No.45/3/2008 .•P&PW (F)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,

Khan Market, New Delhi-11 0003.

Dated'~ November, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Special benefits in cases of death and disability in service - Revision of Disability Pension/Family pension of Pre-2006 disability pensioners/ Family Pensioners - regarding.

1.    The undersigned is directed to say that the pension of pensioners/family
pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension as on 1.1.2006 under the
CCS(EOP) Rules was to be revised in accordance with Department of Pension &
Pensioners' Welfare OM NO.38/37/2008-P&P&W(A) dated 1.9.2008. Accordingly,
instructions were issued vide this Department OM of even number dated 30th
September 2010 for extension of benefits of modified parity to past pensioners' for
revision of disability pension/family pension covered under CCS(EOP) Rules.

2. Further,orders were issued vide this Department's OM No.38/37/2008-P&PW(A)
dated 28th January, 2013 for further stepping up of normal pension/family pension to
50%/30% of the sum of minimum pay in the pay band and grade pay corresponding
to the pre-revised pay scales from which the pensioner had retired, as arrived at with
reference to the fitment table annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of
Expenditure OM NO.1/1!2008-IC dated 30th August 2008. The question of extending .
this benefit to pre-2006 disability pensioner/family pensioner covered under the
Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules has been under the
consideration of the Government. It has now been decided that the pension/family
pension of pre-2006 disability pensioners/family pensioners covered under
CCS(EOP) Rules would be further stepped up as under:-

I. Family Pension for Categories B & C

(a) Where the deceased Government servant was not holding a pensionable post:
40% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay (in the case of
below HAG scale)! minimum Basic pay in the revised Scale of Pay (in the
case of HAG and above) applicable from 1.1.2006 corresponding to the
scale of pay last held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the
fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of
Expenditure, OM No. 1/1!2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 subject to a
minimum of Rs.4550!-- 2-

(b) Where the deceased Government servant was holding a pensionable post:
60% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay (in the case of
below HAG scale )/ minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay (in
case of HAG and above) applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the
scale of pay last held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the
fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of
Expenditure, OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 subject to a
minimum of Rs.7.000/-

In case where the widow dies or remarries, the children shall be paid family
pension at the rates mentioned at (a) or (b) above, as applicable, and the
same rate shall also apply to fatherless/motherless children. In both cases,
family pension shall be paid to children for the period during which they would
have been eligible for family pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules.
Dependent parents/brothers/sisters etc. shall be paid family pension one-half
the rate applicable to widows/fatherless or motherless children.

II. Family Pension under Categories D & E

Family pension shall be calculated as the minimum of Pay in the Pay Band
plus Grade Pay and minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay (in case
of HAG and above) applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of
pay last held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment
tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM
No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008.

(a) If the Government servant is not survived by his widow but is survived by
child/children only, all children together shall be eligible for family pension at
the rate of 60% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay and
minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay( in case of HAG and above)
applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the
employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated
30th August, 2008 subject to a minimum of Rs. 7000/-

(b) When the Government servant dies as a bachelor or as a widower without
children, dependent pension will be admissible to parent without reference to
pecuniary circumstances, at the rate of 75% of minimum of Pay in the Pay
Band plus Grade Pay and minimum Basic Pay in the revised scale of pay(in
case of HAG and above) applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the
scale of pay last held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the
fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure,
OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008, if both parents are alive, and at
the rate of 60% if only one of them is alive.- 3-

III. Disability Pension for Categories B & C

(a) Disability pension would comprise of a service element equal to 50% of
minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay (in the case of below
HAG scale)/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale (in case of HAG and
above) applicable from 1-1-2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last
held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables
annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No.
1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008, to be reduced proportionately, if the
employee did not have required qualifying service for full pension, plus
disability element equal to 30% of the same basic pay, for 100% disability.

