New Functionalities released under NPS to provide the ease of operation for the benefit of subscribers and nodal offices.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

01-June-2017 19:06 IST 

New Functionalities released under NPS to provide the ease of operation for the benefit of subscribers and nodal offices.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) takes various initiatives from time to time in order to simplify and improve the operational issues in National Pension System (NPS) like new functionality development under NPS architecture, simplification of account opening, withdrawal, grievance management etc. In this regard, recently many new functionalities have been released by the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) to provide the ease of operation for the benefit of subscribers and nodal offices. These are detailed below:

Functionalities for NPS subscribers:

S.N	Functionalities	Brief Description
1	Online Submission of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Declaration	In-order to facilitate quick FATCA compliance, facility to submit online FATCA Self-declaration has been provided to the subscriber in their CRA login (www.cra-nsdl.com). The information regarding the said functionality is also made available on CRA websites. The steps to be followed by the subscriber to submit online FATCA self-declaration are also available on the website.
2	Interoperability between CRAs	Karvy Computershare Pvt. Ltd. (KCRA) was selected as a second CRA under NPS. Now, Subscribers/ Nodal Offices have option to open permanent retirement account with either of the CRAs. The existing Subscriber can also select CRA of his/her choice. To facilitate migration of Subscriber across CRAs (Karvy- CRA to NSDL- CRA and NSDL-CRA to Karvy- CRA), the CRA Interoperability functionality has been developed. The Subscriber will be required to approach target CRA to initiate the shifting request, the target CRA will facilitate the shifting request under NPS. Inter CRA shifting request will be allowed once in a financial year.
3.	New features under eNPS	1. Hindi version of eNPS module The bilingual version of eNPS module has been developed for convenience of NPS Subscriber. The Subscriber shall have option to choose the desired language option (either English or Hindi) for Registration and/or Contribution through eNPS. 2. eSign for Aadhaar based Registration In case of registration through Aadhaar, it was mandatory for Subscriber to submit physical Application Form within 90 days of completion of registration under eNPS. eSign facility (Aadhaar e-KYC services) has been integrated with eNPS platform to enable the Subscriber to sign his/her PRAN Application electronically. This process has eliminated the requirement of submission of physical documents to CRA. 3. New Payment Gateway – Bill Desk In eNPS, along with SBI ePay, Bill Desk has been integrated as the second Payment Gateway Service Provider. This will help the Subscriber to make payment through any service provider as per his/her choice by selecting the available payment options. Addition of Billdesk as new payment gateway has ensured participation of new banks which were not part of SBl e-Payment gateway especially AXIS Bank and HDFC Bank.
4.	New features in NPS Mobile App	1. Tier II Withdrawal Subscriber can now initiate Tier II account withdrawal under NPS using Mobile App. The Subscriber will log into the App with their User ID and password. An option to select Tier II withdrawal and generate One Time Password (OTP) is available in Mobile App. On entering the correct OTP, Subscriber will have an option to select mode of Withdrawal - (i) lump sum (amount), or (ii) scheme wise units. Once the option is selected and relevant details are submitted by the Subscriber, the same will get executed in the CRA system and funds will get transferred to Subscriber's Bank Account registered with CRA. 2. Aadhaar Seeding The Subscriber can now link his/her Aadhaar to NPS account using Mobile App. The Subscriber will log into the App with his/her User ID & password and select the option of ‘Add/Update Aadhaar Number’. The option will be available to the Subscriber to provide his/her Aadhaar. Once Aadhaar is entered, the details of Subscriber registered under NPS will get authenticated with details available in UIDAI database. Post authentication, an OTP will be sent to the Subscriber’s mobile number registered with UIDAI. The Subscriber will enter the OTP and on entering the correct OTP, Aadhaar will get seeded for the PRAN. 3. Reset password using OTP Subscriber can now reset his/her password using Mobile App through OTP. The Subscriber is required to enter his/her PRAN, Date of Birth and set his/her new password and generate OTP. On entering the correct OTP received on his/her mobile (registered with CRA), the password becomes active. This option is in addition to the option of resetting password using secret question.
5.	New features under Atal Pension Yojana (APY)	1. ePRAN Card and Transaction Statement The facility to download and/or print ePRAN Card and Transaction Statement is made available to APY Subscriber. The APY Subscriber can access their ePRAN Card and Transaction Statement through CRA NPS Lite website (www.npslite-nsdl.com). The Subscriber have an option to search their ePRAN Card and Transaction Statement with/without PRAN details. The Subscriber are then required to provide minimum details like PRAN and Bank Account Number or Subscriber Name, Bank Account Number and Date or birth registered in the CRA system under APY. 2. Alert for Grievances An Email/SMS alert (along with Token No.) is sent to APY Subscriber on generation and resolution of a grievance in CRA system.

