Struggling to meet the deadline of introducing a much awaited tax reforms bill, the Cabinet is likely to consider the Direct Taxes Code on Thursday, a move aimed at rationalising rates and improving tax compliance.

A proposal is before the Union Cabinet for consideration and passage of the DTC Bill, a source told PTI.

The government plans to introduce DTC, which will replace the archaic Income Tax Act, from next fiscal. The government is, however, unlikely to meet the deadline for introduction of yet another important piece of tax reforms - the Goods and Services Tax.

If introduced in the monsoon session that ends on August 31, the DTC Bill is expected to be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee on finance and may be passed during the winter session to make the reforms effective from the deadline -- April 1, next year.

Source: PTI

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The Cabinet today approved the extension of the Probable Date of Completion (PDC) of Married Accommodation Project Phase-I from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2010. Approval has also been accorded for increase in cost from Rs.5,329.73 crore for construction of 58,391 Dwelling Units (DUs) sanctioned earlier to Rs.6,032.70 crore for construction of 57,875 DUs to be constructed in Phase-I. A total of 48,350 DUs have already been constructed and the remaining units will be completed by December 2010.

The Cabinet also gave its approval to advancing construction of additional 3,265 DUs at an estimated cost of Rs.489 crore from Phase-III to MAP Phase-II thus increasing the number to 69,992 at an estimated cost of Rs.13681.90 crore. Commencement of MAP Phase-III for construction of balance 71,014 DUs was also approved by Cabinet.

Source : PIB

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The number of ex-servicemen as on date in the country, statewise is as under:-

Sl No.	State	Number of Ex-Servicemen
1	Andhra Pradesh	72801
2	Arunachal Pradesh	1148
3	Assam	42722
4	Bihar	106997
5	Chandigarh	375
6	Chhatisgarh	1677
7	Dadra Nagar Haveli	8
8	Delhi	16887
9	Goa Daman & Diu	424
10	Gujarat	24433
11	Haryana	217528
12	Himachal Pradesh	110508
13	Jammu & Kashmir	95282
14	Jharkhand	11692
15	Karnataka	65448
16	Kerala	138114
17	Madhya Pradesh	52596
18	Maharastra	170431
19	Manipur	7656
20	Meghalaya	3041
21	Mizoram	3723
22	Nagaland	4677
23	Orissa	34342
24	Pondicherry	1153
25	Andaman & Nicobar	823
26	Lakshadweep	47
27	Punjab	306743
28	Rajasthan	167175
29	Sikkim	911
30	Tamil Nadu	129718
31	Tripura	2257
32	Uttar Pradesh	300643
33	Uttarakhand	98326
34	West Bengal	70399
	Total	2260705

The details of schemes being implemented for the welfare, rehabilitation and resettlement of ex-servicemen is as under:

Training

Ex-Servicemen are given training to prepare them for civilian life. Directorate General Resettlement is entrusted with the responsibility of preparing both-Ex-Servicmen and retiring service personnel for second carrier. Towards this end Officers and PBORs are given resettlement training at IIMs and various other institutes across the country.

Self Employment

The following self-employment schemes are operated for the welfare of officers and PBORs Ex-Servicemen:

(i) Security agencies.

(ii)Allotment of surplus army vehicles.

(iii) Coal Transportation Scheme.

(iv) Allotment of oil product agencies.

(v)Coal Tipper scheme.

(vi)Allotment of BPCL GHAR outlets.

(vii)Mother Dairy Milk and Fruits and Vegetables shops.

(viii)Management of CNG station by ESM officers in NCR.

(ix) Management of Toll Plaza under NHAI.

Financial Assistance

(i)Treatment of serious ailments

(ii)Supply of modified scooters for ESM paraplegics

(iii)Tools kits for ESM technician

(iv)Financial assistance for needy ESM for house repair, daughters marriage, children education etc.

Prime Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme

4000 scholarships are awarded every year to the wards of ex-servicemen to pursue technical and professional course.

Funds for maintenance of paraplegic rehabilitation centres, Cheshire home and St. Dustan aftercare organisation and war memorial hostels.

Besides the above the following benefits are also available to Ex-servicemen:-

(i) Tuition fee exemption for wards of war widows/war disable ex-Servicemen.

(ii) Allotment of medical / BDS seats to wards of defence personnel

(iii) Reservation in State Government jobs and in professional colleges for wards of ESM/widows.

(iv) Reservation in allotment of house sites/flats.

(v) Cash incentives for winners of gallantry awards.

(vi) Exgratia grant to war widows.

(vii) Concession in fare for rail and air to recipients of gallantry awards, permanently disabled officers and war widows.

(viii) Legal assistance and exemption of court fee

(ix) 10 to 24.5 % reservation in Group C and D posts in Central and State Government, PSUs, nationalized banks and paramilitary forces.

Medical Facility:

Along with the above benefit 100 % medical coverage is provided to ex-servicemen pensioners through Ex-Service Contributory health Scheme (ECHS), who are members of the scheme.

State-wise details of beneficiaries/expenditure are not maintained, however during the last three years 4326 officers, 83079 PBORs and 2998 Ex-Servicemen were trained for resettlement. In addition 1,17,779 Ex-Servicemen were provided employment during this period through Directorate General Resettlement. The expenditure for resettlement and welfare during the last three years is Rs. 100.18 crores. Moreover, Rs. 2009.77 crores was spent on medical treatment of Ex-Servicemen and their dependents.

The amount for rehabilitation of Ex-Servicemen is based on the yearly requirement as projected by the implementing agencies. Ex-Servicemen are getting appropriate placements.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Harishchandra Chavan in Lok Sabha today.