(b) For disability less than 100%, disability element shall be reduced
proportionately. In cases of disability pension where permanent disability is not
less than 60%, the disability pension (i.e. total of service element plus
disability element) shall not be less than 60% of the minimum of pay in the Pay
Band plus Grade Pay ( below HAG scale) or the minimum basic pay in the
revised Scale of pay (in case of HAG and above) corresponding to the scale of
pay last held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables
annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No.
1/1/2008-IC dated so" August, 2008 , subject to a minimum of Rs. 7000/- per
month.

IV. Disability Pension for Category D

(a) Disability pension would comprise of a service element equal to 50% of
minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay ( in the case of below HAG
scale)/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay (in case of HAG and
above) applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held
by the employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to
the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No. 1/1/2008-IC
dated so" August, 2008, subject to proportionate reduction in case his
qualifying service up to the deemed date of retirement falls short of full
qualifying service and disability element equal to 30% of the same minimum of
Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay (in the case of below HAG
scale)/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay ( in the case of HAG
and above) as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated
30th August, 2008 subject to the condition that the aggregate of service and
disability element shall not be less than 80% of the minimum of Pay in the Pay
Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay, in case of HAG and above,
applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the
employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables annexed to the
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated
so" August, 2008 for 100% disability.

(b) For lower percentage of the disability, proportionate reduction would be made
in disability element as provided in OM dated 3.2.2000 as amended vide O.M.
No.45/3/2008-P&PW (F) dated 18.11.2008- 4-
V. Disability Pension for Cases under CategoryE

(a) Disability pension would comprise of a service element equal to 50% of
minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay (in the case of below HAG
scale or the minimum Basic pay in the revised Scale of pay (in case of HAG
and above) applicable from 1-1-2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last
held by the employee as arrived at with reference to the fitment tables
annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, OM No.
1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 subject to proportionate reduction in case
his qualifying service upto deemed date of retirement falls short of full
qualifying service and disability element equal to the same minimum of pay in
the Pay Band plus Grade Pay ( in the cases of below HAG scale) or the
minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay (in case of HAG and above)
corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, as arrived at with
reference to the fitment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department
of Expenditure, OM No. 1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 for 100%
disability.

(b) For lower percentage of the disability, proportionate reduction would be made
in disability element as provided in OM dated 3.2.2000 as amended vide O.M.
NO.45/3/2008-P&PW (F) dated 18.11.2008.

3. In the case of Disability pension/Family pension calculated as per para 4.1 of
OM NO.38/37/2008-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008 is higher than the disability
pension/family pension calculated in the manner indicated above, the same (higher
consolidated disability pension/family pension) will continue to be treated as basic
disability pension/family pension.

4. These orders shall take effect from 24.9.2012. There will be no change in the
amount of revision disability pension/family pension paid during the period 1.1.2006 to
23.9.2012, and, therefore, no arrears will be payable on account of these orders for
that period.

5. All other terms and conditions in the O.M. dated 3.2. 2000, as amended vide
O.M. No.45/3/2008-P&PW (F) dated 18.11. 2008 and 30.09.2010 shall remain
unchanged.

6. This issues with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance, Department of
Expenditure, vide their 10 No.481/EV/2014 dated 3.9.20145-

7. In so far as persons belonging to the Indian Audit & Accounts Department, these
orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

8 All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the contents of these orders to
the notice of Controller of Accounts/Pay and Accounts Officers and Attached and
subordinate Offices under them on a top priority basis. All pension disbursing officers
are also advised to prominently display these orders on their notice boards for the
benefits of disability pensioners/family pensioners.

8. Hindi version will follow.

(Tripti P Ghosh)

Director

Tele: 24624802

To

All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India as per standard
distribution list.
Copy to President's Secretariat, Vice President's Secretariat, Prime Minister's
Office, Cabinet Secretariat, Supreme Court of India, C&AG, UPSC, etc. as per
standard endorsement list.

Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2015

Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2015

Most Immediate

F.No.12/5/2014-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel and Training)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 6th June, 2014

Office Memorandum

Subject: Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2015.