 Functionalities for Nodal Offices:

S. N.	Functionalities	Brief Description
1.	Online Subscriber Registration by DDOs	The facility to register Subscriber online using Online PRAN Generation Module (OPGM) is made available to Drawing and Disbursing Office (DDOs) for Government Sector. The DDOs can capture the Subscriber registration details online in the CRA system.  The details entered by DDO needs to be verified by associated PAOs. On verification of registration details in the CRA system, PRAN gets generated online. This facility is an extension to the functionality already available with Pay & Account Offices (PAOs).
2.	Enhancement in Central Grievance Management System (CGMS)	1. Standard Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) along with answers against respective query category are now available to Subscriber & Entity (raising grievance on behalf of NPS Subscriber) in CGMS. The Subscriber raising any query through CGMS will have a provision to view the FAQs & relevant answers based on the category of grievance selected. 2. The fortnightly email alerts are sent to the Nodal Office for pending grievances. Now, these alerts are enhanced to have the details of all pending grievances. 3. A facility is provided to Nodal Office under NPS Lite and APY to download the pending referrals for associated Subscriber. Also, email alerts will be sent to NPS Lite and APY Offices for all grievances raised & resolved during the day. 4. The fortnightly email alerts will be sent to Oversight Offices under NPS Lite and APY regarding the grievances which are pending for more than 15 days under CGMS.
3.	Error Rectification Module (ERM)	An ERM request can be processed by the Nodal Office through whom the contributions were uploaded in CRA system. In addition, now in case of State Govt., the facility to perform a single ERM transaction on behalf of all the underlying Nodal Offices is provided to the Oversight Office. This will save efforts and time of multiple ERM requests being captured by different Nodal Offices.
4.	Online Corporate Registration	A facility for online registration is enabled for Corporates through eNPS platform. Corporate is required to provide the requisite registration details and select a POP for association and submission of the relevant documents for further processing. The registration details captured by the Corporate are to be authorized by associated POP.
5.	Retirement Adviser:	The Retirement Advisers (RAs) are appointed by PFRDA to engage in the activity of providing advice on NPS thereby to extend the reach of NPS. The RAs can be an individual, registered partnership firm, body corporate, or any registered Trust or society. The online platform has been developed and released in the CRA system to facilitate registration of an individual/entity as RA.
6.	Withdrawal Reports / MIS in Nodal Office login	Additional reports related to Withdrawal have now been made available to Nodal Offices for better monitoring: a) Physical withdrawal forms received but online withdrawal request not processed b) Non Receipt of Physical Forms for online withdrawal processed cases c) Online withdrawal requests pending for authorization
7.	New CRA Toll Free Helpline	Dedicated toll free number (1800222081) is made available to Nodal Offices for contacting CRA regarding their general queries / complaints.  This is in addition to an existing toll free number (1800222080) available for NPS Subscribers.

GRAMIN DAK SEVAK RESULT 2017

GDS RESULT GDS MERIT LIST CUT OFF ग्रामीण डाक सेवक ALL CIRCLE RESULT 2017  

 To view the details of vacancies circle wise, selection process etc, please CLICK HERE. 

Inauguration of Post office Passport Seva Kendra in Koraput HO on 31.05.2017

Post Office Passport Seva Kendra was inaugurated  in Koraput HO on 31.05.2017 in presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India, Shri Jhinna Hikaka, Hon'ble MP (Loksabha), Dr. S. K. Kamila, Chief Postmaster General, Odisha Circle and Col. Jaleswar Kanhar,  Postmaster General, Berhampur Region.

