Advance Railway Reservation time limit reduced from 120 days to 60 days from 1st May, 2013

Ministry of Railways 25-April, 2013 

Advance Reservation Period for Booking Reserved Train Tickets Reduced to 60 Days from Existing 120 Days from 1st May 2013 

The Ministry of Railways has decided that the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for booking reservedtrain tickets will be reduced from existing 120 days to 60 days (excluding the date of journey) w.e.f. 1st May 2013. The details are as below:-

I. With effect from 01.05.2013, the ARP will be of 60 days (excluding the day of journey) and booking will be done accordingly. However, all the bookings done upto 30.4.2013 under the ARP of 120 days will remain intact.

II. Cancellation of the booking made beyond the ARP of 60 days will, however, be permitted.

III. There will be no change in the case of certain day time express trains like Taj Express, Gomti Express etc. where lower time limits for advance reservations are at present in force.

IV. There will also be no change in the case of limit of 360 days for foreign tourists.


PIB
(Release ID :95064)

Proposal for Ban on Contesting Elections Immediately after Quitting Government Jobs

The Election Commission has made a proposal to the Government to provide a suitable cooling off period for the Government officers retiring or leaving Government service and joining a political party in order to maintain their independence and neutrality in functioning while in office. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Minister of Law & Justice, said that the proposal is under consideration of the Government. 

Source : PIB Release, 23 April, 2013

Guidelines for conduct of public competitions for design of symbols/logos

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Gold prices fall: Lock in your money in fixed deposits now

MUMBAI: It is the right time to lock in your money in long term fixed deposits, if you have not done it earlier, say experts. Fall in gold prices and oil prices have made many experts speculate on a possible fall in bank fixed deposit rates in near future.

In April, brent crude oil prices went down by 9%, whereas Mumbai standard gold prices corrected by 12.5%. This has made many think that Reserve Bank of India may opt for a rate cut. This fall in prices would result into lowering the current account deficit, which is a key concern for Reserve Bank of India. Also lower energy prices connote lower inflation in future, which should set the stage right for the cut in interest rates.

"We maintain that the possibility of a rate cut by RBI has gone up during its policy meet on May 3," says Amit Tripathy, Head- Fixed Income at Reliance CapitalBSE 0.28 % Asset Management in his recent note. The banks too are expected to reduce the interest rates on fixed deposits.

"Banks may cut 25 basis points in the interest rates payable on short term fixed deposits that mature in less than one year and 50 basis points in interest rates payable on long term fixed deposits with maturities between one to three years," says Harshavardhan Roongta, certified financial planner, Roongta Securities.

Investors have already seen some banks in cutting interest rates in the first half of April. Punjab National BankBSE -0.18 %, Oriental Bank of CommerceBSE 0.00 % and Bank of BarodaBSE 0.21 % have reduced interest rates on fixed deposits by 25 to 50 basis points on varying maturities.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

DA LATEST POSITION

THE DA PROPOSAL IS PENDING CLEARANCE OF CABINET. PRIME MINISTER IS REACHING DELHI ON 12th.

WE EXPECT IT TO BE CLEARED BY TUESDAY.

Get Aadhaar to obtain PAN card now

NEW DELHI: The Unique Identification (UID) Aadhaar number will soon be a "valid" proof of identity and address to obtain a PAN card.

A proposal for inclusion of Aadhaar in the existing list of valid proof of identification and proof of address for allotment of PAN was sent to the Finance Ministry by the Unique Identification Authority of India sometime back.

The Ministry has decided to notify rules in this regard. It is aimed at curbing the menace of fake or duplicatePAN cards which are allotted by I-T department to taxpayers.

"Once Aadhaar is accepted as a valid proof for obtaining PAN, the I-T department would be able to weed out the menace of fake, forging or duplication of PAN cards.

"The amalgamation of the databases is in full swing and the ministry would soon notify the rules in this regard," a senior Finance Ministry official said.

The Ministry, through the Income Tax department, has already incorporated more than 1.75 lakh Aadhaar numbers in its database since it notified a new form 49A for getting PAN last year.

