Restriction on Issue of Cheques from Saving Bank Accounts

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a Master Circular dated 02.07.2012 on ‘Customer Service in Banks’ which, inter-alia, provides that banks may issue cheque books with larger number of leaves (20 or 25) if a customer demands the same and also ensure that adequate stocks of such cheque books (20 / 25 leaves) are maintained with all the branches to meet the requirements of the customers.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narian Meena in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha . 

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UPSC exam in scheduled languages – Committee Recommendations

UPSC COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CONDUCTING UPSC EXAMINATION IN ALL SCHEDULED LANGUAGES – NO REQUEST FROM UPSC REGARDING DELINKING OF SCHEDULED LANGUAGES

No request was received from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding de-linking of schedule languages from its scheme of examination. However, Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT) had forwarded to this Ministry for comments, the recommendations of the High Level Standing Committee which had been appointed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in July, 2009 to examine the modalities for implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Resolution of 1968. According to the Resolution, languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution and English shall be permitted as alternative media for the All India and higher Central Services examination after ascertaining the views of Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) on the future scheme of the examinations, the procedural aspects and the timing etc.

The recommendations of the said Committee are enclosed in Annexure. The Ministry of Home Affairs had agreed with the recommendations.

Recommendations of the High Level Committee appointed by the Union Public Service Commission 

(i) The language adopted by the UPSC for conducting its examination should be based on their growth in the higher educational system and the inclusion of a language in the Eighth Schedule should not be the only basis for its adoption by the UPSC in its All India and Higher Central Services Examinations.

(ii) All candidates should have the option to write Civil Services Examination either in Hindi or English.

(iii) The candidates in the Civil Services Examination should be allowed to write their papers (other than the Indian Language and English Compulsory Papers) in any of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution provided the candidate has had her/his graduation in that particular language medium ofexamination.

(iv) In the interest of maintaining the equality and standards of examinationconducted by UPSC, a minimum number of 25 (twenty five) candidates will be required for conducting examination in any one language.

(v) Considering the dynamics of growth of languages in the higher education system, UPSC may review the above policy after a gap of three years.

This was stated by Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri RPN Singh in Lok Sabha recently

Source : PIB

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CGHS – No need to produce original prescription for reimbursement

CGHS CLARIFICATION – CONDITION OF PRODUCING ORIGINAL PRESCRIPTION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED FOR TESTS / INVESTIGATIONS AT PRIVATE HOSPITALS/DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES / IMAGING CENTRES RELAXED

Government of India

Ministry of Health &, Family Welfare

Department of Health & Family Welfare

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi

Dated the 22nd February, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Regarding tests investigations at private hospitals/diagnostic laboratories/ imaging centres empanelled under CGHS.

The undersigned is directed to refer to the Office Memorandum of even no. dated 1st January, 2013 on the above subject wherein it has been provided under Para 3 that the serving government employees / CGHS beneficiaries shall submit medicalprescription in original while claiming reimbursement of expenses incurred on diagnostic tests and investigations, from their office. Keeping in view the inconvenience and difficulties faced by the serving employees / CGHS beneficiaries in submission of prescription in original, it has been decided to relax the above condition and to allow a self attested photocopy of the medical prescription to claim reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on getting diagnostic tests / investigations carried out from a CGHS empanelled hospital / diagnostic laboratory / imaging centre on a valid prescription issued by a CGHS Medical Officer / Govt. Specialist, without a permission letter issued from the Department concerned.

2. The Serving beneficiaries will not require any permission from their Department for getting the diagnostic tests / investigations carried out in a CGHS empanelled private hospital /diagnostic laboratory / imaging centre in respect of investigations for which CGHS rates are available. They will get the prescribed tests done on payment basis and claim reimbursement from their Office. However, the serving employees of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are eligible for credit facility from the CGHS empanelled private hospitals / diagnostic laboratories and imagingcentres in terms of this Ministry’s OM No. Rec.1- 008/Gr./CGHS/Delhi/CGHS (P) dated 10.06.2008.

3. The medical prescription issued by a CGHS Medical Officer / Government Specialist prescribing diagnostic tests / investigations shall be treated as valid for asingle use within a period of two weeks from the date of prescription. However themedical prescription shall remain valid beyond two weeks for undertaking diagnostic tests / investigations if specifically prescribed by the CGHS doctor / Government Specialist about the date or period by which the prescribed tests are to be conducted for a routine check up or follow up treatment. The medical prescription would require revalidation or issue of a fresh prescription from the prescribing CGHS doctor/Government Specialist for getting the prescribed tests done after expiry of the validity period of two weeks or as prescribed by the CGHS doctor / Govt Specialist, as the case may be.

sd/-

[V.P..Singh]

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

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Mis-Selling of Insurance Products and Unfair Business Practices of Insurance Companies; Implementing the Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS)

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has informed that following initiatives have been put in place to educate the consumers against mis-selling of insurance products and unfair business practices of Insurance Companies:-

Publicity in English, Hindi and various Indian languages via mass media such as Television, Radio, Print and Internet and other channels such as Metro, alerting prospects and the Public against mis-selling.

IRDA has an exclusive Consumer Education Website (www.policyholder.gov.in) which gives advices to the public and prospects regarding guarding themselves against mis-selling.

IRDA has published Policyholder Handbooks and these handbooks are also uploaded on the web and every insurance company in India has on its website a link to IRDA’s Consumer Education Website.

The IRDA has also published a series of comic books titled ‘Ranjan and his tryst with insurance’ on the theme of guarding against mis-selling which are distributed through various channels.  The Comic book series have also been converted into animation films.

IRDA also supports seminars by various consumer bodies to apread the message on guarding against mis-selling.

            IRDA has informed that various insurance companies are integrated with Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS) on a real time basis and all complaints registered in the systems of various insurance companies are mirrored in the central repository of IGMS. IRDA analyses the complaints and publishes the same periodically. The data published by IRDA is also available on its Consumer Education Website (www.policyholder.gov.in). The IGMS has helped improve efficiency of insurance companies in handling complaints and identify systemic issues for corrective action. IGMS thus offers a tool to IRDA to monitor certain aspects of market conduct.

            This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narian Meena in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source : PIB Release, 26 Feb, 2013

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Regarding payment of incentive to SOl/ASP Sub Divisions for verification of RPLI proposals

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