SB ORDER NO-20/2011

SB ORDER NO. 20/2011

No. F.No.113-23/2005-SB Government of India Ministry of Communications & IT Department of Posts Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001, Dated: 27.09.2011 To All Heads of Circles/Regions Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject:- Removal of ceiling of maximum balance to be retained in a post office savings account- amendment to Rule-4 of the Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981 regarding.

Sir / Madam,

The undersigned is directed to say that issue of removal of ceiling of Rs.1 lac in single savings account and Rs.2 Lac in Joint Savings Account fixed in the year 2000 was under consideration in the Min. of Finance (DEA). This issue was linked to the benefit of exemption in Income Tax on the interest earned in Post Office Savings Account under Section10(15) (i) of Income Tax Act, 1961 by the CBDT and Min. of Finance (DEA). After sustained efforts on the part of this Directorate, Min. of Finance (DEA) has now amended Rule-4 of the Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981 vide G.S.R.681(E) F.No.2/5/2006-NS-II dated 15.9.2011 (copy enclosed). Some major benefits of this amendment are given below:

(i)

From 1.10.2011, there will be no limit for retaining balance in single as well as joint savings account.

(ii)

A depositor or depositor(s) can deposit any amount into single as well as joint savings account.

(iii) Maturity value of any savings instrument can be credited into savings account of the depositor standing in the same post office irrespective of the balance in the account.

(i)

Any cheque either issued by Postmaster or any other authority irrespective of any amount can be credited into post office savings account irrespective of the balance in the account.

(ii)

From the Financial year 2011-12, Interest income of Rs.3500/- in the case of single account and Rs.7000/- in case of Joint account will be exempted from Income Tax. (Section 10(15) (i) of Income Tax Act, 1961 amended vide Notification No. 32/2010 {F.No. 173/13/2011-IT A.I}/S.O.1296(E) dated 03.06.2011)

(iii) It is the duty of the depositor(s) to show the interest income earned from Post Office Savings Account(s) beyond the limit prescribed above in the Income Tax return and pay due Income Tax.

1. It is requested that all field units may be directed to give wide publicity to these changes in the shape of Public Notice and printing of leaflets.
2. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS).

                                                                   Yours faithfully,

                                             (Kawal Jit Singh) Assistant Director (SB)

TRAI 100 SMS per day limit comes into effect

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has imposed the restriction of 100 SMS/ day per SIM from today (27.09.2011) to prevent pesky marketing SMS.

After the TRAI’s announcement on 100 SMS a day limit , GSM Operator’s body Cellular Operators Association ofIndia (COAI) has asked TRAI to reconsider its recommendation regarding the 100 SMS/Day limit, claiming that such a regulation may pose a potentialchallenge to the “Fundamental Rights” of an ordinary subscriber.

But Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has decided to stick to its decision to cap short messaging system (SMS) to 100 per day per SIM for all subscribers, so Free SMS in any form will be limited to 100 SMS per day and no more.

India’s largest Mobile Service operators Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communication are thefirst mover who have implemented the new SMS rule.They have also send notification SMS to their subscribers in various telecom circles about the the new TRAI’s rule which sets a cap at 100 SMSs per day.

Bharti Airtel in its routine prior notification SMS to its subscribers cites “As per TRAI Regulation Your Current SMS Pack benefits have been revisedeffective today. You can now send maximum 100 SMS/Day."

Please Note that the Limit of 100 SMS/day will not be applicable on “SMS Blackout Days” or festive occasions, when the subscriber is free to send as many messages he wants as normal or premium SMS rates as well as non SMS Pack users.

The list of excluded providers include, Dealers of the Telecom Service Providers and DTH Operators for sending request for electronic recharge on mobile numbers, e-ticketing agencies for responding to e-ticketing request made by its customers, The social networking sites like Facebook,Twitter, Orkut, LinkedInand GooglePlus based on their verifiable options, Agencies providing directory services likeJustdial, Zatse, Callezee, Getit and Askme. However it is not clear that if banks who sends the details of the customer’s transaction, are excluded from this list.

The customers can send more than 100 SMS / day per SIM on the blackout days such as New Year, Pongal, Diwali and Christmas.

Advantages of 100 sms CAP

Now you won’t receive annoying marketing sms’s like“Buy SONA SLIM BELT”or“Buy CHEAP luxury FLATS in Noida”.

You wont receive SMS’s  from unknown numbers as the SMS plans may go expensive now.

