One Day, One Minute, One Rule – 400 What instructions were issued by the Directorate regarding promotions to the Higher Selection Grade-I (Non-Functional Grade) [HSG-I (NFG)] in light of the proposed merger of the Postmaster cadre with the general line?

 Rules, Rights & Rites -189

I usually post all important items related to official rulings, union news, and other general matters on my YouTube channels: Yourskayveeyes (English) and Anbudan Kayveeyes (Tamil).
However, due to the recent spate of orders and the high volume of information being received, I have not been able to convert every item into a video. Therefore, I am introducing these new slots to post current matters and updates that have not yet been published on YouTube. This ensures you stay informed on every detail, even if a video hasn't been made yet …………….Kayveeyes

35th SCOVA meeting held on March 10, 2026 discussions, decisions, and action 
• The Joint Secretary (Pension) welcomed all dignitaries and representatives, noting that SCOVA serves as a direct platform for Pensioners' Welfare Associations (PWAs) to raise critical feedback and welfare issues directly with ministries. 
• The important common items discussed therein are furnished hereunder. 
• Availability of CGHS facilities at District level or reasonable rise in medical allowance - Approval has been granted for opening 29 new Wellness Centres across multiple specified cities nationwide. 
• Request for Attendance Allowance to the pensioners suffering from Parkinson/Dementia and other ailments - CGHS was formally requested to examine the operational feasibility of this request. 
• Revision of current referral-free limit of Rs. 3,000/- regarding diagnostic tests under CGHS - Beneficiaries aged 70 and above can now consult specialists at empanelled hospitals without prior wellness centre referrals. Diagnostic tests/investigations (excluding CT scans and MRIs) costing below ₹3,000 require no additional endorsement if prescribed by a treating specialist. Approved referrals remain valid for 3 months or up to 6 consultations.
• Timely settlement of medical claims - Medical Reimbursement Claims (MRCs) are processed via an online tracking portal and the myCGHS 2.0 app with strict timelines. Pensioner credit bills are processed through a revamped Transaction Management System (TMS) 2.0 (launched October 13, 2025) for faster turnaround, and pendency is continually monitored by the CGHS Directorate. 
• OTP-based registration challenges at empanelled hospitals & substitution of prescribed medicines - CGHS is exploring alternative verification methods beyond OTPs to eliminate family registration constraints. Regarding medicines, CGHS clarified that chemical salt/dosage is never altered, though manufacturers may change based on generic procurement from MSO and PMBI (Janaushadhi). Temporarily unavailable or temperature-sensitive medicines are urgently sourced via Authorized Local Chemists (ALCs) following proper cold-chain norms.  
• Providing option of getting FMA to those who are residing in CGHS covered areas - Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) is administered strictly as per applicable Pension Rules.  
• Extension of home delivery of medicines under CGHS to reduce Wellness Centre visits - CGHS was asked to formally review the operational feasibility of starting a home delivery module. 
• Need to strengthen and expand CGHS services and improve medicine availability - 29 new wellness centres have been formally sanctioned. A comprehensive 'Drug Procurement Policy' was enacted to maintain consistent medicine inventories. 
• Grant of LTC benefits on the line of unused leave encashment, and senior citizen concessions in railway travel - All India Leave Travel Concession (AILT) for railway personnel operates under the CCS (LTC) Rules-1988. Because DoP&T is the nodal administrative body for these rules, the Ministry of Railways cannot unilaterally expand civil-side LTC equivalent options (such as Hometown LTC) to retired personnel. The matter has been redirected. 
• Provision of a higher appellate authority to review unresolved or complex cases from Annual Pension Adalats - Pension Adalats are already conducted at highly senior administrative levels with fully empowered Personnel and Accounts officers. Setting up a separate, exclusive appellate tier would duplicate systems and induce procedural delays. 
• Restoration of pre-COVID rail and air fare concessions and provision of one attendant for those above 80 years - Indian Railways already provides a generalized 45% average subsidy built into passenger ticket pricing for all citizens (costing ₹60,466 crore in 2023-24). Additional dedicated concessions remain focused strictly on specific vulnerable populations, including 4 categories of Divyangjans, 11 medical patient streams, and 8 student groups. 
• Treatment of joint pensioner accounts on spouse's demise to prevent DLC name mismatch rejections - Banks comply with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and DoPPW guidelines ensuring the surviving family pensioner is updated as the primary account holder. Banks pledged immediate corrective measures if any specific account deviations are brought forward.  
• Recognition of transgender children as dependents for the purpose of sanctioning of family pension - DoPPW is currently streamlining and revising Rule 50 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. Final updates on dependency frameworks will be concluded following active consultations with the Department of Expenditure (DoE) and Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA). 
• Simplifying proof of relationship requirements for family pension (verification via home visit / removing succession certificates) - Procedures and requirements for family pension applications remain strictly bounded by statutory documents under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. (Item Closed) 
• CPENGRAMS grievance disposal transparency and attachment of Action Taken Reports (ATRs) - DoPPW previously ordered departments via an OM dated 16.10.2024 to upload full supporting documents to confirm conclusive grievance closure. A fresh reinforcing OM will be issued shortly to enforce compliance. 
• Abolition of taxation on double medical reimbursement for pensioners - Tax regulations classify standard pensions under "Salaries". Medical reimbursements represent an independent, distinct added benefit over the baseline pension. As such, double taxation on the same income stream does not occur. Under Section 17(2)(b) of the Income-tax Act, actual medical expenditure outlays paid back to an employee/pensioner for family healthcare are not treated as a taxable perquisite. 
• Granting of funds towards funeral expenditure of a pensioner - There are no existing statutory provisions or civil service rules that allow for the allocation of public funds toward a pensioner's funeral expenses. 
• Delay in family pension payment under SAMPANN and non-adherence of one-month time limit by CCAs / difficulties faced by family pensioners after demise of primary pensioner - Pensioners' Associations strongly emphasized the administrative bottlenecks encountered by grieving families and formally requested the immediate formulation of a standardized operating framework. The Department of Posts has confirmed that to facilitate rapid, error-free settlement processing, cases must be systematically funneled into either the BHAVISHYA Portal or the SAMPANN Portal as soon as possible.