TO FACILITATE CANDIDATES NOW ONLINE FORM FOR POSTAL ASSISTANT & SORTING ASSISTANT RECRUITMENT. APPLICATION FORM CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM WWW.INDIAPOST.GOV.IN WEBSITE.

To facilitate candidates now online form for Postal Assistant & sorting assistant Recruitment.
Application form can be downloaded fromwww.indiapost.gov.in website.

Sale of forms for Postal Assistant sorting Assistant, Postal assistant for SBCO and mail motor is going on from 11th of August from identified Post Offices. Seeing the excessive crowd and demand of the form, India post has now decided to make these forms available online and can be downloaded from the India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in.It will facilitate the eligible candidates in getting the forms and save them from standing in queue as well as their time. For this purpose eligible candidates will send an email on the prescribed address and thus they will get the form in return on their own given email address.

A reference is invited to the notification dated 11.08.2012 of this wherein applications for recruitment to the cadre of Postal Assistants, Sorting Assistants, PA MMS,PA SBCO,PA RLO and PA foreign Post was issued inviting applications from the eligible candidates. The sale of Application forms through the identified Post Office counters has commenced from 11.08.2012. It is hereby informed that the Application forms for the above posts can also be downloaded from the India Post website (i.e. www.indiapost.gov.in) for enabling the applicants to download the same and for further submission within the stipulated date. The other terms and conditions issued in the original notification dated 11.08.2012 remain the same.

1. The applicants applying on the application form downloaded on line has to pay:

a) Rs. 50(Rs. Fifty) towards Application cost and Rs. 200(Rs. Two Hundred) towards examination fee. The fee for Application cost at Rs. 50 shall be paid by all the candidates. For Examination fee, Scheduled caste, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Physically Handicapped candidates are exempted.

b) Accordingly, the Unclassified Receipt/ ACG-67 receipt paid in any Post Office, for Rs.50 or Rs.250 as the same case may be, enclosed in original to the downloaded application form. The seven digit unique Registration number printed on downloaded Application form has to be noted on the backside of the fee receipt.

CAG FLAYS DOP FOR FRAUDULENT ENCASHMENT OF POSTAL SAVINGS CERTIFICATES

A fraudulent encashment of Kisan Vikas Patra/National Savings Certificates worth Rs 9.01 crore between 1996 and 2004 could have been prevented if the Head Post Office in Varanasi had sent the statement of unsold cash certificates to Director of Accounts (Postal), CAG said today.

”...statement of unsold cash certificates was not being sent by HPO (Head Post of office) Varanasi Cantt to Director of Accounts (Postal), Lucknow. If the prescribed procedure ...had been scrupulously followed that would have prevented the fraudulent encashment of KVPs/NSCs worth Rs 9.01 crore,” a CAG report tabled in Parliament said.
In another incident, the auditor has found irregularity in payment of interest amounting to Rs 2.26 crore to subscribers of Public Provident Fund Scheme as provisions relating to the scheme were not scrupulously followed.
The report said Post offices in Delhi have also not been able realise revenue to the extent of Rs 98.36 lakh due to failure of Chief Post Master General in Delhi to deduct commission in advance on purchase of revenue stamps from the state government.
The CAG Report for the year ended March, 2011 noted an infructuous expenditure worth Rs 64.62 lakh due to failure of Department of Post (DoP) to construct a postal complex on a plot acquired in 1990.

Source : The Hindu Business Line

Adverse Effects of Computer use on Children’s Vision

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the nodal agency of the Government of India in the field of medical research, is not aware of any specific report on adverse effect of computer use on children’s vision in India. No specific study has been made by the Indian Council of Medical Research in this regard. 

However, according to certain reports published in United States of America, studies have found that majority of the computer workers experience some eye or vision symptoms. It is unclear whether these problems occur to a greater extent in computer workers than in workers in the other highly visually demanding occupations. According to the American Optometric Association, a national survey of doctors of optometry found that more than 14% of their patients present with eye or vision-related symptoms resulting from computer work. Most common symptoms are eye strain, headaches, blurred vision and neck or shoulder pain. 

No data is maintained in ICMR or Department of Health Research regarding estimated number of children having eye related problem due to excess use of computers and mobile games. 

The above information was given by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in the Lok Sabha today. 