You can still send more than 100 Sms per day on Blackout days or in the days notified by TRAI.

Disadvantages

This will definitely hurt the students who generally depends on SMS chatting for communication with their friends.

This may also be worse when we need an urgent SOS message to be sent and our limit has exhausted.

Free SMS vouchers may become expensive.

Although personally, I have not been affected with this cap placed on SMS, but many of you may get effected. Please do comment whether the TRAI has taken a good step by limiting per day SMS, or they have to think somewhat else to stop the SMS spams by the product marketers and should have removed this limitation.

PRODUCTIVITY LINKED BONUS FOR THE ACCOUNTING YEAR 2010-2011

PRODUCTIVITY LINKED BONUS FOR THE ACCOUNTING YEAR 2010-2011

File No. 26-07/2011-PAP

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

(Establishment Division)

Dak Bhawan,Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110 001

Dated 23^rd September, 2011

All Chief Postmasters General,

Postmasters General

All General Managers (Finance)

Director/Deputy Directors of Accounts (Postal)

Subject:- Productivity Linked Bonus for the Accounting year 2010-2011

Sir/Madam,

            I am directed to convey the approval of the President of India for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus for the accounting year 2010-2011 equivalent of emoluments of 60 (Sixty) days to the employees of Department of Posts in Group `D`,Group `C` and non Gazetted Group `B`. Ex-gratia payment of Bonus to Gramin Dak Sevaks who are regularly appointed after observing all appointment formalities and adhoc payment of Bonus to Casual labourers who have been conferred Temporary Status are also to be paid equivalent to allowance/wages respectively for 60 (sixty) Days for the same period.

1.1 The calculation for the purpose of payment of Bonus under each category will be done as indicated below.

2. REGULAR EMPLOYEES:

2.1 Bonus will be calculated on the basis of the following formula:-

Average emoluments X Number of days of Bonus

30.4 (Average no. of days in a month)

2.2 The term "Emoluments" for regular Employees include basic Pay in the pay Band plus Grade Pay, Dearness Pay, Personal Pay, Special Pay (Allowance), S.B. Allowance, Deputation (Duty ) Allowance, Dearness Allowance and Training Allowance given to Faculty Members in Training Institutes. In case of drawl of salary exceeding Rs.3500/- (Rs. Three Thousand Five hundred only) in any month during the accounting year 2009-10 the Emoluments shall be restricted to Rs.3500/- (Rs. Three Thousand Five hundred only) per month only.

2.3 " Average Emoluments" for regular Employees is arrived at by dividing by twelve ,the total salary drawn during the year 2010-11 for the period from 1.4.2010 to 31.3.2011, by restricting each month's salary to Rs.3500/- (Rs. Three Thousand Five hundred only) per month. However, for the periods of EOL and dies-non in a given month ,proportionate deduction is required to be made from the ceiling limit of Rs.3500/- (Rs. Three Thousand Five hundred only)

2.4 In case of those regular employees who were under suspension, or on whom dies-non was imposed ,or both, during the accounting year, the clarificatory order issued vide Paras 1 & 3 respectively of this office order No. 26-8/80-PAP (Pt-I) dated 11.6.81 and No. 26-4/87-PAP (Pt.II) dated 8.2.88 will apply.

2.5 Those employees who resigned, retired, left service or proceeded on deputation within the Department of Posts or those who have proceeded on deputation outside the Department of Posts on or after 1.4.2010 will also be entitled to Bonus. In case of all such employees, the Bonus admissible will be as per provisions of Para 2.1 to 2.3 above.

3. GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS (GDS)

3.1 In respect of Gramin Dak Sevaks who were on duty through out the year during 2010-2011, Average monthly Time Related Continuity Allowance will be calculated taking into account the Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) plus corresponding Dearness Allowance drawn by them for the period from 1.4.2010 to 31.3.2011 divided by 12 (Twelve). However, where the Time Related Continuity Allowance exceeds Rs 2500/- (Rs.Two Thousand Five hundred only) in any month during this period., the allowances will be restricted to Rs 2500/- (Rs.Two Thousand Five hundred only) per month. Ex-gratia payment of Bonus may be calculated by applying the Bonus formula as mentioned below:-

Average TRCA X Number of days of Bonus

30.4 (Average no. of days in a month)

3.2 The allowances drawn by a substitute will not be counted towards Bonus calculation for either the substitute or the incumbent Gramin Dak Sevaks. In respect of those Gramin Dak Sevaks who were appointed in short term vacancies in Postman/Group `D` Cadre, the clarificatory orders issued vide Directorate letter No. 26-6/89-PAP dated 6.2.1990 and No. 26-7/90-PAP dated 4.7.91 will apply.

