BENEFITS OF DEBIT CARD ACTIVATION – FAQ

BENEFITS OF DEBIT CARD ACTIVATION – FAQ

QUESTION 1. Why it is important to have active debit cards?

ANSWER: Debit Card makes your payments much more convenient and secure through an
electronic payment facility directly from your bank account. Debit card can be used for purchases online or at shops by directly debiting your Bank account. Debit cards can also be used to withdraw cash from an ATM.

QUESTION 2: How is a customer benefited by debit cards?

ANSWER: Major benefits to customers are

• It is more convenient to carry a small, plastic card instead of a bulky Cheque book or a large amount of cash.
• Easy to obtain: Once you open an account most institutions will issue you a debit card upon request.
• Convenience: Purchases can be made using a chip-enabled terminal or by swiping the card rather than filling out a paper cheque.
• Safety: You don’t have to carry cash or a Cheque book. Debit cards are protected by a four digit pin number that you set yourself. This pin is needed to make any purchase with your debit card.
• Readily accepted: When out of town (or out of the country), debit cards are usually widely accepted (make sure to tell your financial institution you’re leaving your city; to not have an interruption in service).
• It’s a Cash Card Too: Debit cards still have the ability to give you cash, you can take them to an ATM and use them there to withdraw the cash.

Insurance: National Payment Corporation of India has introduced Insurance cover in case of accidental death or permanent disablement of Rs 1 Lac for NonPremium cards (RuPay Classic) and Rs 2 Lac for Premium cards (RuPay Platinum) to eligible RuPay card holders. The RuPay Insurance programme will continue for financial year 2016-17, i.e. from April 01, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

QUESTION 3: Can I use my debit card if I have not used it for long?

ANSWER: Yes. It may however require activation. Please check the forwarding letter that came with your debit card. Please check your Bank website.

QUESTION 4: How do I generate a PIN ?

ANSWER: Banks provide PIN by mail, which is either dispatched by bank to the cardholder address. Some banks also offer Green Pin facility online. Banks also facilitate change of PIN to suit your requirements.

QUESTION 5: What are the recent steps taken for promoting debit card payments?

ANSWER: Some of the recent initiatives towards popularizing Debit card usage are:

• MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) which a merchant (Shopkeeper) pays the Bank for POS transaction are reduced to zero on debit cards till 31th, December 2016.
• Excise duty payable on acquisition of POS machine which was earlier 16.5% has been waived till 31st March 2017.

QUESTION 6: What should you do if a shop asks you for an additional amount for use of your debit card?

Answer: As per the norms prescribed by card networks, shops should not ask for any additional amount called surcharge or convenience fee. You can refuse to pay an additional amount for use of your card and register complaint to your bank on its website or otherwise.

QUESTION 7: Can one refuse to pay additional amount as banks have waived their charges on one of debit cards till 31st December 2016.

Answer: Although all banks have waived MDR up to Dec 31, 2016, customers are not required to pay additional amount even after that if demanded by the shopkeeper, as this is to be paid by the shopkeeper.

QUESTION 8: Why should Merchant encourage card use?

ANSWER: Merchant are benefitted to encourage debit card transaction as:

• Cost of Digital transaction is lower than handling Cash.
• Deposition of cash in bank is not required as the amount will be automatically credited to account.
• Credit History is created for the merchant which will help him in taking more support from banks and other financial initiatives of government time to time.
• Manual reconciliation is not required at merchant side. He can always refer to his account.
• Accepting payment cards can enable merchants to increase their revenues
• Increased sales: Cards enable consumers to make quicker and easier payments.
• Better customer service: Electronic payments offer customers more flexible payment options – faster checkout times for customers and a more efficient way of paying. Also, innovations such as Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) payments, allow consumers the ability to purchase and take possession.

