New Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (Independent Charge) and Ministers of State appointed by President on 26 May 2014

The President of India has appointed Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi as the Prime Minister of India. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has appointed the following as members of the Council of Ministers:-

CABINET MINISTERS

1.         Shri Raj Nath Singh

2.         Smt. Sushma Swaraj

3.         Shri Arun Jaitley

4.         Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu

5.         Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari

6.         Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda

7.         Sushri Uma Bharati

8.         Dr. Najma A. Heptulla

9.         Shri Gopinathrao Munde

10.       Shri Ramvilas Paswan

11.       Shri Kalraj Mishra

12.       Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

13.       Shri Ananthkumar

14.       Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad

15.       Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati

16.       Shri Anant Geete

17.       Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

18.       Shri Narendra Singh Tomar

19.       Shri Jual Oram

20.       Shri Radha Mohan Singh

21.       Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot

22.       Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani

23.       Dr. Harsh Vardhan

MINISTERS OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

1.         General V.K. Singh

2.         Shri Inderjit Singh Rao

3.         Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar

4.         Shri Shripad Yesso Naik

5.         Shri Dharmendra Pradhan

6.         Shri Sarbananda Sonowal

7.         Shri Prakash Javadekar

8.         Shri Piyush Goyal

9.         Dr. Jitendra Singh

10.       Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman

MINISTERS OF STATE

1.         Shri G.M. Siddeshwara

2.         Shri Manoj Sinha

3.         Shri Nihalchand

4.         Shri Upendra Kushwaha

5.         Shri Radhakrishnan P

6.         Shri Kiren Rijiju

7.         Shri Krishan Pal

8.         Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan

9.         Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

10.       Shri Raosaheb Dadarao Danve

11.       Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

12.       Shri Sudarshan Bhagat

The President administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the above members of the Council of Ministers at a ceremony held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, today(26 May 2014).

Portfolios allotted to each ministers will be posted in this blog as soon as made official..keep visiting!!!

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RBI grants bank licenses to IDFC, Bandhan Financial; Green Signal also for India Post

>>  Reserve Bank of India said on Wednesday it had granted bank licenses to IDFC Ltd and Bandhan Financial Services that would be valid for 18 months and would be subject to the two financial firms fully complying with central bank regulations.

>> The central bank will also consider the application of India Post, but under a separate process to be carried out in consultation with the government.

>> The RBI last year allowed corporate houses to form banks as part of an effort to expand access to financial services in the country. No new Indian bank has been formed since Yes Bank in 2004.

>> The Election Commission on Tuesday allowed the RBI to announce new bank licences even ahead of general elections set to conclude next month, according to a notice in the commission's website.

>> The RBI had sought the commission's approval to issue new bank licences to ensure the process would not clash with the code of conduct ahead of elections, which prevents decisions that may be deemed as political from being taken by government officials or regulators.

>> The central bank said 25 applicants had been considered, and judged under various criteria including analysis of their financial statements, track record of running their business over the past 10 years and potential to run a bank.

>> The RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had formed a four-member external panel to scrutinize applications for new banking licences, headed by a former RBI governor Bimal Jalan. It started evaluating the applications from November.

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Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2014 – Birthday of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar

F. No.12/4/2014-JCA-2

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Personnel & Training)

North Block, New Delhi

Dated the 12th March, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2014 – Birthday of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar.

It has been decided to declare Monday, the 14th April 2014, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India.

2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of

1881).

3. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned.

sd/-

(Ashok Kumar)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

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Lok Sabha elections to be held in 9 phases from April 7 to May 12, counting on May 16

>> The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the schedule for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections saying they will be held in nine phases from April 7, 2014 to May 12, 2014.

>> Chief election commissioner VS Sampath announced the dates in a press conference. The two election commissioners HS Brahma and SNA Zaidi were also present.

>> The counting of votes to be held on May 16 and will be over in a day, Sampath told reporters.

