APA - Additional Post Allowance
Source: Para 645 to 650 of IREM Volume I, RBA 128 of 2018 & RBE 08 of 2023
APA stands for Additional Post Allowance
New allowance APA Introduced in place of abolished DCA - Dual Charge Allowance - Based on recommendation of Committee on Allowances of 7th Pay Commission
Detailed guidelines for grant of APA in consultation with the Nodal dept of DOP&T - Department Of Personnel & Training.
With effect from 01.07.2017
APA in Higher Post: Difference of existing Basic Pay and and Basic Pay in Higher Post or 10% of his present Basic pay per month whichever is more. But subject to the sum total of present Basic Pay and APA does not exceed the Apex Pay i.e., Rs.2,25,000 /-
Practical Example:
Example: Basic Pay in Present Post - Rs.1,00,000/- Basic Pay in Higher Post - Rs. 1,20,000 /-. Calculation of APA is as follows:
Difference of Present Pay and Higher Pay - Rs.1,20,000 minus Rs.1,00,000 = Rs.20,000
10% of Present Pay - 10/100 x Rs.1,00,000 = Rs.10,000
Hence APA is Rs.20,000 (which is more beneficial to the Officer than Rs.10,000)
However it is to ensure that the Present Basic Pay Rs.1,00,000 plus APA Rs.20,000 = Rs.1,20,000 does not exceed the Apex Pay i.e., Rs.2,25,000. If it is exceeds, the APA is limited to the total of above calculation i.e., Rs.2,25,000
Similar Post: If the Additional Post is at a similar level as his own post, the APA is 10% of the Present Basic Pay subject to the sum total of Basic Pay plus APA does not exceed the Apex Pay i.e.Rs.2,25,000 Per Month.
Lower Post: No APA
APA is admissible: If the duration of the additional charge exceeds 45 days only
NO APA: An employee appointed to hold the current charge or the routine duties of an additional post, irrespective of the duration of the current charge.
Additional Post arrangement:
Particular vacant post: Not more than One year
Particular Employee: Not more than Six Months
The gap between two successive appointments of a particular employee: Minimum of One year
GM powers to grant APA
Up to JAG - Maximum period of 6 months
SAG - Maximum period of 3 months
For SAG posts - Beyond 3 months, a full justification for the arrangement and the recommendation of PFA should be submitted to the Railway Board for obtaining the sanction.
If Additional charge of two posts with Hqrs at different stations - The officer may be allowed the TA/DA as may be separately admissible in addition to APA. However, the two posts are mutually independent and are meant for different purposes.
The APA will count for the purpose of Pension and other Retirement benefits
Key points for MCQ:
APA stands for Additional Post Allowance
DCA stands for Dual Charge Allowance
New allowance APA is introduced in place of the abolished DCA
Nodal Dept for Establishment matters - DOPT
DOPT stands for Department Of Personnel & Training
With effect from 1st July 2017
APA = Difference between Present Basic Pay and Higher Basic Pay or 10% of Present Basic Pay whichever is more
APA plus Present Basic Pay - Does not exceed the Apex Pay i.e., Rs.2,25,000
Additional charge duration - At Least 45 days
No APA: Holding an additional post in Lower Grade or holding current charge or the routine duties of an additional post.
Post - Not more than One year
Employee - Not more than Six months
The gap between two successive appointments of a particular employee - Minimum One year
GM Powers - SAG Posts - up to 3 months and JAG posts - up to 6 months.
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