3.3 If a Gramin Dak Sevak has been on duty for a part or the year by way of a fresh appointment, or for having been put off duty, or for having left service,he will be paid proportionate ex-gratia Bonus calculated by applying the procedure prescribed in Para 3.1

3.4 Those Gramin Dak Sevaks who have resigned, discharged or left service on or after 1.4.2010 will also be entitled to proportionate ex-gratia Bonus. In case of all such Gramin Dak Sevaks, the Ex-gratia Bonus admissible will be as per provisions of Para 3.1 above.

3.5 In case of those Gramin Dak Sevaks who were under put off duty or on whom dies non was imposed, or both during the accounting year ,the clarificatory orders issued vide Para 1 & 3 respectively of this office order No. 26-8/80-PAP (Pt I) dated 11.6.81 and No. 26-4/87-PAP (Pt II) will apply.

4. FULL TIME CASUAL LABOURERS INCLUDING TEMPORARY STATUS CASUAL LABOURERS)

4.1 Full Time Casual Labourers (including Temporary Status Casual Labourers ) who worked for 8 hours a day, for at least 240 days in a year for three consecutive years or more (206 days in each year for three years or more in case of offices observing 5 days a week) as on 31.3.2011 will be paid ad-hoc Bonus on notional monthly wages of Rs.1200/- (Rupees Twelve Hundred only)

The maximum ad-0hoc Bonus will be calculated as below:-

(Notional monthly wages of Rs.1200) X (Number of days of Bonus)

30.4 (average no. of days in a month)

Accordingly , the rate of Bonus per day will work out as indicated below:_

Maximum ad-hoc Bonus for the year

365

The above rate of Bonus per day may be applied to the number of days for which the services of such casual labourers had been utilized during the period from 1.4.2010 to 31.3.2011. In case where the actual wages in any month fall below during the period 1.4.2010 to 31.3.2011 the actual monthly wages drawn should be taken into account to arrive at the actual ad-hoc Bonus due in such cases.

5. The amount of Bonus /Ex gratia payment /Adhoc Bonus payable under this order will be rounded to the nearest rupee. The payment of Productivity Linked Bonus as well as the ex-gratia payment and ad-hoc payment will be chargeable to the Head `Salaries` under the relevant Sub –Head of account to which the pay and allowances of the staff are debited. The payment will be met from the sanctioned grant for the year 2011-2012.

6. After payment, the total expenditure incurred and the number of employees paid may be ascertained from all units by Circle and consolidated figures be intimated to the Budget Section of the Department of Posts. The Budget Section will furnish consolidated information to PAP Section about the total amount of Bonus paid and the total number of employees (category-wise) to whom it was distributed for the Department as a whole.

7. This issue with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Wing vide their diary No. 104/FA/10/CS dated 23-9-2011.

8.    Receipt of this letter may be acknowledged

1000 Rupees notes of 2AQ and 8AC SERIES BE NOT ACCEPTED-RBI

Do not accept 1000 Rupees Notes of 2 AQ and 8 AC series - RBI

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

1000 Rupees Notes of 2 AQ and 8 AC series be not accepted - RBI

Avoid accepting Rs.1,000 notes of 2 AQ and 8 AC series

More than 2 Cr duplicate notes worth Rs.2,000 Cr have already entered India.

Family Planning Allowance to Central Government employees - FAQ

Family Planning Allowance, it isone of the severe steps taken by the Central Government to check growing population. At that time incentives were announced to Government employees, those having three children. In the following days it was reduced to two children.

The sterilisation operation which is performed for this is known as tubectomy(for women) and vasectomy(for men). This is a permanent method of family planning, which means once you opt this and undergo this procedure thereversal of the condition is not possible.

Before 5th CPC the Family Planning Allowance was noted as Personal Pay and 6th CPC has recommended that the rates of Family Planning allowances hasbeen doubled. According to the provisions contained in FinanceMinistry’s O.M.No. 7(39)/E dated4th December 1979, O.M.No.6(39)/98-IC.II dated 6th July 1999 and O.M.No.F.No.7(20)/2008-E.III(A) dated 24th September 2008 , Central Government employees who undergone sterilisation were entitled to a Special Increment. One would get incentive according to the pay scale-grade, not to be absorbedin future increases in pay. The rate of increment was equal to the amount of the next increment due at the time of grant of the incentive and it remain fixed during the entire service .

Are the India Post is really doingbusiness? Will there be any profit and loss accounts to analyze the business activities? Whether the so called marketing activities really reveal the skills of marketing? AThousand million Dollar Question?

With no conceptualism, one business product or the other is being introduced with profit orientation. Every sale of product is clamored with nice presentation of designed table of statistics in the absence of Profit and loss account and balance sheet for each product. Men and materials involved in such business activities are not at all taken in to account.

The RPLI was introduced 12 years back. But still, a token amount was allotted to Salary head. Cost of stationary, Policy, Printing forms etc are even met from the general allotment only. Then how can it be a separate business product? Is there any Profit & loss account separately for RPLI or PLI?

The trust of general public with post offices is now being used for sale of promotion of M/s RML gold coins. Without any efforts, the RML is having 75% of the profit of sale of Gold coin at PO. If the Department would have imported the same from World Gold Council and marketing it through post offices, it will be the real business.

When we are having our own products like PLI, RPLI, we are marketing the ICICI Prudential, UTI etc through Post office. The Postmasters and staff are also fixed with unrealistic targets. The goodwill of Post office was spoiled due to the marketing of UTI Mutual funds after the fall down of share market and gullible public who are relying the Post office curse the officialsstill for such adventure because they made the investment on trust with the post office and the staff.

REVISION OF SPECIAL ALLOWANCE AND CASH HANDLING ALLOWANCE AS ARESULT OF ENHANCEMENT OFDEARNESS ALLOWANCE W.E.F. 1.1.2011

F. No. 4/6/2008-Estt.(Pay II)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pension

Department of Pension & Pensioner's Welfare

Dated 13 th Sep, 2011

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Revision of Special Allowance and Cash Handling Allowance as a result of enhancement of Dearness Allowance w.e.f. 1.1.2011

This Department has been receiving references regarding revision of Special Allowance and Cash Handling Allowance subsequent to increase in the rate of DA @ 51% w.e.f. 1.1.2011.

2. This Department's O.M.No.4/6/2008-Estt.(Pay II) dated 1 st October,2008 states that the rates of Special Allowance and Cash Handling Allowance will beautomatically increased by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance payable on revised pay scales goes up by 50%.

3. All Ministries /Deptts. are, therefore, advised to take necessary action accordingly.

Sd/-

{Mukesh Chaturvedi}

Deputy Secretary to the Govt. ofIndia

NOTICE FOR PENSIONERS (TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1800-11-77-88)

Government of India

Central Pension Accounting Office

Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance

Trikoot-2, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi.

NOTICE FOR PENSIONERS

CPAO has set-up a Toll Free Call Centre for registration and redressal of grievances of all Central Civil Pensioners (Ministries except Railways, P&T, and Defence)

TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1800-11-77-88

You may call at the above number to register any grievance with CPAO and obtain the registration number.

The Toll Free Call Centre will be operational from 9.00 AM to 5.30 PM on all working days.

You may also register your Grievance on the Web-Site www.cpao.nic.in or send it through e-mail at cccpao@nic.in

sd/-

(Ajay S.Singh)

Controller of Accounts

SOURCE- http://www.davp.nic.in/WriteReadData/ADS/eng_15111_2_1112b.pdf

BSNL loose Rs6000 Cr

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has reported a loss of around Rs.6,000 crore in 2010-11, which is up three timescompared to Rs.1,822 crore reported in 2009-10, while its total revenues also declined to Rs.28,876 crore, a dip of around 10 per cent from Rs.32,072 crore.
According to unaudited results of BSNL, the loss for 2010-11 stood at Rs.5,997 crore, mainly due to hefty outgo on employees' salary and expenses borne by the government-owned telecom firm for procuring 3G and BWA spectrum. BSNL paid Rs.18,500 crore for getting 3G and BWA licenses. Notably, BSNL had reported the highest net profit of over Rs.10,000 crore in 2005-06.