Source: http://financialservices.gov.in

Cash Payment of wages to Railway employees for the month of December, 2016 – NFIR

Cash Payment of wages to Railway employees for the month of December, 2016 – NFIR

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, Chemlmsford Road, New Delhi – 110 055
Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

No.I/3/Part-I

Dated: 10/12/2016

The Member Staff,
Railway Board,
New Delhi

The Financial Commissioner
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Invalidation of currency notes of Rs.500 and 1000 denominations – Hardships faced by Railway employees – Cash Payment of wages to Railway employees for the month of December, 2016-reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR’s letter No.1/3 Part I dated 16/11/2016 addressed to Railway Board (MS).
(ii) Railway Board’s letter No.2016/E(LL)APW/1 dated 17/1/2016.
(iii) Railway Board’s Circular No.2016/Cash-III Pay Advance/Misc dated 18th November,2016.
(iv) NFIR’s letter No.1/3/Part I dated 18/11/2016 addressed to MS.
(v) Railway Board’s reply to GS/NFIR vide letter No.2008/AC-II/21/9 (pt) dated 30/11/2016.

Federation is in receipt of reply dated 30th November, 2016 from the Railway Board. In this connection, the hardships being faced by the Railway employees are reiterated once again as below. The Railway employees are facing lot of hardships due to restrictions on drawal of their legitimate wages from their Bank Account. For November 2016 salary, only Rs. 10,000/- cash were paid to each Railway staff. However, due to continued restrictions, the Railway employees are not able to draw their wages adequately from the Banks for meeting their requirements.

It is therefore requested that Cash Payment of Rupees not less than 25,000 may be ensured to each Railway employee from out of December, 2016 salary.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Initial pay fixation of re-employed ex-servicemen who held post below Commissioned Officer rank in Defence Forces

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

No need for filing of Declarations of assets and liabilities by Public servants

Declaration of Assets and Liabilities by public servants under amended Section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 – regarding.

Now there is no requirement for filing of Declarations of assets and liabilities by Public servants. Because the Government is in the process of finalising a fresh set of Rules. The said rules will be notified in due course to prescribe the form, manner and timeliness for filing of assets and liabilities. All Public Servants will henceforth be required to file the declarations as may be prescribed by the fresh set of rules

F.No. 21/2/2014-CS.I (U)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
CS-I (PR/CMS) Section

2nd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi,
Dated December 08, 2016

Sub: Declaration of Assets and Liabilities by public servants under amended Section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to forward herewith this Department’s OM NO:407/16/2016-AVD-IV(LP) dated 01.12.2016 regarding the furnishing of information relating to the assets and liabilities by public servants under Section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (the Act).

2. Contents of the said OM may please be brought to the notice of all concerned.

Encl: As above

sd/-
(Raju Saraswat)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Tele: 24629412

Click to read complete order

Authority: http://persmin.gov.in/dopt.asp

Payment to Suppliers etc. by Govt. Dept. through e-Payment

Payment to Suppliers etc. by Government Departments through e-Payment

F.No. 3(2)(1)/2016/R&P Rules/Amendment/649

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

O/o Controller General of Accounts

Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan,

GPO Complex, E-Block, INA

New Delhi-110023

Date: 05-12-2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Payment to Suppliers etc. by Government Departments through e-Payment.

A reference is invited to this office O.M.No 1(1)/2011/TA/366 dated 1st August 2016 regarding payment to Suppliers etc. above Rs. 10,000/- by Government Departments through e-Payment.

2. In order to attain the goal of complete digitization of Government payments, the existing limit of Rs. 10,000/- prescribed in paragraph 2 of this office O.M. dated 1st August 2016 has been further reviewed. It has now been decided to lower the threshold limit to Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees five thousand only).

3. All Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India shall ensure with immediate effect that all payments above Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees five thousand only) to suppliers, contractors, grantee/loanee institutions etc. are made by issue of payment advices only.

This issues with the approval of the Finance Minister.

(Soma Roy Burman)

Joint Controller General of Accounts

Authority: www.finmin.nic.in