It has been working for nearly three years on the plan of creating a biometric database of taxpayers which it will now achieve by incorporating the Aadhaar data which has been taken on similar lines.

Till now, a variety of documents, like voter ID card, passport, driving licence and documents of owning or renting a property were used as a proof to obtain the Permanent Account Number (PAN).

The Ministry had last year brought out a new PAN application form-- 49A for use of Indian citizens, companies and entities incorporated in the country which allows a applicant to mention his or her Aadhaar number.

The Finance Ministry, which had first mooted the proposal of generating and issuing biometric PAN in 2006, had kept the decision pending for sometime as it was felt that both the agencies (UIDAI and I-T) would be "duplicating the effort" to reach a common goal -- biometrics-based identity.

In 2006, the Ministry had proposed that the biometric PAN cards would have the I-T assesses' fingerprints (two from each hand) and the face. This will now be achieved by collating the Aadhaar database with that of the PAN.

According to latest data (till December last), more than 16.49 crore PAN cards have been issued in the country.

The I-T department, in a number of cases, has unearthed a number of individuals possessing multiple PAN cards or forging the details to evade taxes and create 'benami' properties.

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

Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2013 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

MOST IMMEDIATE

F. No.12/4/2013-JCA-2

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances 86 Pensions

(Department of Personnel & Training)

North Block, New Delhi

Dated the 8^th  April, 2013.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Declaration of Holiday on 14^th  April, 2013— Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

It has been decided to declare Sunday, the 14^th  April 2013, 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

2309 2589

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Modifications in Civil Services Examination, 2013

The Government has approved the following modifications in the Civil Services Examination, 2013 notified on 5.3.2013: 

1. A candidate is allowed to use any one regional language from the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India or English as the medium of writing the examination. 

2. Conditionality of a minimum of 25 candidates in that medium and the requirement to have that language as the medium of examination at graduation level has been dropped. 

3. Furthermore, a candidate is allowed to take up literature as his/her optional subject (to be chosen from a list of 23 literature subjects – 22 of the 8th Schedule languages and English) without the conditionality of having to do his/her graduation in that language’s literature. 

4. The English component (of 100 marks) from the Essay Paper has been dropped and 2 qualifying papers of 300 marks each in any Modern Indian Language(MIL) and in English have been restored. The Essay Paper is now of 250 marks to be written in the medium/language of candidate’s choice. 

Now, the Civil Services Main Examination 2013 will be as under: 

a. The candidates may write the examination in any one medium/language chosen from the languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India or English; 

b. Paper I and II will be of qualifying nature only– one in any MIL and another in English – of 300 marks each; 

c. Paper III will be the compulsory Essay Paper, with no English Comprehension test, to be written in the medium of candidate’s choice. The English component shall be dropped. Now this paper shall be of 250 marks. 

d. There will be 4 compulsory papers of General Studies of 250 marks each, namely, Paper-IV (Indian Heritage & Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society), Paper-V (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations), Paper-VI (Technology, Economic Development, Bio Diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) and Paper-VII (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude). 

e. Paper VIII and IX: Candidates will have to take one optional subject with 2 papers of 250 marks each. This optional subject can be selected from a list of 25 core subjects and 23 literatures (literature of 22 languages in 8th Schedule of The Constitution of India and English). 

f. The personality test/interview will be of 275 marks. 

Source : PIB Release, 03 April, 2013

Cabinet likely to approve Central D.A. from January 2013 tomorrow

8% hike likely to be approved on 2.4.2013

Union Cabinet is likely to approve tomorrow a proposal to increase dearness allowance (DA) to 80 per cent from existing 72 per cent benefiting about 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners of the central government.

"The Union Cabinet may consider the finance ministry proposal to increase the DA by 8 per cent to 80 per cent in its meeting scheduled for tomorrow", a source said.

The hike would be effective from January 1, 2013 and the employees and pensioners would be entitled for arrears, he said.

The government had hiked DA to 72 per cent in September last year, which had come into effect from July 1, 2012.