Source : PIB, Aug 31, 2012

Teaching of Value Education in Schools

The following steps have been taken by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to ensure effective value based education at school level- 

NCERT 

The National Curriculum Framework, 2005 brought out by NCERT recommended an integrated and holistic approach for nurturing universal human values and constitutional values at all stages of education to ensure all round development of students and building of a healthy society. The new syllabi and textbooks for all subjects at all stages have been developed in consonance with the above principles of National Curriculum Framework, 2005. 

A resource book for teachers on ‘Ways to Peace’ has been published by NCERT during 2010 for promotion and wider dissemination of values of peace. NCERT has also finalized a framework on ‘Education for Values in Schools’. 

CBSE 

• Introduction of School based Assessment scheme in the year 2009 which, inter-alia, comprises assessment of values. 

• Introduction of value based questions in the Summative Assessment-II in classes IX-X and year end examination of classes XI-XII from the year 2012-13 

• Bringing out a handbook for teachers on Value Education in the years 1997 and again in the year 2003 

• Publication of Teachers’ Manual on Environmental Education and Adolescence Education. 

This information was given by Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. 

Source:-PIB

World’s Highest Railway Bridge Over Chenab River

The Railway bridge being constructed over the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir is planned to have a height of 359 meters from river bed level which, as per available information, is the highest railway bridge in the world.

The railway bridge over river Chenab is a part of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla new line project which, on completion, is expected to connect Anantnag, Pulwama, Sopian, Badgam, Srinagar and Baramulladistricts of Jammu & Kashmir State to the Railway network.

Special quality structural steel is being used in the construction of the bridge involving very high degree of precision and latest welding technology. Special painting scheme is being used for arch portion which is designed considering a number of additional parameters such as fatigue, seismic effect, blast load, global stability and composite action. Various latest safety measures like measuring wind velocity, ground acceleration in case of earthquake, temperature monitor etc. are also being planned.

The estimated cost of the bridge as per the contract agreement of 2004 is Rs. 512.74 crore. The bridge falls in the Katra-Banihal section of the project which is targeted to be completed by December 2017.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri Bharatsinh Solanki in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB

Clarification in respect of Post Office Life Insurance Rules – 2011

DIRECTORATE OF POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE

Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications &

Information Technology, Government of India

Chanakyapuri Post Office Complex, New Delhi – 110023

No. 25-1/2011-LI                                                                                                         Dated 24.02.2012

To,

All Head of Circles

Addl. Director General (APS)

Sub: -  Clarification in respect of Post Office Life Insurance Rules – 2011

Recently references have received from some Circles raising doubts on following points for clarification thereon. The same have been examined and clarified as under: -

Sl. No.	Doubt Raised	Clarification
1	Whether limit of Rs. 5 lakh prescribed for sanctioned of maturity value of PLI/RPLI by Division Head includes total maturity value payable or sum assured?	The limit of Rs. 5 lakh is for Sum Assured Bonus payable is not included in the aforesaid limit.
2	Whether persons working in Govt. organizations, Nationalized Banks, PSUs etc. on contract basis are eligible for taking policy of PLI?	No. Since their services can be terminated anytime. If their specified requirement is over in that organization.

  

It is requested to kindly circulate it among all concerned for their information and action accordingly.

This has the approval of Chief General Manager (PLI).

SD/-
(Vipin Malhotra)
Dy. Divisional Manager (PLI)  

Now, get Driving Licence through Registered Post

Come September 1 and transport department will deliver the driving licenses through registered post, just like passports or other identity documents, instead of giving it directly to the applicants. This has been done to check the rising number of fake driving licenses and the role of touts.

This was among the decisions taken by state transport minister Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh in a meeting with the officials of the department here on Thursday. The meeting also discussed preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Allahabad.

The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation ( UPSRTC) will run 4,500 buses in the state for Kumbh pilgrims. Besides, it will keep at least 500 buses in reserve for emergency.

The minister, however, told the officials that running of buses for Mahakumbh should not cause any inconvenience to local passengers.

The corporation could also run private vehicles on contract basis, said the minister. Trained drivers and conductors will be deployed on the Kumbh buses. Transport commissioner Alok Kumar said for the easy movement of devotees during Kumbh, five additional bus stations will be set up in Allahabad. The main mela bus station will be set up at Jhunsi. Acting on the directions of the minister, Kumar has directed the department to tackle the problem of fake driving licenses with an iron hand and cut down the role of touts. He has issued orders to all the officers in the department and RTOs to ensure that documents of DL applicants are thoroughly checked. The officers and employees checking the DL documents will have to write "checked" on every document. Besides, the officers and employees checking the documents will have to put the stamp of their names and designations on the documents.

