“Forward ever, backward never: onwards with Breaking Through”

04/03/2015

Examination of GDS Issues.



Department has constituted a committee headed by Shri. DKS .Chauhan CPMG Rajasthan Circle under No.17-103/2007/GDS dated 24-02-15 with the following terms of reference.

(a) Examining /Revision of existing provisions for filling up of vacant GDS posts (other   than GDS BPM)

(b) Examination / Review of existing point based system of assessing indigence for compassionate engagement.
2)BANKING SERVICES IN POST OFFICES 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.533
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27th FEBRUARY, 2015

†533. SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV:                                                        
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a)       whether Government proposes to entrust banking related services to the Department of Posts;
(b)       whether all post offices in the country would also function as a bank; and
(c)        if so, by when this work is likely to be completed?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a)       Yes Sir. The Department of Posts applied to the Reserve Bank of India for issuance of license for setting up of Payments Bank on 30.01.2015.
(b)       No Sir. The Government does not propose to convert all post offices in the country to function as a bank. However, Department of Posts applied for license for setting up a Payments Bank on 30.01.2015, which may utilize a part of existing resources /infrastructure of the Department.
(c)        Date of completion of the above work will be depended on the decision of the Reserve Bank of India.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.547
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27th FEBRUARY, 2015
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS ENTERING INTO BANKING SERVICES
†547. SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state?
(a)       whether Government plans to establish Post Bank of India by converting the wide network of post offices spread across the country into commercial banks, if so, the details thereof;
(b)       whether the Department of Posts had expressed its intention before the Government of entering into banking services in the rural areas during a discussion on the suggestions of a task force constituted on India Post; and
(c)        if so, the details thereof and the action plan made by Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a)      The Government does not propose to convert the wide network of post  offices spread across the country into commercial banks. The proposed Post Bank of India is envisaged as an independent entity.
(b)     During the discussions on the suggestions put forward by task force constituted for leveraging the Post Office Network, the Department of Posts expressed the view that it is ready to enter into the banking space with focus on rural areas.
(c)    Based on a consideration of all relevant aspects, the Department of Posts has submitted an application to Reserve Bank of India seeking License for setting up a Payments Bank as an independent entity.

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2) DEMONSTRATION AGAINST ANTI LABOUR BUDGET:
At New Delhi
 


 At Chennai






















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3)Provision for 7th Pay Commission in Budget 2015-16
The Budget is also gravely silent on fund allocations for the Seventh Pay Commission award, due for implementation in 2016. The budgetary documents are stressing upon likely burden from the report of the 7th Pay Commission. However the funds are allocated for Commission’ss establishment. The extract of budgetry documents which are related to 7th CPC are mentioned below:-
Speech of Finance Minister – Heading Fiscal Roadmap para 23:-
Budget 2015-2016
Speech of
Arun Jaitley
Minister of Finance
February 28, 2015
Fiscal Roadmap
23. I want to underscore that my government still remains firm on achieving the medium term target of 3% of GDP. But that journey has to take account of the need to increase public investment. The total additional public investment over and above the RE is planned to be `1.25 lakh crore out of which `70,000 crore would be capital expenditure from budgetary outlays. We also have to take into account the drastically reduced fiscal space; uncertainties that implementation of GST will create; and the likely burden from the report of the 7th Pay Commission. Rushing into, or insisting on, a pre-set time-table for fiscal consolidation pro-cyclically would, in my opinion, not be pro-growth. With the economy improving, the pressure for accelerated fiscal consolidation too has decreased. In these circumstances, I will complete the journey to a fiscal deficit of 3% in 3 years, rather than the two years envisaged previously. Thus, for the next three years, my targets are: 3.9%, for 2015-16; 3.5% for 2016-17; and, 3.0% for 2017-18. The additional fiscal space will go towards funding infrastructure investment.
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In document to study Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement for further 3 years: Para 12:-
MEDIUM TERM FISCAL POLICY STATEMENT
12. However, it is pertinent to note that the resource base of the Centre will be constrained following the implementation of the FFC. With steep jump in the sharing pattern of tax revenues, the revenues of the States, which is surplus in most of the cases, will be further augmented on one side and the Centre will face resource crunch in one of the difficult phases of consolidation underway. While, the revenues are constrained in the FY 2015-16, it would continue over the medium term framework in FY 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Moreover, the 7th Pay Commission impact may have to be absorbed in 2016-17. The phase of consolidation, extended by one year, will be also be spanning out in the period. Thus, in the medium term framework the fiscal position will continue to be stressed. However, with necessary corrections on the Plan side under the new paradigm of Centre-State fiscal relationship and reforms on the subsidies, with better targeting and policy initiatives, it is expected that over the medium framework much of the fiscal correction would have taken shape, leaving room for building up better fiscal management thereupon. The change is monumental; and needs dextrous manoeuvring in this initial phase.
(c) Pensions
42. The expenditure on pension payments of the Central Government includes both defence as well as civil pensions. Pension payment, in nominal terms was estimated at ` 74,076 crore in RE 2013-14 and at the year-end it was accounted at ` 74,896 crore. In BE 2014-15, pension payment in nominal terms was estimated at ` 81,983 crore. In RE 2014-15, it has been revised at ` 81,705 crore. The pension payment of Central Government for the past few years has been growing faster than the salary expenditure. The main reason for this is that there is an increase in number of pensioners due to higher retirements and increased life expectancy. In view of the likely impact of VII Pay Commission, Pension payment of the Government likely to be about 0.7 per cent of GDP in FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18 respectively
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In document to study Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement for further 2 years:
FISCAL POLICY STRATEGY STATEMENT
Expenditure Management Commission:
37. While Government has managed to control the expenditure through rationalization in the fiscal consolidation phase, quality of expenditure remains an area that needs to be addressed. The ongoing fiscal consolidation has been successful in taming the fiscal deficit; however there is still imbalance in the public finance on the revenue side. As discussed in earlier section, concerted efforts are required to accomplish the target set for the revenue deficit and effective revenue deficit in the new FRBM regime. This entails structural changes in the Plan spending and definitive measures to contain Non-Plan spending within sustainable limits. Moreover, in the medium term, award of VII Pay Commission and XIV Finance Commission pose significant downside risk to Public Finance. Thus, time has come to look into the places where Government spends money and output achieved from it. Government will constitute an Expenditure Management Commission, which will look into various aspects of expenditure reforms to be undertaken by the Government.
MEDIUM TERM FISCAL POLICY STATEMENT
(c) Pensions
39. The expenditure on pension payments of the Central Government includes both defence as well as civil pensions. Pension payment, in nominal terms was estimated at ` 74,076 crore in RE 2013-14 and at the year end it was accounted at ` 74606 crore, marginally above the RE figure. In BE 2014-15, pension payment in nominal terms estimated at `81,983 crore. The pension payment of Central Government for the past few years has been growing faster than the salary expenditure. The main reason for this is that there is an increase in number of pensioners due to higher retirements and increased life expectancy. Accordingly, keeping past trend in view the Pension Expenditure of the Government has been projected to grow at 10.4 per cent in FY 2015-16. In view of the likely impact of VII Pay Commission, higher growth is assumed in FY 2016-17