"It is good that they are increasing DA. We demand that they should merge up to 50 per cent DA with the basic pay as per the practice and set up the seventh pay commission at the earliest", Secretary of Confederation of Central Government Employees, K K N Kutty said.

As per the practice, the DA is merged with basic pay when it breaches the 50 per cent cap. This helps employees get higher allowances as those are paid as proportion of the basic pay.

Source :  Indian Express

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

Ban on bulk SMSs, MMSs withdrawn with immediate effect

Government on Thursday lifted the ban on bulk SMSs and MMSs with immediate effect -- a day before the earlier stipulated deadline of August 31.

The telecom ministry had, on direction of home ministry, imposed the ban for 15 days on August 17. Later, the restriction was reviewed on August 24 when the telecom ministry increased the limit from five SMSes to 20 SMSes.

"After reviewing the matter again on Thursday, the ministry lifted the restriction allowing citizens to use text messages and MMSes without any limit of numbers with immediate effect," said a home ministry official.

As MPs cutting across party lines had pitched for a foolproof mechanism to check spread of rumours that led to exodus of people from the northeast in certain states, the government on August 17 had imposed the ban on bulk SMSs and MMSs for 15 days across the country.

As per that decision, no one was allowed to send more than five SMSs at one go and more than 20 KB of data from a cellphone for the next 15 days.

Though such a ban may not put a complete check on spread of false or misleading information, officials believed that the mechanism coupled with strict monitoring of flow of SMSs had certainly acted as a deterrent.


Source : The Times of India

High Security Number Plates

Rule 50 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 provides for display of registration marks on the motor vehicles in the form of security licence plate of the prescribed specifications. Implementation of the provisions of the aforesaid rule comes within jurisdiction of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. As per information available with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the work of installation of High Security Registration Plates on motor vehicles has commenced in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Implementation of the High Security Registration Plates Scheme is in various stages of implementation in a number of other States/Union Territories.

The prominent security features of High Security Registration Plates are: 

(i) Chromium based hot-stamped hologram with Chakra image protects against counterfeiting. 

(ii) A retro-reflective film, bearing a verification inscription ‘India’ at 45 degree inclination. 

(iii) The permanent identification number of minimum 7 digits to be laser branded into the reflective sheeting on the bottom-hand side of the registration plate, which is unique in nature, preceded by alpha-numeric identification of both the vendor or manufacturer or supplier, as the case may be and the concerned testing agencies. 

(iv) Embossing of the registration numbers on the plates. 

(v) Ingressed “IND” legend in retro reflective film. 

(vi) Tamper proof non-removable/non-reusable snap locks system to fit the rear registration plate for the sake of better security. 

(vii) Third License Plate in the form of self-destructive sticker, containing the details-(i) name of registering authority, (ii) registration number, (iii) laser branded permanent identification number, (iv) engine number and (v) chassis number, to be put on the windshield of four wheelers. 

Further, para 4 (xiii) of the Motor Vehicles (New High Security Registration Plates) Order, 2001 requires maintenance of a proper record of the registration plates issued by the manufacturer or the vendor, authorized by the State Government on a daily basis, which is to be tallied periodically with the records of the Transport Office. 

The information was given by the Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways, Dr. Tushar A. Chaudhary in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. 

Source : PIB

REVISION OF TATKAL SCHEME

REVISION OF TATKAL SCHEME

The below information stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Shri.K.H.Muniyappa in response to a written question in Lok Sabha.

The salient features of modified Tatkal Scheme which was introduced in August 2004 and revised from time to time are attached in Appendix. 

With a view to streamline booking of reserved tickets, the following steps have been taken:- 

i. The timings of opening of reservation of Tatkal tickets have been changed to 10.00 hours on the previous day of journey instead of 08.00 hours as per earlier provisions. 

ii. Preventive checks are conducted in association with Commercial Vigilance and Security Department in and around reservation offices as well as in trains against persons on travelling on transferred tickets. 

iii. Monitoring and surveillance of the working of reservation offices is undertaken by installing Close Circuit Televisions to curb the possible activities of touts. 

iv. Travelling Public are also educated about the consequences of buying tickets from touts through various media. 

v. Railway staff, if found indulging in malpractices in connivance with touts, are taken up under the Discipline and Appeal Rules. 