The officers have also been instructed to take an envelope with a postal stamp from every applicant who applies for learning/permanent or for renewal of DL. The address on the envelope should be same as mentioned on the DL application form.

The officers will also have to ensure that DL is not directly given to the applicants or to any other person but delivered through registered post to the address of the applicant. The department will have to maintain the record of driving licenses. The transport minister also directed for the transfer of employees who have been posted for three years in one section of the department to another section.

Source : The Times of India, Aug 31, 2012

Retirement Age 62 : Enhancement of superannuation retirement age of KV teachers

Retirement Age 62 : Enhancement of superannuation retirement age of KV teachers

Enhancement of superannuation retirement age of KV teachers to be at par with retirement age of University teachers : – The subject has been taken as a discussion point in the JCM meeting of KVS held on 25.7.2012 at New Delhi. The point has been raised by the AIKVTA, the superannuation age of University teachers has been enhanced to 65 years and that of the teachers working under NCT Delhi Administration have been enhanced to 62 years. The demand for enhanced superannuation age of KV teachers was approved by the KVS BOG albeit alongwith such proposal for employees of KVS as a whole, MHRD did not approve the proposal forwarded by KVS. Thus KVS tricked the KV teachers by forwarding the approval of BOG for enhancement of superannuation age of all employees of KVS (not specifically for KV teachers) which has no precedence for age enhancement in any other department under GOI. 

KVs are struggling for filling the vacancies of teachers and quality teachers with vast experience may immensely benefit KV students simultaneously as KVS may gain financially if good numbers of teachers who are due for retirement in coming two 

years are retained. Retirement age of KV teachers should be enhanced to 65 years as has been done for University teachers.

Comments of the KVS : The matter pertaining to enhancement of retirement age of KVS teaching and Non-teaching category of employees from 60 to 62 years was placed before the Board of Governors.KVS in its 82 meeting held on 19.02.2009. Thereafter, KVS 

vide its letter dated 21.04.2009 mooted a proposal to the MHRD to consider the enhancement of retirement age of the employees of KVS from 60 to 62 years. The MHRD after examining of the proposal of KVS, vide their letter dated 27-05- 2009 has communicated that there is no need to introduce any variations in retirement age between KVS employees and Central Govt employees.

As regards, the claim of the association of stated enhancement of retirement age of NCT of Delhi teachers from 60 to 62 years, from the papers submitted by the association it may be ascertained that the NCT of Delhi has reportedly permitted the re-employment of teachers upto the age of 62 years. The association thus, may submit the fully convincing supporting documents in favour of their claim of enhancement of retirement age of teachers under NCT of Delhi and other similar organizations. KVS would take up the matter with the Governing Ministry soon after JCM.

Decision / Recommendation : After detailed deliberation on the matter from both sides the Chairperson decided that no parity can be held between the University teachers and KV teachers as well. Also it cannot be compared with other State Government teaching employees. Hence the demand of association does not appear to be acceptable.

Courtesy : http://90paisa.blogspot.in

Opening Of Passport Seva Kendras

Under the Passport Seva Project, all the planned 77(seventy seven) Passport SevaKendras (PSKs) have been made operational across the country. There is no plan to open any new Passport Office in the country. However, the Government is   conducting a feasibility study to expand the network of passport delivery mechanism by means of additional Passport Seva Kendras/Passport Seva Laghu Kendras in various States/UTs, including Andhra Pradesh.   

The full implementation of Passport Seva Project (PSP) has transformed Passport Issuance System by way of adding 77 PSKs to the 38 Passport Issuing Authorities in India, including Andaman & Nicobar Administration and introducing online filing of applications.  The PSP has a centralised IT system linking all Passport Offices, PSKs, Police and India Post. The Passport infrastructure has also been upgraded. The Passport Offices have regular interaction with concerned police authorities to expediteverification reports of the applicants. Passport Adalats are also conducted by Passport Offices from time to time. Guidelines for quick scrutiny of passport applications and defining the roles of personnel manning the PSKs are being framed to reduce processing time. The Government has also taken steps to create a motivated workforce by improving working conditions, training, and staff welfare and career progression measures.  

