Special concessions/incentives for Central Government employees in Kashmir Valley extended for three years from 01 August 2024: DOP&T O.M. dated 24.02.2025

Special concessions/incentives for Central Government employees in Kashmir Valley extended for three years from 01 August 2024: DOP&T O.M. dated 24.02.2025

The Central Government has extended a package of concessions and incentives for employees working in the Kashmir Valley, encompassing ten districts: Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal, and Bandipora. Effective from August 1, 2024, this extension lasts for three years and includes additional house rent allowances, per diem allowances, temporary duty incentives, messing facilities, and provisions for pensioners. Specific arrangements are made to support employee relocation and ensure their welfare during assignments in the region.

I. Additional House Rent Allowances and Other Concessions

A. Employees Posted in Kashmir Valley:

1. Family Relocation: Employees can relocate their families to a chosen location at government expense, receiving travel allowances and a Composite Transfer Grant equivalent to 80% of their last month’s basic pay.
2. Per Diem Allowance: For those not relocating their families, a daily allowance of ₹141 is provided to cover transportation costs.
3. Eligibility for Allowances: Employees moving their families will not receive the per diem allowance due to the Composite Transfer Grant benefits.
4. Support Arrangements: The government will arrange for accommodation, security, and transportation for employees.
5. House Rent Allowance: Employees not provided departmental accommodation can claim house rent allowances, including additional allowances calculated at 20% of their basic pay, per the latest government instructions.

B. Temporary Duty Incentives:

The duration of temporary duty has been extended to six months. During this period, employees will receive a “Kashmir Valley Special Incentive” along with food charges based on their pay level:

• