7th Pay Commission Recommendations Allowances related to Uniform
- Clothing Allowance
- Initial Equipment Allowance
- Kit Maintenance Allowance
- Outfit Allowance
- Robe Allowance
- Robe Maintenance Allowance
- Shoe Allowance
- Uniform Allowance
- Washing Allowance
Demands Received
Besides the general demand for increase in rates, there are requests for reducing the period of renewal grant from the current gap of three years because the uniforms do not last that long. It has been stressed that Uniform Allowance should be added to the salary as and when it becomes due, instead of having to claim it as required at present.
PBORs have strongly sought for grant of an allowance in lieu of uniforms (as is given to their officers) on the grounds that uniforms are not supplied in time, sizes are based on averages and are therefore not usually a good fit, quality is sub-optimal, and they often end up spending from their pockets to make the necessary adjustments. Strong grievance has been made by jawans during field meetings with the Commission including poor quality of shoes which sometimes don’t fit and do not last for more than three months, thereby causing serious hindrance in their performance of duties.
Analysis and Recommendations
Uniforms are an essential functional requirement. Hence the need for provision of the same, either in kind or cash, is well recognized. However, the mode of provisioning should be simple and easily implementable in the field.
The Commission finds merit in most of the demands raised. The renewal period of three years is, indeed, on the higher side. The reimbursement procedure does need to be simplified.
Grant of Uniform Allowance to PBORs will free them from having to deal with illfitting uniforms and enable them to acquire suitable ones, thereby eliminating needless dissatisfaction.
It is thus recommended that uniform related allowances be subsumed in a single Dress Allowance (including shoes) which will be payable at the following rates:
Category of Employee |
Amount per year |
Officers of Army/IAF/Navy/CAPFs/CPOs RPF/ RPSF/IPS and Coast Guard |
₹20000 |
MNS Officers, Civilian Nurses, Officers of DANIPS/ ACP of Delhi Police/Other Union Territories |
₹15000 |
Executive Staff of Customs, Central Excise and Narcotics Department (both in summer and summer-cum-winter areas), ICLS Officers, Legal Officers in NIA, Bureau of Immigration Personnel (in Mumbai/Chennai/Delhi/Amritsar/Kolkata), PBORs of Defence services, CAPFs, RPF, Police forces of Union Territories and Indian Coast Guard, Station Masters of Indian Railways, SPG personnel |
₹10000 |
Other Categories of Staff who are supplied uniform and are required to wear them regularly, like Trackmen, Running Staff of Indian Railways, Staff Car Drivers, etc. |
₹5000 |
- Allowances related to maintenance/washing of Uniform are subsumed in Dress Allowance and will not be payable separately.
- The amount of Dress Allowance should be credited to the salary of employee directly once a year in July.
- This allowance covers only the basic uniform of the employee. Any special clothing, like that provided at Siachen Glacier, or inside Submarines, or fluorescent clothing provided to trackmen of Indian Railways, or to IB personnel posted at high altitudes, will continue to be provided by the concerned ministry as per existing norms.
- Outfit Allowance, paid to Indian Foreign Service officers and employees will continue to be provided as before, enhanced by 50 percent.
- These rates of Dress Allowance will go up by 25 percent each time Dearness Allowance rises by 50 percent.
- While the Commission has recommended that other categories of staff who are supplied uniform and are required to wear them regularly should be provided Dress Allowance at the rate of ₹5,000 per year, the ministries/departments may take a decision on whether the rate should be ₹5,000 per year or ₹10,000 per year.