>> The first date of poll shall be on April 7, 2014 which will be held in two states and six parliamentary constituencies will be covered. The second phase of poll on April 9 will cover seven constituencies in five states. The third phase on April 10 to cover 92 constituencies in 14 states and the fourth day of poll on April 12 to cover three states and five constituencies.

>> The fifth will be on April 17 which will cover 13 states and UTs and 122 constituencies and sixth phase will be on April 24, covering 12 states and 117 constituencies.

>> The seventh phase will be held on April 30 to cover nine states and 89 constituencies, eighth phase on May 7 will cover seven states and 64 constituencies and the last and ninth phase on will be on May 12 and cover 3 states and 41 constituencies.

Model Code of Conduct in effect!!

>> The model code of conduct has come into immediate effect. It prevents the government from making any decisions that can be seen as influencing voters. It also prohibits political parties from making unsubstantiated allegations against opponents.

>> Chief election commissioner said that the total number of electorate this year stands at 81.4 crore and has increased by 10 crore as compared to the last parliamentary elections in 2009.

>> The chief election commissioner also said there has been a 12% increase in the number of polling stations in the country with 9,30,000 stations this year. There were 8.3 lakh stations in the last elections.

>> Andhra Pradesh, including the regions comprising Telangana, Odisha and Sikkim will go to polls to elect new assemblies.Election commissioner Brahma said that all Maoist-hit areas will be covered in a single day across India.

>> The decision to announce the dates to elect 543 members to Lok Sabha was taken after a series of meeting by Sampath on Tuesday and firming up of the security plan.

>> In a first for general elections, voters will also be able to reject all candidates with None Of The Above (NOTA) buttons on 1.5 million electronic voting machines (EVMs).The EC will also experiment with verifiable paper trail system with EVMs in about 10,000 polling booths.

Here is the Lok Sabha Poll Schedule for each state

STATE / UT	DATE	STATE / UT	DATE
Andhra Pradesh	April 30, May 7	Arunchal Pradesh	April 9
Assam	April 7, 12, 24	Bihar	April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
Goa	April 17	Gujarat	April 30
Haryana	April 10	Himachal Pradesh	May 7
Jammu & Kashmir	April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7	Karnataka	April 17
Kerala	April 10	Madhya Pradesh	April 10, 17, 24
Maharashtra	April 10, 17, 24	Manipur	April 9, 17
Meghalaya	April 9	Mizoram	April 9
Nagaland	April 9	Odisha	April 10, 17
Punjab	April 30	Rajasthan	April 17, 24
Sikkim	April 12	Tamil Nadu	April 24
Tripura	April 7, 12	Uttar Pradesh	April 10, 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12
West Bengal	April 17, 24, 30, May 7, 12	Chhattisgarh	April 10, 17, 24
Jharkhand	April 10, 17, 24	Uttarakhand	May 7
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	April 10	Chandigarh	April 10
Dadra & Nagar Haveli	April 30	Daman & Diu	April 30

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Clarification on fresh attempts and age relaxation in Civil Services Examination

Friends...As you are aware recently Government has announced relaxation in age and number of attempts for appearing in the Civil Service Examination. Now the Department of Personnel & Training has issued orders in this regard and the same is as follows:

View Official Order: Click Here

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Dearness Allowance for Central Government Employees at 100% after 10% hike approved by Govt

>> The Union Cabinet today(28 Feb 2014) approved the proposal to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.01.2014, in cash, but not before the disbursement of the salary for the month of March 2014 at the rate of 10 percent increase over the existing rate of 90 percent.

>> Hence, Central Government employees as well as pensioners are entitled for DA/DR at the rate of 100 percent of the basic with effect from 01.01.2014. The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission.

>> The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both dearness allowance and dearness relief would be Rs. 11074.80 crore per annum and Rs. 12920.60 crore in the financial year 2014-15 ( i.e. for a period of 14 months from January 2014 to February 2015).