The state-wise location of PSKs is given below.

STATE-WISE    LIST OF PSKs

S. No.	State/UT	No. ofPSKs	Location
1.	Andhra Pradesh	7	Hyderabad I, II & III, Nizamabad,Vijayawada, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam,
2.	Assam	1	Guwahati
3.	Bihar	1	Patna
4.	Chandigarh UT	1	Chandigarh
5.	Chhatisgarh	1	Raipur*
6.	Delhi NCT	3	Herald House, Shalimar Place, Bhikaji Cama Place*
7.	Goa	1	Panaji*
8.	Gujarat	5	Ahmedabad I& II, Baroda, Rajkot, Surat.
9.	Haryana	2	Ambala,  Gurgaon.
10.	Himachal Pradesh	1	Shimla*
11.	Jammu & Kashmir	2	Jammu*, Srinagar*.
12.	Jharkhand	1	Ranchi*
13.	Karnataka	4	Bangalore I & II, Hubli,  Mangalore.
14.	Kerala	13	Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram  (Rural), Kollam, Cochin,  Ernakulam Rural, Alapuzha, Kottayam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kozhikode I & II, Kannur I & II.
15.	Madhya Pradesh	1	Bhopal
16.	Maharashtra	7	Mumbai I, II & III,  Pune, Nagpur,  Thane,Nashik.
17.	Odisha	1	Bhubaneswar*
18.	Punjab	5	Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar  I & II, Hoshiarpur.
19.	Rajasthan	3	Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar.
20.	Tamil Nadu	8	Chennai I, II & III, Trichy Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore,
21.	Uttar Pradesh	6	Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur,Bareilly, Ghaziabad.
22.	Uttarakhand	1	Dehradun*
23.	West Bengal	2	Kolkata, Berhampore.
TOTAL		77

*Co-located PSK

The Minister of State in the Ministry Of External Affairs Shri E. Ahamed provided this information in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB, August 30, 2012

IRCTC to launch deposit scheme for faster bookings

MUMBAI: Booking a ticket through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website is set to get easier and faster if the IRCTC's plans to set up a rolling deposit scheme (RDS) work out. Pradeep Kundu, joint general manager, public relations, IRCTC, said, "Under the scheme, a user can deposit money in advance with the IRCTC and use RDS from the available payment options on the IRCTC website for paying for their tickets."

The IRCTC has proposed a one-time registration fee of around Rs 200-250 and a minimum deposit of around Rs 1,500-2,000 for the service. Users can top up their RDS account balance by using any of the available payment gateways and can also transfer money from their bank accounts to their IRCTC accounts and book tickets using that RDS account. The account can be managed and topped up online. The IRCTC claims that the RDS account system will be more efficient and advantageous as compared to transactions carried out through payment gateways of banks.

Kundu said, "Currently, after a payment option is selected, customers are redirected to the payment gateway, where they enter their card details. Subsequently, they are redirected to either the Verified by Visa or Master Secure service, where they have to enter their password and validate the transaction. This entire process consumes a substantial amount of transaction time.

"Very often, customers enter the wrong passwords and have to revalidate the transaction. When the customer is finally redirected to the IRCTC site, the session may have timed out and as a result the ticket would not have been booked."

Kundu added, "Time can be saved by using an RDS account, as the entire transaction is internal and there is no dependency on a third party payment gateway."

On August 5, TOI had reported about the high number of failed transactions while using the IRCTC website. The IRCTC had claimed that this happens due to reasons like wrong password, wrong card expiry date fed by the customer, expired card, insufficient funds in the customer's account, technical problem at the bank's end etc., over which it has no control.

Kundu said, "The RDS mode of transaction system is faster, safer and easier. Users will not only save on payment gateway charges, but will also save precious booking time by eliminating payment approval cycle." Under the RDS system, the user's dependency on banks is reduced. Even if banks go offline, IRCTC users can book tickets using their RDS account.

Key features of Rolling deposit scheme

User authentication: Users of the rolling deposit scheme (RDS) will be verified and authenticated through online PAN card number verification

Secure access: Users will have to provide transaction passwords/ PIN numbers for every booking done through RDS

Complete history: Users will be able to check RDS transaction/payment history. They can also change the transaction password as and when required

Easy refund: In case of ticket cancellation, the refund will be credited to the user's RDS account the next day 

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com, August 30, 201

5 secrets to maintain a steady weight

Now that you have reached your weight loss goal, we are sure you wouldn't want to slip down the slipper slope of weight gain again.