It has been decided that the holidays as specified in the Annexure -I to this O.M. will be observed in all the Administrative Offices of the Central Government located at Delhi/New Delhi during the year 2015. In addition, each employee will also be allowed to avail himself/herself of any two holidays to be chosen by him/her out of the list of Restricted Holidays in Annexure – II

2. Central Government Administrative Offices located outside Delhi / New Delhi shall observe the following holidays compulsorily in addition to three holidays as per para 3.1 below:

1. REPUBLIC DAY
2. INDEPENDENCE DAY
3. MAHATMA GANDHI’S BIRTHDAY
4. BUDDHA PURNIMA
5. CHRISTMAS DAY
6. DUSSEHRA (VIJAY DASHMI)
7. DIWALI (DEEPAVALI)
8. GOOD FRIDAY
9. GURU NANAK’S BIRTHDAY
10. IDU’L FITR
11. IDU’L ZUHA
12. MAHAVIR JAYANTI
13. MUHARRAM
14. PROPHET MOHAMMAD’S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)

3.1. In addition to the above 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays shall be decided from the list indicated below by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals, if necessary, in consultation with Coordination Committees at other places in the State. The final list applicable uniformly to all Central Government offices within the concerned State shall be notified accordingly and no change can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates as indicated.

1. AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR DUSSEHRA
2. HOLI
3. JANAMASHTAMI (VAISHNAVI)
4. RAM NAVAMI
5. MAHA SHIVRATRI
6. GANESH CHATURTHI / VINAYAK CHATURTHI
7. MAKAR SANKARANTI
8. RATH YATRA
9. ONAM
10. PONGAL
11. SRI PANCHAMI / BASANT PANCHAMI
12. VISHU/ VAISAIKHI / VAISAKHADI / BAHAG BIHU / MASHADI UGADI / CHAITRA SUKLADI / CHETI CHAND / GUDI PADAVA 1st NAVRATRA / NAUROZ/ CHHATH POOJA/ KARVA CHAUTH.

3.2 No substitute holiday should be allowed if any of the festival holidays initially declared subsequently happens to fall on a weekly off or any other non¬working day or in the event of more than one festivals falling on the same day.

4. The list of Restricted Holidays appended to this O.M. is meant for Central Government Offices located in Delhi / New Delhi. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals may draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance but the 9 occasions left over, after choosing the 3 variable holidays in para 3.1 above, are to be included in the list of restricted holidays.

5.1 For offices in Delhi / New Delhi, any change in the date of holidays in respect of Idu’l Fitr, Idu’l Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad, if necessary, depending upon sighting of the Moon, would be declared by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions after ascertaining the position from the Govt. of NCT of Delhi (DCP, Special Branch, Delhi Police).

5.2 For offices outside Delhi / New Delhi, the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committees at the State Capitals are authorised to change the date of holiday, if necessary, based on the decision of the concerned State Governments / Union Territories, in respect of Fitr, Zuha, Muharram and Id-e-Milad.

5.3 It may happen that the change of date of the above occasions has to be declared at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement could be made through P.I.B. /T.V. / A.I.R. / Newspapers and the Heads of Departments/ Offices of the Central Government may take action according to such an announcement without waiting for a formal order about the change of date.

6. During 2015, Diwali (Deepavali) falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 (Kartika 01). In certain States, the practice is to celebrate the occasion a day in advance, i.e., on “Narakachaturdasi Day”. In view of this, there is no objection if holiday on account of Deepavali is observed on “Naraka Chaturdasi Day (in place of Deepavali Day) for the Central Government Offices in a State if in that State, that day alone is declared as a compulsory holiday for Diwali for the offices of the State Government.

7. Central Government Organisations which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments would observe up to 16 holidays in a year including three national holidays viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, as compulsory holidays. The remaining holidays / occasions may be determined by such establishments / organisations themselves for the year 2015, subject to para 3.2 above.

8. Union Territory Administrations shall decide the list of holidays in terms of instructions issued in this regard by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

9. In respect of Indian Missions abroad, the number of holidays may be notified in accordance with the instructions contained in this Department’s O.M. No.12/5/2002-JCA dated 17th December, 2002. In other words, they will have the option to select 9(Nine) holidays of their own only after including in the list, three National Holidays and Milad-Un-Nabi or Id-E-Milad, Rama Navami, Id-ul-Fitr, Janamashtami and Muharram included in the list of compulsory holidays and falling on day of weekly off.

