th April 2010 & 8th November, 2010. The Federation states that the content of these OMs clearly states that the Pay of re-employed former Defence Forces Personnel should be fixed as per Rule 7 of CCS (RP) Rules 2008 i.e. at the same stage of their last basic pay drawn at the time of retirement i.e. allowing one increment (in the post held at the time of retirement) for each year of service the ex-servicemen has rendered at the time of retirement with the proviso that the pay thus fixed does not exceed:-

(a) The pay drawn prior to retirement for non-commissioned officer of all three forces like Army, Navy and Air Force (Sub para 2 (ix) of Para 3 & Para 4 (b) (ii) of OM dated 31st July 1986 are relevant).

(b) Para 5 of DOP&T’s OM No. 3/13/2008-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 11th November, 2008 stipulated enhancement of existing ceiling of Rs. 26000/- for drawal of pay plus gross pension on re-employment to Rs. 80,000/- p.m.

2. However, their attention was drawn to the provisions in DOP&T’s OM No. 3/1/85-Estt.(pay-II) dated 31st July 1986 and OM NO. 3/19/2009-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 5th April 2010, governing initial pay fixation, inter alia, of re-employed ex-servicemen who held post below Commissioned Officer rank in Defence Forces and retired before attaining the age of 55 years and have been appointed on re-employment basis in the Railways. As per these orders, the initial pay of such re-employed pensioners is to be fixed in terms of provisions of Central Civil Services (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986 issued by Department of Personnel and Training vide OM No. 3/1/85-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 31/7/1986 as amended from time to time.

3. It is to be seen that revised provision contained in Para 2 of OM dated 5th April 2010 revising the contents of Para 4(d)(i) of CCS (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986 provides that in case of ex-servicemen who held post below Commissioned Officer rank in the Defence Forces and in the case of civilians who held posts below Group ‘A’ posts at the time of their retirement before 55 years of age, the entire pension and pension equivalent of retirement benefits shall be ignored, i.e. no duduction on this count is to be made from the initial pay fixed on re-employment. Also, in terms of the Para 4(a) and Para 4(b)(i) of CCS (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986, as amended vide DOP&T’s OM No. 3/19/2009-Estt.(Pay.II) dated 5/4/2010, the initial pay on re-employment of such pensioners shall be fixed as per the entry pay in the revised pay structure of the re-employed post applicable in the case of Direct Recruits appointed on or after 1/1/2006 as notified vide Section II, Part A of First Schedule to CCS(Revised Pay) Rules, 2008. As is explicit, these instructions do not provide for protection of last pay drawn before retirement, in such cases. Therefore, the fixation of pay of re-employed ex-servicemen is being done accordingly on the Railways.

4. However, the Federation does not agree with the above contention and desires that the pay of ex-Defence Forces personnel re-employed in Railways should be fixed in accordance with the clarification issued vide DoP&T’s OM dated 5th April, 2010 in Para 3 (iv) & (v) which contain clarifications duly stating that the pay of the ex-servicemen, re-employed in the Central Government Organizations will be fixed in accordance with the provision contained in DoP&T’s OM No. 3/13/2008-Estt.(pay-II) dated 11/11/2008 after exercising option in the manner laid down in Rule 6 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008 and the fixation of pay is to be regulated in accordance with the provisions of Rule 7 of CCS (RP) Rules 2008.

The Federation has further pointed out that the initial pay of a re-employed military pensioner and a direct recruit cannot be the same in view of the fact that the pay of the re-employed Defence Forces Pensioner is to be done as per the provisions of Rule 7 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008 applicable to direct recruits – the two entrants being independent and have no co-relation with each other.

5. After protracted correspondence and discussion of the issue between NFIR and the concerned officials of this Ministry, as NFIR are still not convinced with the official stand on this issue and insisting on implementation of Para 3 (iv) and (v) of DoP&T’s O.M. Dated 5/4/2010. Hence, it was decided to refer the matter to DOP&T for clarification.