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In order to ensure complete transparency in allotment of General Pool residential accommodation, faster rotation of housing stock and to provide more convenience to the applicants, an Automated System of Allotment (ASA) has been launched by the Directorate of Estates.Allotments as per this system would be fully automated, online and based on the preferences for specific houses indicated by the applicants.

The Secretary, Urban Development Dr. M.Ramachandran made the first allotted of houses in Type VI (A) (C-II) through the Automated System here today in a function held at Nirman Bhawan. Launching the new system, Dr.Ramachandran said it is a milestone initiative to bring transparency and best practices in the official working.

The Directorate of Estates would introduce Automated System of Allotment for other type of houses in phases. Allotment of Type V (B) (D-I) will be introduced by July and Types V (A) (D-II) & IV (Spl.) houses by August this year.

Schedule for implementation of ASA in respect of other types of houses will be finalized soon.

HOW AUTOMATED SYSTEM OF ALLOTMENT OPERATES

All applications for allotment of houses will be accepted “on-line” only. For this purpose every applicant will have to create his/her account and fill up the required application form by following the instructions on the screen.

• After completing the process on-line, the applicant will have to take a printout of his/her application along with account details etc. and get it officially forwarded from his/her office to the Directorate of Estates for activation of his/her account.

• On receipt of the paper application duly forwarded by the controlling office of the applicant, his/her account will be activated by sending him/her a Registration Number (which will work as his/her ID) and a pass-word through SMS and/or e-mail.

Once the applicant has received his/her registration number and Login password through SMS/e-mail, then he/she will be able to operate his/her account and make required changes in his/her preferences/ choices etc. as and when required on-line.

All the existing applicants will also be sent their Login ID and password through SMS/e-mail to enable them to operate their accounts on-line.

Both existing applicants as well as new applicants will have to indicate their choices/preferences for houses as per the drop-down menu on the screen.

All the houses falling vacant during the month i.e. till 30th/31st of the month would be displayed category-wise and pool-wise on the website of the Directorate of Estates (www.estates.nic.in) for allotment in the subsequent months. The list of vacant houses available for allotment as well as the Waiting List as on the last day of the month will remain frozen during the period from 1st to 9th of the month.

Applicants have to make one of the following three options from 1st to 9th of the month:-

• To choose particular house(s) in order of applicant’s preference, out of the list of houses available for allotment as listed in the website. No need to restrict the preference to the localities/floors restricted earlier for allotment.

• To give option for allotment of any house as per the localities/floors restricted earlier for allotment. The localities/floors can also be modified.

• To exercise the option of “not interested in any house currently available for allotment”. (This would also be the default choice in case applicant does not give any choice).

Choice of specific houses can be made or modified from 9.00 a.m. on the 1st of the month to 5.00 p.m. on 9th of the month.

Allotment of houses as per choices/preferences of applicant will be made on 10th of each month only for those applicants whose accounts have been activated in the preceding or earlier months.

An applicant will be allotted a particular house chosen by him if nobody senior to him in the waiting list has opted for the same.

The concept of technical acceptance will be done away with.

Applicants will not be eligible for more than two allotments in each category of house.

After having opted for a particular house and having been allotted the same, the applicant will have to necessarily accept the allotment. In the event of non-acceptance, the applicant will be debarred for further allotment for a period of one year

Source : PIB

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Advance Amount for Government Employees

Government Employees get advance amount for the following purposes:

There are two types of allowances available..
1. Interest Free Advance
2. Interest based Advances.

1. Interest-free Advances:

1. Advance of Pay on transfer.
2. Leave Salary Advance.
3. Advance of LTC.
4. Advance of T.A. on tour / transfer / retirement.
5. Advance of T.A. to the family of a deceased Government servant.
6. Advance for purchase of bicycle / warm clothing.
7. Advance in connection with medical treatment.
8. Festival Advance.
9. Advance in the event of natural calamity like flood, drought, cyclone, etc.
10. Advance on first appointment / deputation and leave ex-India.
11. Advance in connection with legal proceedings.
12. Advance for training in Hindi through Correspondence Course.

2. Interest-based Advances:

1. Advance for purchase of Personal Computer.
2. Advance to Postal and RMS Inspectors for purchase of typewriter.
3. Advance for purchase of conveyance, i.e., motor car, motor cycle/ moped, scooter.
4. Advance for construction / purchase of house / flat / enlargement of living accommodation.

Note : Rates of interest are prescribed for each financial year for Items 1 to 3 and periodically for Item 4.

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PAN Card is Now Mandatory

PAN stands for Permanent Account Number is a 10 digit alphanumeric number.




It is mandatory to quote PAN on return of income, all correspondence with any income tax authority. From 1 January 2005 it will be mandatory to quote PAN on challans for any payments due to Income Tax Department. -

It is also compulsory to quote PAN in all documents pertaining to financial transactions notified from time-to-time by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. Some such transactions are sale and purchase of immovable property or motor vehicle or payments in cash, of amounts exceeding Rs. 25,000/-to hotels and restaurants or in connection with travel to any foreign country. It is also mandatory to mention PAN for obtaining a telephone or cellular telephone connection. Likewise, PAN has to be mentioned for making a time deposit exceeding Rs. 50,000/- with a Bank or Post Office or depositing cash of Rs. 50,000/- or more in a Bank.

You can apply PAN Card through online or apply through Axis Bank directly

Apply Online : http://www.utitsl.co.in/utitsl/uti/newapp/new-pan-application.jsp

To download PAN Application Form : Click Here

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