The real task of managing your weight lies ahead. So, what will be your plan of action? The most pivotal point to note here is that you have to make your weight loss a permanent one. For doing so, today, Dr. Sukhvinder Singh Saggu, Sr Consultant Laparoscopic, Gastro & Obesity surgeon at Fortis Jessa Ram Hospital, New Delhi, gives us his insights on the top 5 secrets for maintaining a steady weight.

Get exercise in unexpected ways. To maintain the ideal weight, for men and women, one needs to be active in their whole day. Ideally, it is recommended to burn at least 2000 calories per day for men & 1600 calories for women. There are several ways to burn your calories. For example, if men and women wash their cars, an activity that takes at least 30 minutes, it easily burns approximately 300 calories. Similarly, instead of using elevators/lift, if they use stairs, they will burn upto 100 calories, and so on.

Don't try to be perfect. Maintaining weight or losing weight should not be a short duration target. It should be an on-going activity, which needs to be achieved slowly and in a steady manner. It should be pursued with the intent to learn, rather than the attitude that declares it as learned or perfect.

Keep fizzy drinks at bay as much as you can. Surely, soft drinks and other carbonated drinks need to be on check. If you are on your way to being a fit person and want to live your life healthier, then stay away from fizzy drinks as much as you can. Instead, go for home-made lemonade, fresh fruit juice or prepare your own ice tea. Carbonated, aerated drinks simply elevate the symptoms of diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, liver damage, heart ailments and even cancer to some extent.

Eat at proper intervals. If one wants to maintain his/her lost weight or intends to lose weight, then the most important point to keep in mind is to have food at proper regular intervals. Skipping any meal of the day, will not help one to lose weight, rather it creates problems. It is recommended to have 6 to 7 meals in a day but of small portions. The count is of calories, i.e. how much you consume in a day. The small portion of meal helps you digest food faster. And not to forget, eat a light dinner at least a couple of hours before sleeping to avoid acidity and other indigestion issues that indirectly affect weight management.

Do not forget your strength training routine. Not only does strength training give men and women a fit and toned body, but it also helps the joints and muscles work more efficiently against injuries. It makes joints and bones more flexible and strong, and increases stamina. It is ideally suggested that one should opt for strength training for at least three times a week. Strength train all parts of your body by targeting different body muscles on a daily basis.

Source : The Times of India, Aug. 30, 2012

Revision of tariff for occupation of Inspection Quarters / Inspection Rooms in the Department of Posts.

This has a reference to Department of Posts (Estate Division) earlier Letter No. 6-2/2004-Bldg. dated 4-8-2005. As communicated vide Department of Posts (Estate Division) Letter No.6-5/2009-Bldg dated 27-08-2012 the rates for occupation of Inspection Quarters / Inspection Rooms is rationalized as follows:-

A)   Inspection Quarters / Inspection Rooms:

i)             For Officers of the Department of Posts while on duty / leave, retired officers of Department of Posts, other Government / PSU Officers on official visit and others for period of 10 days:

Sl. No.	Category of visitor in Inspection Quarters / Inspection Rooms	Rent per Day (More than six Hours)
		X Class Cities	Y & Z Class Cities
1.	Officers of Department of Posts on official visit	R.25/-	Rs.25/-
2.	Officers and dependent family members of Department of Posts on personal Visit	Rs.100/-	Rs.50/-
3.	Retired Officers of Department of Posts	Rs.100/-	Rs.50/-
4.	Other Government / PSU Officers on official visit and others	Rs.250/-	Rs.150/-

ii)           The charges for the use of ,

Air conditions        :       Rs.20/- per day or a part thereof

Room Heaters        :       Rs.10/- per day or a part thereof

B)   Rates for officers for stay in Inspection Quarters/Inspection Rooms for periods exceeding 10 days:-

i)             For period exceeding 10 days and upto 60 days:-Same as in para (A) above {With permission of the Controlling Authority i.e. Head of the Circle}

ii)            For period beyond 60 days:-10% of Basic pay (including special pay) [With permission of the DG Posts]

The revised rates indicated above will take place with immediate effect