Whispers Forum

Digital media has been at its jingoistic worst ! All TV channels are jubilant at the arrival of PM Modi from US. What an ostentatious, flamboyant reception organised to greet PM Modi at Delhi airport and beyond. All at cost of taxpayers’ money.
Full marks to Modi for diplomatic achievements. However, was that the occasion for celebrations in the present scenario. An undeclared war with Pakistan is raging at the LOC and IB. The country is passing through grave crises due to unprecedented floods. All this calls for strict measures to arrest the slowed-down economy.
However, on the contrary, the need for taking austerity measures is being totally ignored, especially so at a time when our Jawans are being martyred and injured every day due to terror attacks in Kashmir. Public is hugely outraged by such premature show of extravaganza.
It cannot be negated that leaders’ first priority lies in earning political brownie points. Their priorities are wonky, crooked, not public-friendly. They survive on sycophancy and ego massage, their staple diet.
Against this background, was organising a mega event like the one arranged for PM Modi justified in the present circumstances ? The job in Kashmir is still incomplete. Forcible occupation of POK by India's Armed Forces, remains. Pakistan will not offer it to us on a platter.
The public has lots of expectations from PM Modi. Much still remains to be completed.
One trusts, such non-events are not celebrated, in future, out of sync with ground reality.
I would urge PM Modi to issue standing instructions to the cheer leaders, sycophants including partymen, council of ministers and bureaucrats, not to waste time.
Only a few top ministers, Cab Secy and Principal Secretary to PM could be present. Presence of party functionaries must be totally banned. PM Modi must look different from UPA era.
Another noteworthy point. How did the Intelligence Bureau in the light of grave threat perceptions, give security clearances for such a mass gathering of 30,000 people ?
As per Media reports, both PM Modi and the NSA are under target of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists ? Are media reports fabricated, one wonders ?
A K Saxena (A former Civil Servant)

It will take care of brilliant people (who cracked civil services at the age of 22) or who get jobs after several round of litigation/cancellation of advertisements etc. With average age of marriage reaching to around 30 yrs, this formula will enable one to raise his family and will be able to see his kids settled before his/her retirement. It will not affect the opportunities for younger generation also because intake in different organisations is likely to follow same pattern as of today.
Vijay Kant Pandey
Appointment of Secretary Posts without empanelment as Secretary !
Same is the case in Railway Board.
BBS

If the Govt is seriously interested in the welfare of the pensioners, they must have either separate CGHS Wellness Centres for the Pensioners or alternatively negotiate with the empanelled private hospitals to provide OPD treatment, issue medicines etc. The Wellness Centres are so crowded that the Senior citizens are put to unimaginable & unbearable inconvenience, queuing up for Registration, meeting the Doctor & collecting the medicines as too many CGHS beneficiaries & family members are overcrowding these Wellness Centres.
Jaya
Retirement age
Retirement age applies to mortals in the govt, the Immortal lot never retires. They leech on to the govt till they die. You know who they are !
Vaibha

Yes, PM can do this. Regarding Rs. 1 lakh Cr., it is one months income for Govt.
Anil
Attention, Finance Minister
Faceless e-assessment scrutiny which is likely to start from October 8, 2019, is a welcome step. The first and foremost requirement is, tax rules should be simple and easy and understandable to both taxpayers and tax authorities but it is not so at present. There are many areas which require immediate attention. LTCG from transfer of equity or equity oriented mf is tax exempt up to 1 lakh. It means there is no tax liability on the part of tax payers. It was good enough till FY 2017-18 under section 10(38) but now it is replaced by section 10(112A) upto 1 lakh and more than 1 lakh is taxable. The simple implementation would have been to put sec 10(112A) in pull down menu under exempt income up to 1 lakh in place of sec 10(38) but it is not done. The salaried class and pensioners who file their ITR1 are facing biggest problem in filing ITR2 when there is LTCG on account of transfer of equity even Rs.10000/-. There is no tax liability but details are being asked unnecessarily. There may be some error or mistake in furnishing details of all scripts and mismatch which may invite bigger trouble without any gain to the tax authorities. Faceless assessment system will raise red flag and notices will start from tax authorities and replies from tax payers and will continue and may lead to harassment of tax payers as tax authorities may keep the issue alive. There is no gain to either parties as neither there is any tax revenue nor tax liability. The logic of tax authorities to get the details of transaction is not sound but arbitrary. If same logic is extended then we have to get the details of at least 50 crores people to know their income whether it is taxable or not. Such irritants should be removed before e-assessment scrutiny. Secondly Govt. has no tools or methodologies to assess the income of professionals. Many are dealings in cash only and difficult to trace unless cash transaction more than Rs.1000/ is banned and 2000/ and 500/ currency notes are considered to be withdrawn. Let all transaction more than 1000/- is thru plastic or digital when most of the people are having bank accounts. Let some tools be developed for assessing the income of professionals and small traders. Govt. may consider no more than three accounts to be allowed for individuals in all the banks. These are some points which should be considered and debated for successful implementation. There may be some more issues which may require attention. Let tax authorities to work out the plan for successful implementation but feedback from tax payers should be obtained to know where the shoe pinches.
Naveen