10. In respect of Banks, the holidays shall be regulated in terms of the extant instructions issued by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.

11. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(Ashok Kumar)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)

Source: www.persmin.gov.in

Payments on the basis of Life Certificate Defence Pensioners

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Important Circular No.176

Dated: 17.11.2014

Subject: Payments on the basis of Life Certificate

Provisions regarding payment of pension to defence pensioner/family pensioners on the basis of Life Certificates are provided in Defence Pension Payment Instructions 2013.

2. As per the extant procedure, pensioner who does not appear in person for one or other reasons can produce a Life Certificate as in Form No. 5 of Appendix 11 to DPPI 2013 from one of the authorities mentioned at items I to XIX of para 69 of ibid Instructions during the month of November every year. Similar provisions are available in Scheme for payment of pensions of Defence Pensioners by Public Sector Banks. This causes hardship particularly to those who are aged and/or infirm Pensioners. Besides, the existing system is prone to misuse by way of fraudulent withdrawls causing loss to the exchequer.

3. To overcome above causes /situation, the Department of Electronics & IT, Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India has developed “Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate” Portal (jeevanpramaan.gov.in).

4. In view of the above, it has been decided that with immediate effect a Life Certificate issued online by a Government Agency as a result of Aadhaar Biometric Authentication will also be accepted as a valid certificate. This document may be accessed through a website ( to be notified separately) by the Pension Disbursing Agency without insisting either on personal appearance of the pensioner or Life Certificate by the competent authority referred above.

No. AT/Tech/ 30/XVI
Dated: 17.11.2014

(B.Mukhopadhyay)
ACDA (P)

Download Circular No.176 / 17.11.2014

Family Pension and gratuity to the eligible member of the family of an employee / pensioner / family pensioner reported missing – Consolidated Instructions

No. 1(1)/2010-D(Pension/Policy)

Government of India,

Ministry of Defence.

Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi, the 23 December

To

The Chief of the Army Staff,

The Chief of the Naval Staff,

The Chief of the Air Staff,

Subject : Grant of Family Pension and gratuity to the eligible member of the family of an employee / pensioner / family pensioner reported missing- consolidated instructions regarding.

Sir,

The Provisions for grant of Ordinary family pension and DCRG to the eligible members of families of the deceased Armed Forces Personnel/Pensioners are contained in AI 51/80 and AI 8/S/70 as modified from the time to time. The instructions regarding grant of family pension and gratuity to the eligible member of the Family of an Armed Forces Personnel/Pensioner reported missing have been issued vide this Ministry’s letter No 12(16)86/D (Pen/Ser) dated 03.06.1988 and No 12(16)/86/ D(Pen/Ser) dated 23.03.1992. Clarifications/ amendments in this regard have also been issued vide letter No. 12(16)/85/D (Pen/Ser) dated 26.08.1993, letter No.1(1)/2010/D (Pen/Pol) dated 15.02.2011 and MoD letter No. 1(1)/2012/D (Pen/Pol) dated 05.06.2013.

2. It has now been decided to issue consolidated instructions in supersession of previous instructions as mentioned above regarding grant of family pension to the eligible members of family of the Armed Forces Personnel / Pensioner/ family pensioner reported missing and whose whereabouts are not known. It includes those kidnapped by insurgents/terrorists but does not include those who disappear after committing frauds/crime/desertion etc.

3. In the case of a missing Armed Forces Personnel/pensioner/family pensioner, the family can apply for the grant of family pension, amount of salary due, leave encashment due and the amount of DSOP/AFPP fund and gratuity (whatever has not already been received) to the IHQ/Record office concerned, where the officers and JCOs/Ors in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force, had last served, six months after lodging of police report. The family pension and/ or retirement gratuity may be sanctioned by the respective Pension Sanctioning Authority’s (PSAs) after observing the following formalities:-

(i) The family must lodge a report with the concerned Police station and obtain a report from the police, that the Armed Forces Personnel/Pensioner/ family pensioner has not been traced despite all efforts made by them. The report may be a First Information report or any other report such as a Daily Diary / General Diary Entry, filled by the Police authorities concerned, as per the practice prevalent in the state /UT.

