New Functionalities released under National Pension System (NPS)



New Functionalities released under National Pension System (NPS) 

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has been established by the Government of India for regulation and development of Pension Sector in order to protect the old age income security of subscribers. PFRDA takes various initiatives from time to time in order to simplify and improve the operational issues in National Pension System (NPS) like new functionality development under NPS architecture, simplification of account opening, withdrawal, grievance management etc. In this regard, recently many new functionalities have been released by the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) to provide the ease of operation for the benefit of subscribers and nodal offices. These are detailed below:


Functionality released in CRA system recently for the benefit of NPS subscribers:

Sr. No.
Functionalities
Benefits Description
1
Contribution upload for shifted subscribers
Point of Presence (POPs) were previously allowed to upload the regular monthly contribution in the CRA system only for the subscribers pertaining to their associated Corporate. Now, a POP can also upload the contribution for subscribers who have shifted from one of their associated Corporate to another associate Corporate.
2
One way switch
Currently, there is no provision for transfer of funds from Tier-II to Tier-I account. Now, the POP can process a subscriber request to transfer funds from Tier II to Tier I account. Such transactions can be processed only for subscribers under All Citizens of India Model or Corporate Sector Model having active Tier I and Tier II accounts, subject to the availability of adequate holdings in the Tier II account. There is no limit (minimum or maximum) on the amount and number of one way switches that can be requested by a subscriber.
3
Upload of unequal contribution for Govt. employees
In case of Govt. sector employees, the Uploading Office is required to prepare and upload the contribution file wherein the Employee and Employer Contribution are equal for each subscriber. This functionality will now allow the Uploading Offices to prepare and upload contribution files where Employer and Employee contribution amount are not same.
4
Processing of voluntary contribution for corporate subscribers through any POP
Currently, POPs are allowed to upload contributions for corporate subscribers only if the Corporate is associated with them. With the release of this new functionality, the POPs can process the ‘Voluntary’ contributions made by any Corporate subscriber even if they are not associated to them.
5
Functionality for nodal offices on Tier – II operations and voluntary contribution processing
The Govt. sector Nodal Offices have now been provided with utility for activating the Tier II account and its operation for all Government employees.   The Government subscribers (mandatorily covered under NPS) can also approach their associated Nodal Office for making additional investment (Voluntary Contributions) in their PRAN - Tier I account.
6
Insertion of QR Code facility on backside of PRAN
The QR code is a matrix barcode and is used to store URL of websites. The QR code can be converted to data by using a smart phone.  The application to read QR code is available as free application for all smartphone users. Further, utility to convert website URL to QR code is also freely available online.
7
Grievance resolution by monitoring office in CRA system
In case of Govt. sector nodal offices, only the PAOs/DTOs can provide resolution remarks for the grievances raised against them by their associated subscribers in Central Grievance Management System (CGMS) module. However, the mapped Pr.AOs/DTAs can only monitor the status of the grievances (using ‘Token No’) raised against underlying PAOs/DTOs. Now, with the new facility made available in the CRA system, the Pr.AOs/DTAs along with the PAOs/DTOs can provide resolution remarks to the grievances raised against the associated office.
8
Pop - Up window for resolution of pending grievance in CRA system
To aid the Nodal Offices, a pop-up alert is displayed on the home page immediately after the User logs in to CRA website (www.cra-nsdl.com). The pop-up displays the count of grievances pending (if any) for more than 30 days. The User have two options i.e., either to resolve the grievances immediately by selecting the option ‘Resolve Now’ (which will guide the user to ‘grievance resolution’ screen) or to select ‘Resolve Later’ to continue with regular operations and provide resolutions to the grievances later. The pop-up window is a reminder to all the Nodal Offices which have any grievance pending for resolution beyond 30 days in Central Grievance Management System (CGMS) module.
9
Functionality for capturing bank details and contact details of the nodal offices
A facility has been provided to Nodal Offices of Central Government to enter the contact details of their Nodal Officer (along with details of alternate Nodal Officer) and the Bank account details of respective Nodal Office in CRA system. This will help Trustee Bank and CRA to identify the nodal offices for better coordination.

Currently, NPS has more than one crore subscribers with total Asset Under Management (AUM) of more than Rs. One lakh crore.

*****

Finance Ministry expects the economy to grow in the vicinity of 7.5% during the current Financial Year 2015-16 
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released estimates of GDP and related parameters for Second Quarter of 2015-16 today. The Finance Ministry analysed the data and made its observation that the GDP growth rate in the second quarter of the current Financial Year 2015-16 is greater than the growth in the First Quarter. GDP growth (measured in terms of constant 2011-12 market prices) for Second Quarter (Q2) of 2015-16 is estimated to be 7.4 per cent. The GDP growth has picked-up from 7.0 per cent in Q1 of 2015-16.