UIDAI & Indian banks to create anetwork of 14 lakh Aadhaar-enabled micro ATMs

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning create a network of 14lakh Aadhaar-enabled micro ATMs across the country. While the banks will authorize the transaction, the authentication will be done by UIDAI by biometric association with its database. The micro-ATMs will be more like point-of-sales terminals which will read cards and communicate with the bank's core banking system and the Aadhaar biometric database. The plan is to have at least two micro-ATMs in every village.
The UIDAI is also considering giving unbanked citizens the option to receive a pre-paid payment card issued by banks which can be used for channeling payments from government schemes, including National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
The micro-ATMs, which are to bedeployed by banks, will be manned by business correspondents appointed by banks. These business correspondents will act as mini bank branches by accepting deposits, enabling withdrawals,fund transfer from Aadhaar-to-Aadhaar accounts and providing statement of transactions. The connectivity will be provided by the Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS) – a new electronicpayment network jointly promoted by the National Payment Corporation of India with the UIDAI. Over 60 banks have registered to be part of this network.

UIDAI & Indian banks to create anetwork of 14 lakh Aadhaar-enabled micro ATMs

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning create a network of 14lakh Aadhaar-enabled micro ATMs across the country. While the banks will authorize the transaction, the authentication will be done by UIDAI by biometric association with its database. The micro-ATMs will be more like point-of-sales terminals which will read cards and communicate with the bank's core banking system and the Aadhaar biometric database. The plan is to have at least two micro-ATMs in every village.
The UIDAI is also considering giving unbanked citizens the option to receive a pre-paid payment card issued by banks which can be used for channeling payments from government schemes, including National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
The micro-ATMs, which are to bedeployed by banks, will be manned by business correspondents appointed by banks. These business correspondents will act as mini bank branches by accepting deposits, enabling withdrawals,fund transfer from Aadhaar-to-Aadhaar accounts and providing statement of transactions. The connectivity will be provided by the Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS) – a new electronicpayment network jointly promoted by the National Payment Corporation of India with the UIDAI. Over 60 banks have registered to be part of this network.

SB ORDER 19/2011

SERVICE BOOKS

Maintenance of Service Books

4.1    The rules governing the maintenance of service books in respect of Government servants are contained in the FRs&SRs and the GFRs. Some important provisions of rules which should be kept in view while maintaining service books are mentioned in the ensuing paragraphs.

[SR 197].

4.2    A Service Book should be maintained by the Head of Office for every Government Servant (Gazetted and Non-Gazetted) holding a substantive post on a permanent establishment or officiating in a post or holding a temporary post likely to last for more than one year.

Custody of Service Books

[SR 198].

4.3    A service book shall be maintained for a Government servant from the date of his first appointment to Government service. It must be kept in the custody of the Head of the Office in which he is serving and transferred with him from office to office.

Attestation of Entries in Service Books

[Government of India decision (1) below SR 199 in the Swamy's Compilation of FRs & S Rs, Part 1 (7th Edition)].

4.4    The Head of Office can delegate, to a subordinate gazetted officer under him, powers to attest entries in the service books of all gazetted officers (except his own) for the maintenance of which he is responsible. The Head of Office should however scrutinize at least ten per cent of these documents every year and initial the same in token of having done so.

Entries of Foreign Service in Service Books

[SR 203].

4.5    If a Government servant is transferred to foreign service, the Head of his Office or Department must send his service book to the Pay & Accounts Officer who will return it after noting in it, under his signature, the order sanctioning the transfer, the effect of the transfer in regard to leave admissible during foreign service etc. On the Government servant's re-transfer to Government service his service book must again be sent to the Pay & Accounts Officer who will then note in it the fact of recovery of leave salary and pension contributions. No entry relating to the period spent on foreign service should be attested by any authority other than the PAO. This fact is ,however to be recorded by DDO in case of the merged DDO Scheme.

Leave Account

[Rule 15 of CCS (Leave) Rules].

4.6    A leave account shall be maintained for each Government servant (Gazetted or Non-Gazetted) by the Head of Office. Entries regarding leave in the leave account and the service book should be made distinctly and attested.

Nature of Entries in Service Books

[SR 199].

4.7    Every step in a Government servant's offical life should be recorded in his service book and each entry must be attested by the Head of Office or if he himself is the Head of Office, by his immediate superior. The Head of Office must see that all entries are duly made and attested and that the service book contain no erasure or over-writing, all corrections being neatly made and properly attested.

[Government of India Orders(1) below SR 199 of the "Swamy's Compilation of FRs & SRs (Part 1) (7th Edition)''].