In order to make the catering service more effective, adequate steps have been initiated in the New Catering Policy, 2010 issued on 21st July, 2010. This policy has an inclusive approach wherein from the least advantaged passenger to the relatively affluent are provided catering services in a socially responsible manner with emphasis on provision of good quality and hygienic food at economic price. Jan-Ahar outlets have been set up for sale of Janta Meals and low cost affordable regional cuisines. Supervision and monitoring has been strengthened through an institutional mechanism put in place by the Zonal Railways by deploying Railway personnel, who check quality and hygiene and take corrective action in a time bound manner through regular, surprise and periodical inspections. Standard Bid Documents for award of catering contracts have been prepared by the Ministry by engaging professional agencies having domain knowledge and expertise wherein stringent eligibility criteria to ensure quality with detailed penalty clauses have been defined. The policy guidelines for Train Side Vending contracts have been issued for catering services in trains run without pantry car. Fixation of licence fee has been rationalized. Detailed instructions regarding waste management have been issued in order to maintain hygiene and cleanliness at all catering units. 

1) Tatkal booking opens at 10 AM on the previous day of journey excluding date of journey from the train originating station. 

2) The reservation under this scheme is available only up to the time of preparation of charts. 

3) The facility of change of name is not permitted on the bookings made under Tatkal scheme. 

4) No duplicate Tatkal tickets are issued except in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges. 

5) The reservation under this scheme can be sought by full fare paying passengers only and no passenger holding concessional ticket is allowed to avail reservation under this scheme. 

6) Tatkal tickets are issued only on production of self-attested photocopy of one of the nine prescribed proofs of identity mentioned in the scheme and passenger should carry the same proof of identity(in original) during the journey failing which all the passengers booked on that ticket are considered as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly. 

7) No refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except under certain circumstances like non-attachment of coach, cancellation of train, as mentioned in the scheme. 

8) Tatkal charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10% of basic fare for second class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum prescribed limits as given in the scheme. 

9) Tatkal tickets are issued for actual distance of travel, subject to the distance restriction applicable to the train. 

10) Agents / RTSAs have been restricted from the booking Tatkal tickets at the counters as well as through internet between 1000 hours and 1200 hours. 

11) It is possible to book a maximum of only four passengers per PNR for Tatkal tickets. 

12) The web services agents of IRCTC have been permitted to book only one Tatkal ticket per train per day on the internet. 

13) Powers for earmarking of Tatkal accommodation in different classes have been delegated to Zonal Railways who take a decision in this regard keeping in view the utilization pattern in that class during the previous financial year as well as availability of accommodation subject to maximum permissible limit prescribed in the scheme. 

Low Cost Aakash Tablet-Latest Development

The Minister of Human Resource Development Dr.D.Purandeswari replied in present session of Lok Sabha regarding supply of Low Cost Tablet Aakash to students which was proposed Under the National Mission on Education through Information Communication Technology (NMEICT) scheme, a Low Cost-Access-cum-Computing Device (LCAD) named Aakash was launched on 5th October, 2011.

As per information given by the Minister IIT, Rajsathan which handled this project procured 1,00,000 tablets in the first phase for supply to Higher Technical Education Institutions.

After the launch of this project, feedback were received from the users of these tablets. It revealed the machine needed improvement in the following aspects.

• heating of the device
• need for longer battery life
• need for capacitive instead of resistive touch screen
• need for better processor etc.

The matter was taken up with the vendor and he agreed to make changes including upgrading the processor from 366 MHz Arm 11 based processor to 700 MHz Arm Cortex A8 processor, improving firmware, replacing the battery of 2100 mAH with a battery of 3200 mAH capacity and replacement ofresistive touch screen with capacitive one with no enhancement in cost. As no payment was made by IIT Rajasthan to the vendor, hence, no loss has been incurred to the Government.

Courtesy : http://www.gconnect.in/