7th CPC publishes questionnaire seeking views from stakeholders

1. Salaries

1.1 The considerations on which the minimum salary in case of the lowest Group ‘C’ functionary and the maximum salary in case of a Secretary level officer may be determined and what should be the reasonable ratio between the two. [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

1.2 What should be the considerations for determining salary for various levels of functions falling between the highest level and the lowest level functionaries? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

2. Comparisons

2.1 Should there be any comparison/parity between pay scales and perquisites between Government and the private sector? If so, why? If not, why not? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

2.2 Should there at all be any comparison/parity between pay scales and perquisites between Government and the public sector? If so, why? If not, why not? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

2.3 The concept of variable pay has been introduced in Central Public Sector Enterprises by the Second Pay Revision Committee. In the case of the Government is there merit in introducing a variable component of pay? Can such variable pay be linked to performance? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

3. Attracting Talent

3.1 Does the present compensation package attract suitable talent in the All India Services & Group A Services? What are your observations and suggestions in this regard? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

3.2 To what extent should government compensation be structured to attract special talent? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

4. Pay Scales

4.1 The 6th Central Pay Commission introduced the system of Pay Bands and Grade Pay as against the system of specific pay scales attached to various posts. What has been the impact of running pay bands post implementation of 6th CPC recommendations? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

4.2 Is there any need to bring about any change? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

4.3 Did the pay bands recommended by the Sixth CPC help in arresting exodus and attract talent towards the Government? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

4.4 Successive Pay Commissions have reduced the number of pay scales by merging one or two pay scales together. Is there a case for the number of pay scales/ pay band to be rationalized and if so in what manner? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

4.5 Is the “grade pay” concept working? If not, what are your alternative suggestions? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

5. Increment

5.1 Whether the present system of annual increment on 1st July of every year uniformly in case of all employees has served its purpose or not? Whether any changes are required? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

5.2 What should be the reasonable quantum of annual increment? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

5.3 Whether there should be a provision of variable increments at a rate higher than the normal annual increment in case of high achievers? If so, what should be transparent and objective parameters to assess high achievement, which could be uniformly applied across Central Government? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

5.4 Under the MACP scheme three financial up-gradations are allowed on completion of 10, 20, 30 years of regular service, counted from the direct entry grade. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme? Is there a perception that a scheme of this nature, in some Departments, actually incentivizes people who do not wish to take the more arduous route of qualifying departmental examinations/ or those obtaining professional degrees? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

6. Performance

What kind of incentives would you suggest to recognize and reward good performance? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

7. Impact on other organizations

Salary structures in the Central and State Governments are broadly similar. The recommendations of the Pay Commission are likely to lead to similar demands from employees of State Governments, municipal bodies, panchayati raj institutions & autonomous institutions. To what extent should their paying capacity be considered in devising a reasonable remuneration package for Central Govt. employees? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

8. Defence Forces

8.1 What should be the considerations for fixing salary in case of Defence personnel and in what manner does the parity with civil services need to be evolved, keeping in view their respective job profiles? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

8.2 In what manner should the concessions and facilities, both in cash and kind, be taken into account for determining salary structure in case of Defence Forces personnel. [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

8.3 As per the November 2008 orders of the Ministry of Defence, there are a total of 45 types of allowances for Personnel Below Officer Rank and 39 types of allowances for Officers. Does a case exist for rationalization/ streamlining of the current variety of allowances? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

8.4 What are the options available for addressing the increasing expenditure on defence pensions? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

8.5 As a measure of special recognition, is there a case to review the present benefits provided to war widows? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

8.6 As a measure of special recognition, is there a case to review the present benefits provided to disabled soldiers, commensurate to the nature of their disability? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

9. Allowances

9.1 Whether the existing allowances need to be retained or rationalized in such a manner as to ensure that salary structure takes care not only of the job profile but the situational factors as well, so that the number of allowances could be at a realistic level? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

9.2 What should be the principles to determine payment of House Rent Allowance? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

10. Pension

10.1 The retirement benefits of all Central Government employees appointed on or after 1.1.2004 a re covered by the New Pension Scheme (NPS). What has been the experience of the NPS in the last decade? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

10.2 As far as pre-1.1.2004 appointees are concerned, what should be the principles that govern the structure of pension and other retirement benefits? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

11. Strengthening the public governance system

11.1 The 6th CPC recommended upgrading the skills of the Group D employees and placing them in Group C over a period of time. What has been the experience in this regard? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

11.2 In what way can Central Government organizations functioning be improved to make them more efficient, accountable and responsible? Please give specific suggestions with respect to:

1. Rationalisation of staff strength and more productive deployment of available staff;

2. Rationalisation of processes and reduction of paper work; and

3. Economy in expenditure.

[ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

12. Training/ building competence

12.1 How would you interpret the concept of “competency based framework”? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

12.2 One of the terms of reference suggests that the Commission recommend appropriate training and capacity building through a competency based framework.

1. Is the present level of training at various stages of a person’s career considered adequate? Are there gaps that need to be filled, and if so, where?

2. Should it be made compulsory that each civil service officer should in his career span acquire a professional qualification? If so, can the nature of the study, time intervals and the Institution(s) whose qualification are acceptable, all be stipulated?

3. What other indicators can best measure training and capacity building for personnel in your organization? Please suggest ways through which capacity building can be further strengthened?

[ Discuss and comment on this topics ]

13. Outsourcing

13.1 What has been the experience of outsourcing at various levels of Government and is there a case for streamlining it? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

13.2 Is there a clear identification of jobs that can be outsourced? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

14. Regulatory Bodies

14.1 Kindly list out the Regulators set up under Acts of Parliament, related to your Ministry/ Department. The total number of personnel on rolls (Chairperson and members + support personnel) may be indicated. [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

14.2 Regulators that may not qualify in terms of being set up under Acts of Parliament but perform regulatory functions may also be listed. The scale of pay for Chairperson /Members and other personnel of such bodies may be indicated. [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

14.3 Across the Government there are a host of Regulatory bodies set up for various purposes. What are your suggestions regarding emoluments structure for Regulatory bodies? [ Discuss and comment on this topic ]

15. Payment of Bonus