4.8    The entries regarding increments, and fixation of pay should be based on the Increment Certificates, and Pay fixation statements. The declaration of the Government servant electing the new scale of Pay and the statement showing the fixation of his initial pay in the relevant scale in support of the entry in the service book should be pasted in the service book.

[Rule 4 of the LTC Rules].

4.9    The declaration of Home-Town for purpose of Leave Travel Concession duly accepted by the competent authority should be pasted in the service book.

(SR 200].

4.10    Every period of suspension from employment and every other interruption in service must be noted promptly with full details of its duration and be properly attested.

CABINET COMMITTEE APPROVED 7% DEARNESS ALLOWANCE HIKE FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS

The Union Cabinet today approved to increase Dearness Allowance by 7% to Central Government employees.
The rate of Dearness allowance shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 51% to 58%.
Revised rates effective from 1.7.2011.
Finance Ministry will publish detailed Office Memorandum regarding this issue within this month.
The amount of additional instalment of Dearness allowance and the arrears for two months will be paid in cashto all Central Government employees.
This will benefit more than 50 lakh serving employees and 38 lakh pensioners.
This DA hike will be impact in the Transport allowance also, according to the classes of cities(5400 GP and above = Rs.3200 + DA thereon, below 4200 GP = Rs.600 + DA thereon and above 4200 GP = Rs.1600 + DA thereon).
The highest rate of additional Derness allowance of 10% fromJuly, 2010 and the least of these2% from July, 2006.
The calculation of Dearness allowance is with the Pay in thepay band plus Grade Pay multiple with 58% is equal to Revised payment of DA from July, 2011.

Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2010-11

POSTAL / SORTING ASSISTANTS EXAM 2008 SOLVED QUESTION PAPER

POSTAL / SORTING ASSISTANTS EXAM------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(a) All questions carry 2 marks each.There is no negative marking.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(b) All questions have 4 options, out of which onlyone is correct. You have to choose the correctoption.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(c) Your answers have to be marked on the answersheets provided, as instructed

POSTAL / SORTING ASSISTANTS EXAM 2009 SOLVED QUESTION PAPER

RECUIRTMENT TO THE CADRE OF SORTING ASSISTANT/POSTAL ASSISTANT.APTITUTDE TEST- DECEMBER 2009PART 1 –

KNOW INDIA

Some important fact about india

*.India has derived its name from theRiver Indus, and the early settlers here lived in the valleys around.
*. Area wise, India is the 7th largest country in the world.
*. India has the largest democracy in the world.
*. India invented the number system. The scientist Aryabhatta invented the number 'zero'.
*. The study of Algebra and Trigonometry originated in India.

Revised date for LGO Exam 2011 for PA/SA is 15.10.2011Revised dates for IP Examination 2011 are 15.10.2011 and 16.10.2011

Proposal to reduce RD commission from 4% to 1%

The Committee on National Small Savings Fund has observed that 4% commission under Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojna (MPKBY) is very high and is affecting the viability of National Small Savings Fund (NSSF). The committee has recognized that the Recurring Deposit Scheme requires considerable effort on part of agents in mobilising monthly deposits. However, 4% commission is distortionary and expensive. The Committee has recommended that it should be brought down to 1% in a phased manner in a period of three years with a 1% reduction every year.

Post Offices to Provide Visa Related Services In Remote Areas - India Post Signs MOU with M/S VFS Global to this Effect

India Post has signed a Memorandumof Understanding (MOU) with M/s VFSGlobal to provide visa related services for different countries through Post Offices. Memorandum of Understanding between India Postand M/s VFS Global was signed here on 30.08.2011 in the presence of Secretary, Department of Posts and senior officers from Department of Posts and VFS Global. The MOU sets out broad understandings and intentions of both the parties to provide visa related services at places where they are not currently available.
Post Office counters will be used for fee collections, providing visa applications forms, dissemination of visa information, biometric enrollment and other visa applicationprocess related services. India Post and VFS are also planning to cooperate in utilizing India Post’s courier service, Speed Post for movements of passports to VFS offices and concerned embassies, andtheir delivery back to the applicants. Both the parties will also explore to provide any other service that India Post may want to provide through VFS global network on mutually accepted terms.
M/s VFS Global is in the business of visa application services and is working with 35 governments across the world with over 450 offices in 50 countries. India Post andVFS realize that there are many areasof mutual interest and synergy between India Post and VFS would benefit the public at large.
Currently visa related services are largely available in metros only and the people from smaller cities and rural areas have to travel long distances in order to avail these services. Lack of information is also amajor area of concern as this allows unscrupulous elements to cheat unsuspecting and vulnerable people. Engagement of India Post towards provision of visa related services is expected to address this situation to a large extent.