Official order will be published in this blog on release of the same by Finance Ministry.

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Two More Attempts for UPSC's Civil Services Exams- Good news for lakhs of Civil Services Aspirants

>> In a good news for lakhs of civil services aspirants, the government on Monday decided to give two additional attempts to all categories of candidates of the prestigious exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission. 

>> "The central government has approved two additional attempts to all categories of candidates with effect from Civil Services Examination 2014, with consequential age relaxation of maximum age for all categories of candidates, if required," the Ministry of Personnel said in an order.       

>>The Civil Services Examination (Preliminary), 2014 is tentatively scheduled to be held on August 24, this year.       

>>The Civil Service Examinations is conducted by the UPSC to select Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) among others.      

>> The examinations is conducted in three stages-- preliminary, mains and interview.               

>> A candidate is permitted a maximum of four attempts for the examination. However, there is no restriction on number of attempts by a candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). 

>> As many as seven attempts are permissible to an aspirant belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), according to a notification issued for Civil Services Examinations, 2013.           

>> A candidate who has attained the age of 21 years but not attained 30 years may apply for the civil services examination, as per eligibility mentioned in the notification. 

>> The upper age limit is relaxable up to a maximum of five years for candidates belonging to SCs or STs categories and up to a maximum of three years for candidates of OBC category among others.        

>> The upper age limit is also relaxable upto a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir during January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1989.       

>> It can also be relaxed upto a maximum of three years in the case of defence services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof.          

>> There is also a relaxation in upper age upto a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and orthopaedically handicapped candidates besides other categories, the rules said.

Click Here to view official order

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Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur appointed to head 7th Central Pay Commission

Prime Minister Approved Composition of 7th Central Pay Commission Under the Chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, Retired Judge of the Supreme Court and Retired Chairman, Armed Forces Tribunal

The Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram has issued the following statement:

            “The Prime Minister has approved the composition of the 7th Central Pay Commission as follows:

1. Shri Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur  -   Chairman          

            (Retired Judge of the Supreme Court and Retired

            Chairman, Armed Forces Tribunal)

2.    Shri Vivek Rae    -  Member (Full Time)

            (Secretary, Petroleum & Natural Gas)

3.   Dr. Rathin Roy   -      Member (Part Time)

            (Director, NIPFP)

4.    Smt. Meena Agarwal      -       Secretary

            (OSD, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance)”

Source: PIB

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Postal Assistant- Circle and Regional Offices (PA CO/RO) Group ‘C’ Post Recruitment Rules, 2014

Department of Posts has changed the Recruitment Rules for selecting Postal Assistants in Circle and Regional Offices (PA CO/RO) and has been published in the official Gazette of India dated 27 January 2014. The new recruitment rule will be called Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Department of Posts, Circle and Regional Offices, Postal Assistant, Group ‘C’ Post Recruitment Rules, 2014. It will replace the existing Department of Posts (Postal Assistant in Circle and Regional Offices) Recruitment Rules, 1996.

Click Here to see the official gazette.

And the good news for Postal Assistant Aspirants is that this time the vacancies will be more in this cadre. During the last recruitment conducted by CMC limited for filling the vacancies of the year 2011 & 2012, recruitment for PA (CO/RO) were not called in any of the circles as the new recruitment rules were not cleared. So in the next recruitment vacancies have to be filled for the year 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014. Recruitment can be expected very soon as the Recruitment rules are now out. Keep visiting this blog for latest updates!!!

Click Here to see Postal/Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2014

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Postal/Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2014

Friends... Happy News for all Postal/Sorting Assistant Aspirants. Department of Posts has amended the Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants(PA/SA) (Group C non- Gazetted), Recruitment Rules, 2011.