6. In the light of the position as brought out above, DOP&T are requested to clarify specifically as to whether the contention of NFIR that the pay of non-commissioned ex-servicemen (PBOR) who retire from the Defence Forces before attaining the age of 55 years, and are subsequently re-employed on the Railways should be fixed by taking into account the service rendered by them and last pay drawn in the Defence Forces, is in order, or the procedure being followed on the Railways i.e. fixing the pay of such re-employed ex-servicemen as per the entry pay in the revised pay structure of the re-employed post applicable in the case of Direct Recruits appointed on or after 1/1/2006, without any pay protection is correct.

7. An early reply in the matter is solicited.

(S. Pal)
Jt. Dir. Estt. (Genl.)

Shri A.K. Jain,
Deputy Secretary (Pay),
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions,
Department of Personnel and Training,
North Block,
New Delhi.

Source: NFIR

Short Service Commissioned Officers

Short Service Commissioned Officers

An Ex-Servicemen (ESM) means a person who has been released from such service after completing the specific period of engagement, otherwise than at his own request, or by way of dismissal, or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and has been given a Gratuity; and includes personnel of the Territorial Army, namely, pension holders for continuous embodied service or broken spells of qualifying service.

10% of the vacancies in posts upto the level of the Assistant Commandants in all para military forces to be filled by direct recruitment in a year shall be reserved for being filled by the Ex-Servicemen.

For appointment to any vacancy in Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services or posts filled by direct recruitment otherwise than on the results of an open All India Competitive Examinations, the upper age limit shall be relaxed by the length of military service increased by three years in the case of Ex-servicemen and Commissioned Officers including Emergency Commissioned Officers or Short
Service Commissioned Officers.

For appointment to any vacancy in Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services or posts filled by direct recruitment on the results of an All India Competitive Examination, the Ex-servicemen and Commissioned Officers including Emergency Commissioned Officers or Short Service Commissioned Officers who have rendered at least five years military service and have been released :

(i) On completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or

(ii) On account of physical disability attributable to military service or on invalidment shall be allowed maximum relaxation of five years in the upper age limit.

DGR Resettlement Schemes for ESM Short Service Commissioned Officers are as under:-

(i) ESM Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme.

(ii) Allotment of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. / Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. outlets Pan INDIA.

(iii) Management of CNG Station by ESM (Officers) in NCR.

(iv) DGR Sponsored Security Scheme.

(v) Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme.

(vi) Allotment of Army Surplus Vehicles.

(vii) Allotment of LPG distributorship under Government Person (GP) category scheme.

(viii) Allotment of Retail Outlet (Petrol & Diesel) under Combined Category 1 (CC1) scheme.

The Short Service Commissioned Officers are offered to undergo 24 weeks management courses in IIM, Ahmedabad, IIM, Lucknow, IIM, Indore, MDI, Gurgaon and other skill upgradation courses which are National Skills Qualifications Framework compliant.

There is no proposal for restructuring the Short Service Commission in the Ministry.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Dr. Shashi Tharoor in Lok Sabha today.

7th CPC recommendation on Disability Pension of Ex-Servicemen

7th CPC recommendation on Disability Pension of Ex-Servicemen

Government vide Notification dated 30th September 2016 have issued detailed recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission relating to pensionary benefits of Defence Forces Personnel and the decisions taken thereon by the Government. The 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommended the following on disability pension:-

The Commission is of the considered view that the regime implemented post VI CPC needs to be discontinued, and recommended a return to the slab based system. The slab rates for disability element for 100 percent disability would be as follows:

Rank	Levels	Rate per month (INR)
Service Officers	10 and above	27000
Honorary Commissioned Officers
Subedar  Major / Equivalents	6  to  9	17000
Subedar / Equivalents
Naib Subedar / Equivalents
Havildar / Equivalents	5  And  below	12000
Naik / Equivalents
Sepoy / Equivalents

The above recommendation has been accepted with the approval of the Cabinet and Resolution dated 30.09.2016 issued accordingly.

