30 JUNE 2016

Ø  The BJP-led NDA government on Wednesday announced an overall increase of 23.5 per cent for over one crore government employees and pensioners in line with the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations, which left most services dissatisfied. The hikes will come with the August paychecks and be paid with effect from January 1, 2016. The arrears for the six months will be disbursed during the current financial year (2016-17) itself. In November 2015, within the overall hike of 23.55-per cent, the pay panel had recommended increases of 16% in pay and 24 per cent in pensions. The starting salary for new recruits at the lowest level has been raised to Rs. 18,000 from Rs. 7,000 per month. Freshly recruited Class I officers will receive Rs. 56,100. This reflects a compression ratio of 1:3.12 signifying that the pay of a Class I officer on direct recruitment will be three times the pay of an entrant at the lowest level. The approved maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary, is Rs. 2.5 lakh per month (against the current Rs. 90,000), higher than the salaries drawn by MPs. To examine the concerns employees have raised, the Union Cabinet decided to set up four committees: The first will look into the implementation issues anticipated and the second one will go into the likely anomalies. Another one will further examine the recommendations on allowances, which have largely been kept on hold. The fourth will suggest measures for streamlining the National Pension System.

Ø  Warning that China’s motives to secure the South China Sea are “madness” and intended towards the Indian Ocean, a top visiting U.S. official said in unusually strong remarks that the U.S. will work to ensure India remains the “natural power” in the Indian Ocean.

Ø  Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday accused India of “avoiding” a dialogue with Pakistan as it would mean having to negotiate issues like Kashmir. Contradicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement in which he placed the onus of the stalled bilateral talks on Pakistan, Mr. Aziz said Pakistan was not refraining from talks with its neighbour.