Earlier to be eligible for applying to the post of PA/SA:

1) General Candidates had to secure at least 60% marks in their 10+2 exam

2) Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates had to secure at least 55% marks in their 10+2 exam

3) Schedule Castes/ Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) candidates had to secure at least 45% marks in their 10+2 exam

But as per the new amendment, a pass in 10+2 or 12th class will be sufficient to be eligible for applying for the post. The official extraordinary gazette in this regard has been published by Government of India on 27 January 2014.

Click Here to see the official gazette.

The above amendment has also been made in respect of Postal Assistant in Savings Bank Control and Internal Check Organisations, (PA SBCO) Group C non-Gazetted posts Recruitment Rules, 2012 also.

Click Here to see the official gazette.

Further new recruitment rules for Postal Assistants in Circle/Regional Offices - PA(CO/RO) have been published & will be known as Department of Posts, Circle and Regional Offices, Postal Assistant, Group ‘C’ Post Recruitment Rules, 2014. Click Here for details.

So with these amendments published we can expect PA/SA recruitment for filling the vacancies of the year 2013 & 2014 very soon. As per the Calendar of Exams published by DoP, recruitment for PA/SA is tentatively scheduled for March 2014. Whether it happens as per the schedule is a big question...we can expect another recruitment soon. Keep visiting this blog...we will be updating you the latest status!!!

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Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2012-13.

Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2012-13.

No.7/24/2007/E III (A)

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

E III (A) Branch

New Delhi, the 27th September, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2012-13.

The undersigned is directed to convey the sanction of the President to the grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc Bonus) equivalent to 30 days emoluments for the accounting year 2012-13 to the Central Government employees in Groups 'C’ and 'D’ and all non-gazetted employees in Group 'B' who are not covered by any Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme. The calculation ceiling for payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders shall continue to be monthly emoluments of Rs. 3500/-, as hitherto. The payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders will also be admissible to the eligible employees of Central Para Military Forces and Armed Forces. The orders will be deemed to be extended to the employees of Union Territory Administration which follow the Central Government pattern of emoluments and are not covered by any other bonus or ex-gratia scheme.

2. The benefit will be admissible subject to the following terms and conditions:

(i) Only those employees who were in service as on 31.3.2013 and have rendered at least six months of continuous service during the year 2012-13 will be eligible for payment under these orders. Pro-rata payment will be admissible to the eligible employees for period of continuous service during the year from six months to a full year, the eligibility period being taken in terms of number of months of service (rounded off to the nearest number of months).

(ii) The quantum of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) will be worked out on the basis of average emoluments/calculation ceiling whichever is lower. To calculate Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) for one day, the average emoluments in a year will be divided by 30.4 (average number of days in a month). This will thereafter be multiplied by the number of days of bonus granted. To illustrate, taking the calculation ceiling of monthly emoluments of Rs, 3500 (where actual average emoluments exceed Rs. 3500), Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) for thirty days would work out to Rs.3500x30/30.4 = Rs.3453.95 (rounded offto Rs.3454/-).

(iii) The casual labour who have worked in offices following a 6 days week for at least 240 days for each year for 3 years or more(206 days in each year for 3 years or more in the case of offices observIng 5 days week), will be eligible for this Non PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) Payment. The amount of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) payable will be (Rs.1200x30/30.4 i.e.Rs.1184.21(rounded off to Rs,1184/-). In cases where the actual emoluments fall below Rs.1200/- p.m., the amount will be calculated on actual monthly emoluments.

(iv) All payments under these orders will be rounded off to the nearest rupee.

(v) The clarificatory orders issued vide this Ministry’s OM No.F.14(10)-E. Coord/88 dated 4.10.1988, as amended from time to time, would hold good.

3. The expenditure on this account will be debitable to the respective Heads to which the pay and allowances of these employees are debited.

4. The expenditure incurred on account of Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) is to be met from within the sanctioned budge provision of concerned Ministries/Departments for the current year.

5. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

sd/-

(Amar Nath Singh)

Deputy Secretary to the Govt of India

Click here for official order of finmin

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