If the news about bringing about a change in retirement age from 60 years to 33 years of service or 60 years of service, whichever comes first is true then it is again one of those wonky ideas keeping bureaucrats in perpetual fear of the powers that be which is not conducive to efficiency and good governance. This means Government employees will be retiring at different ages .An employee who joins service say at an age 22 (taking the minimum age limit of 21 for taking the Civil Services Examination)retires at 55 years of age i.e. after 33 years notwithstanding the fact that he is brilliant enough to crack the exam in his first attempt while the one who entered say at the age of 30 taking all the chances available to him will retire at age 60. Incongruous. Is it not ? It will create lot of mental and psychological problems for those retiring before 60 and still in their 50s.With longivity having gone up and people still active in their 60s there is actually need to raise the retirement age instead of cutting it down making it different age limit for different employees depending upon their year of joining. This is quite messy and chaotic to say the least.
Aarti Khosla
What will I do after retirement ?
I entered in the Govt. service in February, 1990 at the age of 20 years. Now I am completing 50 years of age and also 33 years of service in coming February, 2020. It means I will be retired in 2023 at the age of 53 years i.e. seven years before my superannuation. My kids are studying. What will I do after retirement to run my home.
Sunil

DoPT's double standards relating to different services are commendable. While rushing promotions to 1986 and even 1987 batch officers of its favorite service to Special Secretary because they can’t become Secretary because of impending retirement, it is playing viscous with much senior officers of other services of 1983-1984 batches delaying clearance to them as much as possible.
Vaibha.
Retirement Age ?
Suddenly there is a news regarding retirement age. It is said employees who have put in 33 years of service or 60 years of age will be retired from Government service. Please update the information.
Rahul
About retirement age ?
Not fair in some family there is only member is earning with burden of lot of bank loan how he repay the bank this is not good decision.
Manjula Sharma

NCRB is the nodal agency entrusted with collecting and publishing annually, national data related to crimes, accidental deaths, suicides and prison statistics. This agency has failed to publish data for several years in a row and has also not thought it fit to publicise the possible dates for publication for the past three-four years. It is time the concerned govt. ministry i.e. Home Ministry takes cognizance of this inexcusable delays and orders a thorough shake-up at all levels.
A K Singh
Where do we propose to lead ?
Ministry of Commerce & Industry is getting constructed its own building on the Akbar Road near India Gate. The Ministry of Skill Development is getting a Kaushlaya Bhawan in New Motibagh area. Where do we propose to lead ?
B B Srivastava
Retirement age
I do not think it is o.k. for the family who have only one earning person and taken loan from the bank for the family. How can they repay the bank ? Most family future will go in dark.
Manjula Sharma

It is strongly believed that retirement rules- 33 years of service or 60 years, whichever is early to retire C.G. Employees is almost in final stages. Many Services in Central are preparing list of Officers to retire in next 2-4 years. Pack up days--achhe din for youth to join Central services. State may follow suit.
RKU
Selection of IAF Chief
An excellent decision by the political leadership of India today. The vast experience of Air Marshal Bhaduria in MAKE IN INDIA fighter program will give a phillip to induction of the LCA program . India needs now large numbers of these fighters for IAF and IN in the years ahead. A full aerospace architecture is required in India both in private and public sectors of aviation industry.
Devindra Sethi