The Finance Ministry further observed that the growth is being mainly driven by pick-up in the manufacturing sector, which has grown by 9.3 per cent in the Second Quarter. Similarly, the Fixed Investment is showing a sign of revival as it has grown by 6.8 per cent in the Second Quarter of current Financial Year 2015-16. Further, the Service Sector growth is still robust at 8.8 per cent in Q2 of 2015-16, with the trade and transport services leading the way. Overall, the Ministry is expecting the economy to grow in the vicinity of 7.5 per cent in FY 2015-16. 

***********
Change in Tariff Value of Crude Palm Oil, RBD Palm Oil, Others – Palm Oil, Crude Palmolein, RBD Palmolein, others – Palmolein, Crude Soyabean Oil, Brass Scrap (All Grades), Poppy Seeds, Areca Nuts, Gold and Silver Notified 

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC), being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient so to do, hereby makes the following amendment in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 36/2001-Customs (N.T.), dated the 3rd August, 2001, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section-3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S. O. 748 (E), dated the 3rd August, 2001, namely:-

In the said notification, for TABLE-1, TABLE-2, and TABLE-3, the following Tables shall be substituted namely:-

 

TABLE-1

Sl. No.
Chapter/ heading/ sub-heading/tariff item
Description of goods
Tariff value US $
(Per Metric Tonne)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
1
1511 10 00
Crude Palm Oil
536
2
1511 90 10
RBD Palm Oil
578
3
1511 90 90
Others – Palm Oil
557
4
1511 10 00
Crude Palmolein
588
5
1511 90 20
RBD Palmolein
591
6
1511 90 90
Others – Palmolein
590
7
1507 10 00
Crude Soya bean Oil
734
8
7404 00 22
Brass Scrap (all grades)
2993
9
1207 91 00
Poppy seeds
2722

TABLE-2

Sl. No.
Chapter/ heading/ sub-heading/tariff item
Description of goods
Tariff value
(US $)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
1
71 or 98
Gold, in any form, in respect of which the benefit of entries at serial number 321 and 323 of the Notification No. 12/2012-Customs dated 17.03.2012 is availed
344 per 10 grams
2
71 or 98
Silver, in any form, in respect of which the benefit of entries at serial number 322 and 324 of the Notification No. 12/2012-Customs dated 17.03.2012 is availed
461 per kilogram 

TABLE-3
Sl. No.
Chapter/ heading/ sub-heading/tariff item
Description of goods
Tariff value
(US $ Per Metric Tons )
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
1
080280
Areca nuts
2662

*****
 Auction for Sale (Re-Issue) of Government Stock 


The Government of India have announced the Sale (re-issue) of (i) “7.35 per cent Government Stock 2024” for a notified amount of Rs. 2,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction, (ii) “7.59 per cent Government Stock 2029” for a notified amount of Rs. 7,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction, (iii) “8.24 per cent Government Stock  2033” for a notified amount of Rs. 3,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction,  and (iv) “8.13 per cent Government Stock 2045” for a notified amount of Rs. 3,000 crore (nominal) throughprice based auction. The auctions will be conducted using multiple price method. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on December 04, 2015 (Friday).

Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of the stocks will be allotted to eligible individuals and Institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities.

Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on December 04, 2015. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.mand the competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon.   

The result of the auctions will be announced on December 04, 2015 and payment by successful bidders will be December 07, 2015 (Monday).   

The Stocks will be eligible for “When Issued” trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide circular No. RBI/2006-07/178 dated November 16, 2006 as amended from time to time.


*****

Shri A.K. Jain, Member, CBDT to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the post of Chairperson, CBDT in addition to his own duties; Ms. Anita Kapur, Chairperson, CBDT who is superannuating today, is appointed as Adviser on Tax Reforms for a period of six months 
Ms Anita Kapur will demit the office of Chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on her superannuation today i.e. 30th November, 2015. Shri A.K. Jain, Member, CBDT will discharge the duties and responsibilities of the post of Chairperson, CBDT in addition to his own duties, till further orders.

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed Ms. Anita Kapur as Adviser on Tax Reforms on contract basis with effect from 1.12.2015 for a period of six months or earlier, as may be decided by the Government, on the following Terms of Reference:

Terms of Reference 

i) To advise the Revenue Department on important files referred to the Adviser by the Department.

ii) To examine various suggestions received for bold tax reforms in the light of hard data and likely implications as present her view to Revenue Department.

iii) To help the Committee set up recently under the Chairmanship of Justice R.V. Easwar (Retd.) for re-drafting of certain sections of the Income Tax Act; and

iv) To present the Government suo moto her views on certain policy matters relating to direct taxation. 
*****


No comments

Powered by Blogger.