Money Order service not discontinued, says Department of Post

MUMBAI: The Money Order service, the old and trusted mode of remittance, was very much available, the Department of Post today said, strongly refuting the reports otherwise.

"It has been noticed since last few weeks that news items have been repeatedly appearing in Hindi and other regional news (media) regarding alleged discontinuation of Money Order services by the Department of Posts. This appears to be a sponsored negative publicity campaign," said the statement issued by Department of Posts. This appears to be a sponsored negative publicity campaign," said the statement issued by Department of Post, Maharashtra circle.

Only Money Order `Videsh' service had been stopped while other services were operational, it said.

MO services had been, in fact, strengthened and made faster through electronic mode of transmission, it said.

The use of service was robust, the statement said, adding that several options had been provided for domestic money transmission such as Instant Money Order (iMO), eMO and Mobile to Mobile Money Order.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

REIMBURSEMENT OF MEDICAL CLAIMS TO PENSIONERS UNDER CS (MA) RULES, 1944 AS DIRECTED BY VARIOUS CATS/COURTS - REGARDING.

No. 5.14025/23/2013-MS.EHSS

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Department of Health and Family Welfare

Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi

Dated the 29 September, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:-Reimbursement of medical claims to pensioners under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 as directed by various CATS/Courts - Regarding.

            The undersigned is directed to state that various references are being received in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the above mentioned subject. it is hereby clarified that CS (MA) Rules, 1944 are not applicable to pensioners till date.

2.         It is further informed that the following options to avail medical facilities are available to Central Government pensioners:

a)         Pensioners residing in CGHS covered areas:

1) They can get themselves registered in CGHS dispensary after making requisite contribution and can avail both OPD and IPD facilities.

2). Pensioners residing in CGHS areas cannot optout of CGHS and avail any other medical facility {i.e. Fixed Medical Allowance). Such pensioners, if they do not choose to avail CGHS facility by depositing the required contributions, cannot be granted Fixed Medical allowance in lieu of CGHS.

b) Pensioners residing in non -CGHS areas:

1). They can avail Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) @ Rs.500/- per month

2) They can also avail benefits of CGHS- [OPD and IPD] by registering themselves in the nearest CGHS “city after“making the required subscription.

3) They also have the option to avail FMA, for OPD treatment and CG HS for IPD treatments after making the required subscriptions as per CGHS guidelines.

3.         In view. of the above, reimbursement of medical claims to pensioners under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 as directed by various CATS/Courts, need not be referred to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The respective Administrative Department/Ministry may take their own decision in this regard.

4.         further, all Departments/Ministries are requested to intimate their employees proceeding for retirement regarding the above options for medical facilities available to the Central Government pensioners.

5. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

(SUNIL KUMAR GUPTA)

UNDER SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF INDIA

Source: http://cghs.gov.in/showfile.php?lid=4663

REVISION OF PAY OF THE CHAIRPERSONS AND MEMBERS OF THE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES / BODIES CONSEQUENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

No. 3/4/2016-Estt.(Pay-II)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

*****

North Block, New Delhi

Dated : 30.05.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Revision of pay of the Chairpersons and Members of the Regulatory Authorities / Bodies consequent to the implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations.

This Department had, vide OM No. 3/6/97-Estt.(Pay-II) dated 29th January 1998, issued guidelines regarding perquisites and some important terms and conditions for the Chairpersons and Members of the Regulatory Authorities and allied matters.

2. These guidelines were applicable to Chairpersons and Members of existing Regulatory Authorities also, appointed subsequent to the issue of these guidelines, unless there is a constitutional or statutory obligation to the contrary. As per the aforesaid guidelines, the Chairperson would be eligible for pay not exceeding Rs. 26,000/ – p.m. (fixed) and Members would be eligible for pay scale not exceeding Rs.22400-525-24500. The pay will be fixed in accordance with the prevailing orders, i.e. pay minus pension.