(ii) An indemnity bond should be taken from the nominee/dependents of the Armed Forces Personnel / pensioner / family pensioner that all the payments will be adjusted against the payments due to the Armed Forces Personnel/Pensioner / family pensioner in case she/he appears on the scene and makes any claim.

4. In the case of a missing Armed Forces Personnel, the family pension, at the ordinary or enhanced rate, as applicable, will accrue from the expiry of leave or the date up to which pay and allowances have been paid or the date of the police report, whichever is later. In the case of a missing pensioner/family pensioner, it will accrue from the date of the police report or from the date immediately succeeding the date till which pension/family pension had been paid, whichever is later.

5. The retirement gratuity will be paid to the family within three months of the date of application. In case of any delay, the interest shall be paid at the applicable rates and responsibility for delay shall be fixed. The difference between the death gratuity and retirement shall be payable after the death of the employee is conclusively established or on the expiry of the period of seven years from the date of the police report.

6. Before sanctioning the payment of gratuity, Service HQrs/ Records office will assess all Government dues outstanding against the employee/pensioner and affect their recovery in accordance with instruction in force.

7. The amount of salary due, leave encashment due and amount of DSOP/AFPP fund will be paid to the family in the first instance as per the nominations made by the Armed Forces Personnel / Pensioner on filing of police report and submission of an indemnity bond as indicated above.

8. The benefits to be sanctioned to the family/ nominee of the missing Armed Forces Personnel / pensioner will be based on and regulated as per the emoluments drawn by him/her as on the last date he/she was on duty including authorized periods of leave.

9. Formats of separate Indemnity Bonds to be used in the case of missing Armed Forces Personnel, missing pensioners and missing family pensioners are available at the official website of PCDA (Pension) Allahabad.

10. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their ID No. 10(3)/2010/Fin/Pen dated 08/12/2014.

11. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-

(Prem Parkash)

Under Secretary (Pension/Policy)

Change in date of birth/age of family pensioners for payment of additional pension for Defence Personnel

Change in date of birth/age of family pensioners for payment of additional pension

No. 1(11)/2009-D (Pen/Pol) 

Government of India 

Ministry of Defence 

Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare 

New Delhi – 110011 

 Dated : 23rd December 2014 

To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff


Subject : Change in date of birth/age of family pensioners for payment of additional pension.


Sir,
In accordance with the instructions issued vide GOI, MOD letter no. 17(4)/2008(1)-D (Pen/Policy) dated 11.11.2008 and GOI, MOD letter No. 1(11)/2009-D (Pen/Policy) dated 18th Aug 2009, additional pension/ family pension is allowed on the basis of the date of birth/age recorded in the Pension Payment Order/Discharge Certificate or other office records. Only in cases where the details regarding date of birth/age are not available in the PPO/Discharge Certificate or Office records, additional pension/family pension to old pensioners/family pensioners has been allowed on the basis of following documents –
              a) PAN Card
              b) Matriculation Certificate (containing information regarding date of birth)
              c) Passport
              d) ECHS Card
              e) Driving License (if it contains date of birth)
              f) Election ID Card

2. Some representations have been received in the MOD regarding the hardship being caused to old family pensioners in getting the additional pension on account of incorrect recording of the date of birth/age in the PPO. They have been requesting for allowing the change of date of birth in the PPO on the basis of the documents prescribed in Para 1 above. The matter has been examined in the Ministry and (after issue of Deptt. Of P & PW OM No. 1/23/2012 – P&PW (E) dated 13.09.2012) following decisions have been taken :-

(i) Since the date of birth/age of the armed forces personnel is recorded in the PPO on the basis of service records and the date of discharge/retirement/superannuation etc is determined on the basis of this date of birth/age there would be no question of allowing change in the date of birth/age of the retired/deceased pensioner in the PPO. The matter has been examined further. Considering the difficulty in producing any of the above mentioned documents as proof of age by the old pensioners. It has now been decided that the Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI may also be accepted as proof of date of birth/age for payment of additional pension/family pension on completion of 80 years of age or above.

