SECRETARY POSTS ADDRESSED CIRCLE HEADS FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICES

Now apply for passports from post offices

Come July, the city’s residents can apply for passports online from post offices. The Department of Posts, in association with the Regional Passport Office, Chennai, is working out modalities to help customers register passport applications online and is identifying post offices to offer the facility.

Officials of the department said customers could get a printout of the application from the postal employees. Once the applicants submit filled-in forms, the staff will upload the data online. “It is better for applicants to bring necessary documents such as proof of age and residential address. The employees have also been trained to assist applicants in filling up the forms,” said an official.

Once registered, customers would be provided acknowledgment receipt generated with appointment date for personal interview at the Passport Seva Kendras.

Initially, the service will be launched in 25 post offices in the Chennai City Region (CCR), including some in Vellore and Puducherry.

Of this, a minimum of 10 post offices in Chennai will be identified and the service will be extended to more offices depending on the patronage. Applicants will have to pay Rs.100 for the online service.

At present, customers have the option of paying the fee through internet or State Bank of India. Mervin Alexander, Postmaster General, CCR, said: “We are also working out modalities for using our e-payment service for paying passport fee. However, the employees will not be involved in verification of the documents of applicants.”

The department is also seeking a unique user name ID to facilitate its employees to register multiple applications.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/

LTC by air extended by 2 years

JAMMU, June 17: The Union Ministry for Tourism today extended by another two years a proposal to grant Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to Jammu and Kashmir and North East by air. The package was due to expire today (18/6/2014).The extension in package by another two years will allow all categories of Central Government employees to travel to Jammu and Kashmir by air, using either Air India or private airlines by Economy class only, irrespective of their entitlement. The proposal would not only provide the Central Government employees an additional facility as an incentive but also give boost to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

Central Government is planning to raise the Income Tax exemption slab to Rs. 5 Lakhs

According to information from the Finance Ministry, the Government is giving serious thoughts about raising the income tax exemption slab from the current Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs. The information adds that Modi is planning to make the raising of income tax exemption slab from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs as one of the achievements of his Government’s tenure. The Finance Ministry has, it seems, sought a report regarding this from the Income Tax department. A number of other financial incentives are also likely to be announced by the Modi Government.

The Government has also planned to raise the tax exemption on housing loans. According to sources from the Finance Ministry, there are also plans to increase the tax exemption on medical insurance premium.

The reports add that Modi is trying to impress as many people as possible with the very first budget that his government is going to present. The demand for raising income tax exemption level to Rs. 5 lakhs has been a long-standing one. 

Economists

  and experts suggest that the slab be fixed in accordance to the current price and inflation levels.

The long-standing demand of the middle and salaried classes, to raise the income tax exemption slab to Rs. 5 lakhs from 2 lakhs, is being seriously considered by the government led by Prime Minister Modi.

Based on sources from New Delhi, the first budget of the newly formed Government is likely to be presented on the 11th of July. These sources say that the Finance Ministry has sought a report from the Income tax department. The sources also add that the Government is also planning to increase exemptions granted to housing loans and medical insurance premium. If all these suggestions get implemented, then it would come as a huge relief to the salaried and middle-class folks. Previously, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was considering raising the income tax exemption slab to Rs. 3 lakhs.