3. After implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, in order to attract expertise available outside the Government, the full time Members of TRAI, CERC, IRDA, SEBI and CCI were granted consolidated pay packages vide orders of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure. Replacement scales of Rs.80,000/- p.m. and Rs.37400-67000 (PB-4) with Grade Pay of Rs. 12000/- (since replaced with HAG scale of Rs.67000-79000) were granted respectively to Chairpersons and Members of all other Regulatory Authorities / Bodies.

4. The 7th CPC has looked into the emoluments structure, including pay, allowances and other facilities/benefits, in cash or kind of the members of Regulatory Bodies (excluding the Reserve Bank of India) set up under Acts of Parliament, and have given their recommendations in Chapter-13 of their Report. As per recommendations of the 7th CPC, as accepted by Government of India, and also as intimated by Department of Expenditure vide OM No. 394959/ E.IIIA/ 2017 dated 2nd March 2017, the pay and allowances of Chairperson and fulltime Members of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Insurance

5. Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERAI), Railway Development Authority (RDA) and Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) which have been de-linked from Government salaries will be governed by the orders issued by the Department of Expenditure.

6. In respect of existing Members of remaining Regulatory Bodies set up under the Acts of Parliament, the 7th CPC has recommended normal replacement pay. This has also been accepted by the Government of India vide Resolution No.1-2/ 2016-IC dated 25th July, 2016. Accordingly, the existing Chairpersons as well as future appointees would be eligible for basic pay not exceeding Rs. 2,25,000/- (Level 17 of Pay Matrix) in revised pay structure and the existing Members as well as future appointees would be eligible for basic pay not exceeding Level 15 of Pay Matrix in the revised pay structure.

7. Existing instructions provide that Chairperson and Member(s) who on the date of his / her appointment to the Regulatory Authority/ Statutory Body/ Tribunal was in the service of the Central/ State Government shall be deemed to have retired from such service with effect from the date of his / her respective appointment as such Chairperson/ Member. In case such officers are in receipt of pension, the same shall be deducted in accordance with the prevailing orders applicable to the reemployed pensioners.

8. The rates of all allowances shall be as admissible to Government employees of corresponding Level from time to time.

9.These orders shall take effect from 01.01.2016.

Sd/-

(A.K.Jain)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: dopt.gov.in Click here to download/view

REVIEW OF THE SCHEME FOR ENGAGEMENT OF A DEPENDENT OF DECEASED GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS

How India Post Payments Bank prepares for a new life from money order to mobile banking

“One noon during a break in the rains, there was a cool soft breeze blowing; the smell of the damp grass and leaves in the hot sun felt like warm breathing of the tired earth on one’s body…the postmaster had nothing to do…” - Tagore in The Postmaster.

The peace and tranquil of the postmaster as captured by Rabindranath Tagore more than a century ago may be coming to an end as the ubiquitous postman adds ATM machines and mutual fund investments to the dwindling postcards and inland letters in his brown shoulder bag.

India Post, which has almost become extinct to a generation of people in urban India, prepares for a new life under the India Post Payments Bank by marrying its almost 1.5 lakh physical branches, of which 89% are in rural areas, and 3 lakh employees with the latest technology available to reach out to villages which even the politicians visit only during elections. A postmaster, or a postman, is not new to handling other people’s money, but  the recent past saw the institution taking a back seat. Not long away, it used to be the only mechanism for thousands of villagers to receive funds from bread winners from far off places through money orders – an instrument that India Post suspended few years back.

This year would see the postal bank expand its operations through 650 branches at district headquarters across the country, where it would provide services like remittances, bill payments, etc. A pilot project is underway in Ranchi and Raipur. It aims to fulfil the needs of millions of people in regions where nationalised banks failed and private sector largely ignored them.

“I will provide payments infrastructure in the nature of public good,” says Ashok Pal Singh, chief executive officer, India Post Payments Bank. “What is this? It is a payments platform. The post office has built a physical network and now that is getting connected. I want to look at the network as a platform —both as a virtual platform as well as a physical platform.” 