(ii) The request for change of date of birth/age of the family pensioner (Parents and Spouse) in the PPO may be submitted by the armed forces pensioner/family pensioner, to the concerned Record Office in case of JCO/Ors and, service HQrs in case of Commissioned Officers along with at least one of the documents mentioned in Para I above/Aadhaar Card and declaration on a non-judicial stamp paper regarding the correct date of birth of the family pensioner. If the Head of the Department/Record Office is satisfied then the change in the date of birth of the family pensioner may be allowed provided a bona-fide mistake has been made in recording the date of birth in the PPO. As the entry in the PPO needs to be rectified, it would be carried out by PSA by issuing the Corr PPO on the advice of OIC Records/Head of Office.

(iii) No other document except as indicated in Para 1 above and Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI will be accepted for change in date of birth/age of the family pensioner in the PPO.

3. In order to avoid any possibility of recording an incorrect date of birth in the PPO, in future the Armed Forces Personnel would be required to submit one of the documents indicated / in Para 1 above or Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI as proof of date of birth of spouse or parents along with the details of family as indicated in service records of service officer / personnel. In the case of children, certificate of birth from the Municipal authorities or from the local Panchayat or from the head of a recognized school if he/she is studying in such a school or from a Board of Education may be accepted as proof of age. 4. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their ID No. 31(7)/09/FIN/PEN dated 21/11/2014.

 Yours faithfully, 

sd xxxxx/-

 (Prem Prakash) 

Under Secretary to the Government of India

ON KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS A TRIBUTE TO THE MARTYRS

In distant mountains of Kargil
these days tourists come and go,
Amid the harsh terrain and hill
The frosty breeze blows,
our soldiers in pursuit of the Pakis,
death they chose.

Here shrapnel shells once shrieked and burst
And took their toll of death;
The very wind, itself a foe,
poor fellows; they fell short of breath.

Above their graves the birds now sing
As round that home of yore,
When, carefree boys, they romped and played;
Those childhood days soon o'er,
The boys to brave and strong men grown,
They romped and played no more.

They put aside their childish toys,
A man's work each must do,
And when their country called for them,
To her they answered true.

"We must protect our native land:
She shall not suffer wrong
For she has reared and nurtured us,
We're men and we are strong.
We'll bid good-bye to those we love;
It will not be for long."

With aching hearts and tear-dimmed eyes
We watched them go away.
Some have returned but many sleep
In those mountains today.

Year on year since ninety nine
Vijay Diwas we say
Our soldiers-dead are not forgot
We pay tribute to them this day
.

HEALTH INSURANCE A MUST.....FOR YOU

The pay slips this month would have given you the shock of seiing howmuch income tax you are paying. Just as a matter of interest I'm going to tell you that you can do some health investment of 15,000 for your self, spouse, children and 15000 towards your parents and if they are above 65 upto 20000 can be paid as health insurance. With the treatment in the Service Hospitals being what it is...it is imperative that you should also hold cashless hospital facility or re-imbursement of your hospital expenses. Section 80 D of IT helps you and gives you exemption of the entire amount exceeding)over and above) Rs 100,000 in section 80C.

Health Insurance Plans - Life Insurers vs. Non-Life Insurers
Do you want to know whether you require a hospitalization policy if you already have a Mediclaim policy? Do you know that 'Health Insurance' is a catch-all term that covers different kinds of health policies? Read onn to get your answers.

The media is full of stories on how non-life insurers, especially the PSU behemoths, are avoiding taking new consumers in health insurance as the health insurance business is reportedly not profitable. On the other hand, we see widespread campaigns by life insurers, including LIC, advertising the benefits of their newly launched health insurance plans. These new health insurance plans advertised so widely by life insurers have brought much needed public attention to this vital insurance segment.