The 6th CPC dispensation of the calculation of disability element on percentage basis, however, continues for civil side which has resulted in an anomalous situation. The issue has accordingly been referred to the Anomaly Committee.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Shukla in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Panel on OROP not hearing individuals: ex-serviceman tells HC

Panel on OROP not hearing individuals: ex-serviceman tells HC

New Delhi: Delhi High Court was today told that the one-member judicial commission, set up to deal with grievances of ex-servicemen on One Rank One Pension (OROP), was not hearing issues raised by an individual but dealing only with contentions raised by organisations.

The Centre refuted the claims before a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar saying the commission was hearing the grievances raised before it not only by organisations but by individuals also.
The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions to Ministry of Defence and the commission, headed by Justice (Retd) L Narasimha Reddy, “to give an effective public hearing to those affected or aggrieved by implementation of OROP”.

When the matter came up for hearing, petitioner S P Singh told the bench he had approached the commission with his grievances but was not heard and told that the panel was only hearing the contentions of organisations.

The petitioner also claimed that armed forces officers were sitting with the panel despite the fact that it was a one-member judicial commission.

Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia refuted the claims of the petitioner saying the commission was also hearing the grievances of individuals and the officers were present to assist the panel.
He also said the petitioner was heard by the panel.

The bench then asked the petitioner to file an affidavit stating that he was not given an opportunity by the commission to put forth his grievances and posted the matter for further hearing on September 28.

The Centre had earlier told the court it has extended by six months the term of the one-member panel on OROP.

The petitioner, who is an ex-serviceman, has said that as per a Ministry letter dated April 13, “Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners’ Associations can submit their suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified, to the MoD, through post or by email within 15 days i.E. By April 29, 2016″.

The petitioner had contended that this information was not published in the newspapers and, therefore, people were not informed about it. He had said that the time given to forward the representations was “very short”.

The Centre had told the court that date for forwarding suggestions and representations was later extended to May 15.

PTI

Supreme Court seeks government response on ex-servicemen plea on OROP

Supreme Court seeks government response on ex-servicemen plea on OROP

New Delhi: Supreme Court today sought the government’s response on a plea of an ex-servicemen’s body seeking implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) as recommended by the Koshyari Committee with an automatic annual revision, instead of the current policy of periodic review once in five years.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan issued notice and sought the response from the government in eight weeks.

The Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) and others have challenged the government’s policy of periodic review of pension once in five years, saying such an approach was dilution of the February 26, 2014 announcement by which the revision in pension was to automatically pass on to the past pensioners on an annual basis.

They have contended that five-yearly periodic review did not meet the demand of the ex-servicemen seeking OROP for the service personnel who had retired with same length of service in the same rank.

“OROP is the uniform desire of all three defence services. Ex-servicemen are presently drawing pension that is not consistent with their rank and/or length of service. In fact, some ex-servicemen are even drawing lesser pension than other ex-servicemen who retired with a subordinate rank or (in the same rank) which is unjust and unconstitutional,” the petition said.

It said that the Centre’s February 3, 2016 letter sent to the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force on OROP was “unjust, arbitrary and violative of Article 14 and 21 of the constitution.”

The plea sought a direction to the Centre “that the pension of past pensioners be automatically and contemporaneously enhanced, whenever there is any future increase or enhancement in the rates of pension.”
It further said the government should be directed to fix the pension on the basis of highest pension of financial year 2014-15 and not 2013.

IESM in its petition has referred to the December 19, 2011, report of Rajya Sabha’s Petition Committee then headed by Bhagat Singh Koshyari which rejected all reservation advanced by the government while “strongly recommending” OROP.

In its 142nd report, the Koshyari Committee had said, “the Committee strongly recommends that Government should implement OROP in the defence forces across the board at the earliest”.