Over Ninety Percent Departmental Post Offices Computerised

Shri Sachin Pilot, the Minister of Statefor Communications and InformationTechnology informed Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question that 24015 (94 per cent) Departmental Post Offices out of 25538 Departmental Post Offices have been supplied with computer hardware. Remaining Departmental Post Offices along with Branch Post Offices will be computerized under the Department’s IT Modernisation Project 2012 to be completed by 2012-13 subject to availability of funds and resources. The reply further stated that there is no project proposal of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh pending before the Ministry for computerization of Post Offices.

NUAKHAI JUHAR

Nuakhai celebrated all over western orissa with great joy.Kalahandipost wish all its readers a happy a prosperous Nuakhai.


ABOUT NUAKHAI

NUAKHAI or NABANNA is a social annual event to celebrate and acknowledge the benevolence of Mother Earth in Western Orissa. Literally NUAKHAI means partaking of the first grains of paddy after harvesting the Kharif crop. This is held on a predetermined auspicious day in the month of Bhadrav corresponding to August- Septemberof the English Calendar.
The significance of this festival lies more in its socio-cultural content rather than its religious orritualistic aspect. NUAKHAI is nearly akin to the Onam Festival of Kerala or the Bhogali Bihu of Assam. Related to the agrarian life and activities of the people of more than ten districts of Western Orissa, NUAKHAI is a prayer for plenty and prosperity, a way of thanksgiving to Mother Earth and the ever benign and bountiful nature. Though it is difficult to trace the origin of this festival, as our collective memory says, in the olden days, this festival was being observed at the behest of the feudal lords in the princely states of Orissa like Sambalpur, Bolangir, Gangpur, Bonai, Bamanda, Kalahandi, Sonepur,Boudh, Attmallik and other smaller tributaries and zamindaries. In each of these states, the ruling houses had their presiding deities. Samaleswari in Sambalpur, Pataneswari in Bolangir, Manikswariin Kalahandi. NUAKHAI in each of these states was being observed according to the “State Almanac”. There was no common day for this culturally contiguous vast area in Western Orissa. But for over a decade now, to bring about uniformity, by common consensus of the people, a predetermined day has been identified for NUAKHAI andthat is the day after Sri Ganesh Chaturthi, the fifth lunar day during the bright fortnight of Bhadrav. This unanimity of a common day has helped people away from home to visit their native places. A single day has been declared as holiday by the State Government of Orissa in the entire state of facilitate grand celebrations.
The Oriya Diaspora, like we in Delhi, do celebrate this festival on a convenient week-end immediately after the Bhadrav Shukla Panchami. Now about the rituals of this festival, Western Orissa is a unique land. The hills, mountains, rivers, dales and fields about with varied flora and fauna. During NUAKHAI nature is worshipped for its bounty. Shakti being the celestial symbol of Mother, during NUAKHAI the first offering of the new crop is offered atthe temple of the village deity like, Samaleswari, Patameswari, Manikeswari at a predetermined auspicious time. The offering is made in leaf-cups or “Dana” made of Sal, Palasa, Tendu or Kurei leaves which are aplenty in the forests of Western Orissa.
NUAKHAI is a festival which has integrated within its fold of rituals elements of the aborigines, the ethnic, the agrarian and the Aryan ways of nature worship. The prince and the pauper, the crown and the commoner, all take the blessed offering in leaf-cups sitting on the ground facing east. The offering is performed by the eldest in the family. Even nuclear families on this occasion come together to partake the offering and participate in the rituals and festivityFrom the temple to home and to the community NUAKHAI embraces all in its fold.
NUAKHAI has influenced the collective psyche of the people of Western Orissa. It has contributed to folklore, folk music and folk culture in almost all the villages. Cultural events are major highlights in the evening of NUAKHAI day with dance,drama, music reverberating in the air, the echoes of which are heard far and wide-even in Delhi.We welcome you all to this joyous celebration, a festival to say thanks to Mother Earth and the bountiful nature to meet members of the families, to greet neighbours and friends and to renew and reinforce the bonds of brotherhood for the years to come.