Amendment to the provisions of General Provident Fund (Central Service )Rules 1960- liberalization of provisions for drawal of advance from the Fund by the subscribers
No 3/2/2017-P&PW(F)(i)
Ministry Of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department Of Pension & Pensioners Welfare
Desk-F
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan
Khan Market, New Delhi – 110 003
Dated the 7th March, 2017.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Amendment to the provisions of General Provident Fund (Central Service )Rules 1960- liberalization of provisions for drawal of advance from the Fund by the subscribers – regarding.
The General Provident Fund (Central Service )Rules came into force in 1960. Rule 12 of the said rules provide for drawal ofadvance by the subscribers, to be sanctioned by the competent authority for reasons indicated in the Rules. Some amendments have been made from time to time toaddress the concerns raised by the subscribers. However, the provisions, largely. remain restrictive. There is a felt need to liberalize provisions, raise limits and simplify the procedure.
2. The provisions in the. rules have now been reviewed and it has been decided to permit the subscriber to prefer an advance from General Provident Fund (Central Service) Rules 1960 for the following purposes:
(i) Illness of self, family members or dependents,
(ii) Education of family members or dependent of the subscriber. Education will include primary, secondary and higher education, covering all streams and educational institutions,
(iii) Obligatory Expenses viz. betrothal; marriage, funerals, or other ceremonies,
(iv) Cost of Legal proceedings, .
(v) Cost of defence,
(vi) Purchase of consumer durables,
(vii) Pilgrimage and visiting places of eminence. This will include any travel and tourism related activities.
3. It has been decided to enhance the limit of advance upto 12 months of payor three-fourth of the amount at credit, whichever is less. Amount of advance will be recoverable in a maximum of 60 installments. The advance may be sanctioned by the declared Head of Office .
4. Thedeclared Head of Department is competent to sanction an advance from the fund for reasons not covered above.
5 Maximum time limit of fifteen days is being prescribed for sanction and payment of an advance from the Fund. In case of emergencies like illness etc., the time limit maybe restricted to seven days.
6. In all the above cases of advance, no documentary proof is required to be furnished by the subscriber. A simple declaration by the subscriber explaining the reasons for advance would be sufficient.
7. Necessary amendment to the GPF(Central Service)Rules 1960, giving effect to the above provisions will be issued in due course.
8. In so far as persons serving in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
9. This issues with approval of Department of Expenditure, vide their ID No.4(1)/EV/2017 dated 28.02.2017.
10. Hindi version of this OM will follow
(Sujasha Choudhury)
Director