As a consumer, you could be forgiven for being confused. Allow us to throw some light on this and clear this confusion.

The first aspect you need to understand is that the term 'Health Insurance' is a catch-all term that covers three distinct kinds of health policies.

There is the health policy that reimburses you the actual hospitalization cost for treatment of any disease, offered only by non-life insurers. These kinds of policies are popularly called "Mediclaim" policies (Mediclaim is actually a brand name but has now become a generic term for such policies).

Then there are two other types of health insurance plans offered - by both life insurers and non-life insurers.

One can loosely be referred to as a "Hospitalization Policy," where you primarily get a daily allowance for every day spent in the hospital. Some policies also provide higher daily allowance for stay in intensive care (the ICU). Yet others have a provision for a lump sum payment if you undergo any of the surgical procedures covered in the policy.

The other type of health insurance cover offered by life insurers and non-life insurers are the critical illness covers. Given the increased stress and strain of modern life as well as unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles, most of us are becoming increasingly prone to serious illnesses, such as cancer, heart attacks, organ failure, strokes, etc. Advances in modern medicine ensure that most of us survive these illnesses. This survival, however, comes at a cost - a serious dent in our ability to earn (salary or from business). Critical illness cover steps in here and pays off a lump sum benefit - that helps in protecting your current lifestyle.

Most life insurers have long offered these covers as riders (Riders are covers for additional risks or to enhance existing risk covers). Now these critical illness covers are also being offered as stand-alone policies to cover the risks of specific kinds of critical illness such as say, cancer. These policies are recommended, at the very least, for income earners - contracting a critical illness has a huge financial impact on their future income.

A very relevant question at this point would be:

Do I require a hospitalization policy if I already have a Mediclaim policy?

The Mediclaim policy only reimburses the expenditure incurred in the actual treatment of the disease/illness at the hospital. There are several other expenses that are typically incurred, which the Mediclaim policy does not reimburse. Expenses such as travel, attendant's lodging, loss of income (for both the patient and/or the attendant), pre-hospitalization diagnostic tests, medicines, etc. can run up to as much as 30-40% of the total cost of treatment of a disease or illness. A hospitalization policy takes care of these expenses.

Life insurance companies have done a great job in bringing this topic of health insurance to the forefront of consumer consciousness and hopefully each one of you (unlike our earlier generation which mostly left it to God) will cover your health risks adequately.

We have put together a table that gives you an easy comparison of the various features in each type of policy, and the relative advantages and disadvantages of life insurers and non-life insurers offering these products.

As you will find, the policies offered by life insurers are actually in addition to, not replacing Mediclaim policies.

Remember, it is an absolute must that you and your dependents have adequate cover on your Mediclaim policy. It cannot be replaced by any other kind of policy.

When it comes to hospitalization and critical illness policies, life insurers offer excellent products. Such policies should be a necessary part of your risk cover portfolio before you can start considering any investment strategy. The only other aspect we would advise you to re-think on is the choice of a savings-linked health product. At Apnainsurance, we have consistently advocated the need to segregate your insurance and investment needs. However, if return on investment is the only reason you will opt for such insurance policies (most people want to know what they will get back if they do not get hospitalized or do not contract any of the critical illnesses covered in their policy), you can buy these savings-linked policies, instead of avoiding health policies all together.

In conclusion,
If you intend to buy a Mediclaim policy, there is no choice but to go to a non-life insurer.

For the other two types of health insurance policies, our recommendation is to choose a suitable non-savings product offered by a life insurer. Our recommendation is based on the fact that policies offered by the life insurers cannot be cancelled during their tenure whereas non-life policies can be cancelled.

Non-life insurers normally retain the right to terminate any contract of insurance even during the tenure of the policy by sending you a 30-day notice by registered letter at your last known address. In such cases, the insurer will then refund a pro-rata premium for the unexpired tenure of insurance. This right is exercised rarely but is not unknown for corporate insurance policies.

In addition, the policies issued by life insurers guarantee coverage during the entire tenure of the policy, whereas non-life companies may not agree to renew the policy after the policy tenure ends.