Fortuitous Vs Non-fortuitous Service

 

Fortuitous Service Vs Non-fortuitous Service

• In Indian Railways, Fortuitous Service and Non-fortuitous Service related to their appointments, promotions, seniority, pension etc.

 

Fortuitous Service:

• Temporary Nature: Refers to service rendered by an employee such as a temporary arrangement or officiating in a higher post for a short period.

• Not Initially Regularized: In many cases, fortuitous service is not initially counted towards benefits like seniority, promotions, or pension. The service may later be regularized if the employee is formally appointed or confirmed in the post through a proper selection process.

Non-fortuitous Service:

• Planned or Regular in Nature: Non-fortuitous service refers to regular as part of their substantive appointment.

• Fully Countable: Countable for Seniority, promotions, Pension etc. 

 Fortuitous Vs Non-fortuitous

Fortuitous Service	Non-fortuitous Service
Temporary	Regular
Officiating / Ad hoc	Substantive
Not counted for benefits such as Seniority, Promotion, Pension etc.	Counted for benefits such as Seniority, Promotion, Pension etc.

Railway Quarters - Retention Policy 2024

 

Railway Quarters - Retention Policy

Source: RBE 87/2024 dated 06.06.2024 - Click here

Features: 

• Transfers to unpopular locations:  Employees transferred on administrative grounds to unpopular locations can retain their quarters at the previous posting location if their children are in Class 6th to post-graduation, or their spouse is a permanent government employee in the same city.

 

• Preferential Allotment: Upon completing two years at unpopular locations, employees are eligible for preferential quarter allotment at the new posting location within six months.

 

• Posted to Difficult Projects: Employees posted to difficult project areas can retain their quarters at the previous posting location until project completion or the end of their tenure.

 

• For DRMs: Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) can retain quarters if children are in school (Class 6th to post-graduation) or their spouse works in the same city.

 

• On Permanent Transfer: Quarters can be retained for 8 months after a permanent transfer, extendable by 3 months in special cases.

 

• On Deputation: Railway staff on deputation to Central Ministries or eligible organizations may retain their quarters until they are allotted General Pool Residential Accommodation.

 

• On Medical Grounds: Quarters can be retained on medical grounds under certain conditions.

 

• For Retirement and Other Special Cases: Policies for retention beyond superannuation, voluntary retirement, and other specific scenarios, such as study leave and deputation abroad, are outlined.

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DCRG - Death Cum Retirement Gratuity

 DCRG - Death Cum Retirement Gratuity

> With effect from 1st January 2024 .

> Maximum DCRG - Death cum Retirement Gratuity - Rs. 25 Lakhs (from Rs. 20 Lakhs)

(Due to increasing of DA - Dearness Allowance from 46% to 50%)

Risk Allowance - Establishment Rules

 

Risk Allowance - Establishment Rules 

• Source: 1. RBE No. 30/2021 dated 13.04.2021 

             2. DOPT OM No.A-27018/02/2022-Estt.(AL) dated 02.09.2022 

• Admissible for: The employees who engaged in hazardous duties or whose work will have a deleterious (harmful, injurious or hurtful) effect on health over a period of time 

• 7th CPC (Central Pay Commission) Revised Rates - Admissible w.e.f., 03.11.2020 

• Revised Rates are: 

SN	Category	Revised Rates (Per Month)
1	Unskilled	Rs. 90
2	Semi-skilled	Rs. 135
3	Skilled	Rs. 180
4	Supervisors	Rs. 225

Note: Considering the circumstances workers are experiencing the consequences, the above rates are meager/scanty/negligible. 

• Risk Allowance   - Will not be treated as “Pay” for any purpose.  

• The categories who are in receipt of HPCA/PCA   - Not eligible for grant of Risk Allowance 

• HPCA stands for Hospital Patient Care Allowance 

• PCA stands for Patient Care Allowance

• Proposal for inclusion of any new category fulfilling the criteria: 

• Proposed by the concerned Ministry 

• In consultation with the associate Finance 

• & DOPT - Dept Of Personnel & Training 

• Also be consult the Staff side of the Departmental Council (JCM - Joint Consultative Machinery)

•  Periodical medical check-ups of the staff exposed to risk in their job to ensure their good health.  

• A list of categories/staff comes under the eligibility of Risk Allowance. Staff engaged in: 

1. Spray painting   

2. Galvanizing tanks, Effluent Treatment plants, insulation components 

3. Electrolytes 

4. Metallic dust, fumes, furnace, carbon burst shops 

5. Melting shops in all foundries where scrap is used 

6. Moulding shop in RWF/Bangalore 

7. Chrome plating 

8. Safaiwala in underground drains/sewer pipes, cleaning of manholes 

9. Safaiwala in sewerage treatment plant in Workshops

10. Spraying pesticides, handling acids, anti-larval drugs, etc. 

11. Chest clinic staff 

12. X-Ray attendants 

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APA - Additional Post Allowance

 

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: 

1. APA stands for Additional Post Allowance 

2. DCA stands for Dual Charge Allowance 

3. New allowance APA is introduced in place of the abolished DCA 

4. Nodal Dept for Establishment matters - DOPT 

5. DOPT stands for Department Of Personnel & Training 

6. With effect from 1st July 2017 

7. APA = Difference between Present Basic Pay and Higher Basic Pay or 10% of Present Basic Pay whichever is more 

8. APA plus Present Basic Pay - Does not exceed the Apex Pay i.e., Rs.2,25,000 

9. Additional charge duration - At Least 45 days 

10. No APA:  Holding an additional post in Lower Grade or holding current charge or the routine duties of an additional post. 

11. Post - Not more than One year 

12. Employee - Not more than Six months

13. The gap between two successive appointments of a particular employee - Minimum One year 

14. GM Powers - SAG Posts - up to 3 months and JAG posts - up to 6 months. 

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Dearness Allowance & Dearness Relief - Difference between

                                                          

   

DEARNESS ALLOWANCE - Employees 

1. Dearness Allowance (DA) is granted to employees to meet the increased cost of living due to inflation.

2. The rate of DA is decided based on the CPI-IW  Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (All India)- prepared by the Labour Ministry 

3. DA is calculated on the Basic pay of the employee.

4. Every year DA rates will be revised TWO times i.e. on 1st January and 1st July.

5. A fraction of 50 paise is ignored and more than 50 paise is rounded off to the next higher rupee.

6. In the case of Running staff, DA is calculated on Basic Pay + 30% of Basic pay.

7. In the case of Railway Doctors, DA is calculated on Basic Pay + 20% of Basic Pay.

8. The present rate of DA is 46% with effect from 01.07.2023. 

DEARNESS RELIEF - Pensioners  

1. Dearness Relief (DR) is paid on pension/Family pension.

2. It is calculated on the Basic Pension of the employee.

3. Every year DR rates will be revised TWO times i.e. on 1st January and 1st July.

4. The present rate of DR is 46% with effect from 01.07.2023. 

Questions:

1. What DA is granted to the Government employees?

2. The rate of DA is revised based on…………………………………………….

3. How many times is DA revised annually? 

4. In the case of Running staff, DA is calculated on Basic Pay + 30% of Basic pay.

5. In the case of Railway Doctors, DA is calculated on Basic Pay + 20% of Basic Pay.

6. What is the present DA/DR with effect from 01.07.2023?

7. To whom Dearness Relief is paid?

Answer:

1. To meet the increased cost of living due to inflation.

2. Consumer Price Index -Industrial Workers (All India) - prepared by the Labour Ministry

3. Twice.  On 1st January & 1 st July

4. 30%

5. 20%

6. 46%

7. To the pensioners and family Pensioners 

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