PTI

Welfare of Ex-Servicemen State-wise details of ex-servicemen (ESM)

Welfare of Ex-Servicemen

State-wise details of ex-servicemen (ESM) in the country as on 31.12.2015 is as under:

TOTAL: 2447819

Details of schemes being implemented for welfare, rehabilitation and resettlement of ESM is as under:

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Officers Training:

• 24 Weeks Management Courses at IIMs and other reputed B-Schools
• Modular management courses like Project Finance, Academic Institutions, Supply Chain, Retail, Six Sigma, Seafaring etc.
• Newly introduced courses for 2015-16 like Strategic Retail Management, Human Resource Management(HRM), Facility, Transition, Export and Import, Event Management etc, Corporate Social Responsibility and Jet Transition.
• Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs)/Other (OR) and Equivalents’ Training at Institutes:
• Security, Fire & Industrial Safety, Computer & Information Technology including ‘O’ Level, Hospitality, Tourism, Agriculture based, Business Management, Modular Management, Vocational & Technical, Medical & Healthcare, Library & Information Science, Legal Assistant etc 
• Newly introduced courses for 2015-16 like Logistics & Transport Management, Retailing & Showroom, Corporate Office, Material Management, Marine Engineering etc.
• Courses at Regimental Centres:
• At least two courses are planned every month at all the Regimental Centres to provide variety of courses to the retirees on pension drill.

RE-EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Reservation in Government Jobs: The Central Government has provided for the following reservation for ESM for vacancies in the posts to be filled by direct recruitment:-

• 10% in Group ‘C’ posts and 20% in Group ‘D’ posts. In addition 4.5% reservation in each category is meant for Disabled Soldiers and Widows/ Dependents.
• 14.5% in Group ‘C’ and 24.5% Group ‘D’ posts in Public Sector Undertakings and Nationalized Banks.
• 10% posts upto Assistant Commandants in Paramilitary Forces.
• 100 % in Defence Security Corps.

Placement Assistance through DGR: Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) sponsors Ex-Servicemen (Officers) to various Government organizations, Public Sector Undertakings, Corporate Houses, Private Sector, Central Para Military Forces etc based on their requisition for re-employment of ESM. The DGR sponsored ESM are re-employed by the requisitioning agencies after due process of selection by them.

DGR sponsored security schemes:

SCHEMES OF SELF EMPLOYMENT

Schemes for Officers only:

• ESM Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme.
• Allotment of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited /Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Company Owned Company Operated Outlets PAN India.
•  Management of CNG Station by Ex-Servicemen (O) in National Capital Region.

Schemes for all:

• Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme.
• Allotment of Army Surplus Vehicles
• Allotment of Regular LPG Distributorship Scheme under ‘Government Personnel’ Category
• Allotment of Oil Product Agencies Under 8 % Defence Quota
• Allotment of LPG Agency Under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitran Yojna. 

Schemes for JCOs/OR Only:

• Allotment of Mother Dairy Milk Booths and Fruit & Vegetable (SAFAL) Shops in NCR.
•  Allotment of Milk Shops of Gopaljee Dairy Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi/Noida.
•  Allotment of KIOSKS/Retail outlet of Gopaljee Farm Fresh in Faridabad/NCR.

DETAILS OF BENEFITS GIVEN TO ESM AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE COUNTRY

• Financial assistance for treatment of identified serious diseases
• Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme
• Financial support to institutions involved in rehabilitation of ESM
• Modified Scooter Grant
• Tool Kit of Ex-Servicemen Technicians
• Benefits given from Armed Forces Flag Day

Steps being taken to provide better opportunities to ESM are as under :-

• dissemination of information on Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) website regarding Open Competitive Examination for various posts, dates and syllabus etc.
• signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to conduct job fairs by Corporate Sectors to provide additional employment opportunities to ESM.
• hosting of job portal by DGR wherein ESM can upload their Bio-data and corporate/other sectors can approach them and pick as per their requirement.
• organizing ESM Job Fairs Pan India to provide an interface between Corporate & ESM.
• regular interaction with corporate houses to generate employment opportunities to ESM.
• Provision of opportunities to ESM through the corporate bodies like TATA Motors, AMAZON.com etc.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Rajeshbhai Chudasama in Lok Sabha today.

PIB