Banks have been reluctant to come to villages because it would be a loss-making venture given their infrastructure costs and the need to have feet-on-street. As far as the postal department is concerned, it has the infrastructure, personnel and the most needed element in banking—trust.

“They already have trust factor on their side, they have phenomenal access,” says Naresh Makhijani, partner and headfinancial services, KPMG India. “Also there has been a large scale adoption of technology in the postal department coupled with the government’s Digital India initiative. All these factors should be positive ingredients.”

India Post traces its history back to 1858 when India’s administration was transferred to the British Crown from the East India Company. The legendary institution started its savings bank business in 1873 and began insurance activities in 1884. It also has the distinction of carrying the first airmail delivery in the world. Despite its head  start more than a century ago, it had fallen on bad times due to years of neglect by the government and its inability to cope with developments such as private couriers and lack of interest in lobbying for widening of its role as an institution beyond accepting savings. But the tide appears to be turning with it getting the payments bank licence and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special attention to carry his financial inclusion agenda.

“For India Post, it has already been in the business of taking deposits, even basic banking,” says Vivek Belgavi, fintech leader, PwC. “They can do deposit withdrawal through their PoS terminals. They can add a lot more through their huge reach.” But making India Post deliver on financial services may be like turning a giant ship. Physical reach may be a given, but figuring out what the customer wants, the technology and training its own men could be big challenges. Furthermore, banks themselves have woken up to the potential. They are widening their reach through tieups with fintech companies.

Payments banks like Bharti Airtel, or Reliance-SBI joint venture may be able to reach customers more quickly as they do not have legacy issues. But India Post is positioning itself more as an aggregator rather than as a competitor to gain market share. “While the other players in this space have their own financial goals to be met, I am saying that I will serve them as well,” says India Post’s Singh who has worked with UIDA on the Aadhaar programme too. “If an Airtel Payments Bank customer wants to withdraw his deposit, my postman will get it done,” says Singh. “Even a Mobikwik wallet can use our networks and not suffocate within a closed loop.”

To start with, the India Post Bank has got the basic right – technology. And it would keep its costs so low that most banks would not even attempt to compete with it, or they would also be forced to give up their ways of milking customers with hidden costs.   

It is developing an open source nonproprietary platform, which makes transactions cheaper eliminating the entire debate around digital payments being more expensive than cash. Aided by cheap Aadhaar-based payments, biometric authentication, leveraging of the UIDAI platform, India Post says it can authenticate and settle transactions for as low as 5 paise when big banks are demanding Rs 15 per ATM transaction. “For UIDAI, the cost of each authentication is around 0.1 paisa and this is because it is an open platform, not licence based and is modular and scalable, we will do something very similar,” says Singh.

THE JAPAN POST WAY

While there are skeptics about what India Post could do to unbanked masses, there are examples like the Japan Post and Japan Post Insurance, which have become the supermarket for citizens’ financial needs. Japan Post manages close to $2 trillion of assets and is among the top generator of savings funds.

But for India Post to grow like its Japanese peer, the regulator should provide it with a full fledged banking licence where it not only takes deposits, but also lend. Of course, India Post which has deposits of Rs 7 lakh crore, second only to State Bank of India, needs to enhance the skills of its staff and it may be years before that happens. The faltering of state-run banks in the past decade does not inspire confidence in a government-owned institution being prudent with money.

“The government has not been entirely successful in driving financial inclusion through the public sector banks, hence that will be a huge challenge,” says Makhijani of KPMG. “This is like a transformation from the days of the money order to the digital, it will be interesting to note how the switch happens.” Even for Japan Post, diversifying of asset ownership happened in recent years before which it was just buying the Japanese government bonds. Now, it even invests in hedge funds to boost returns. “Eventually, they will become a full service commercial bank,” says Bhavik Hathi, MDtransaction advisory group, Alvarez & Marsal, a financial consultancy.

“A payments bank licence is a good practice ground for them. They get to know their customers better, people will also get used to dealing with them for financial products. They can start off with micro loans, small insurance products, etc. The natural progression should be to become a full fledged bank.” The baby step has been taken, but it may be a long wait for the giant leap.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/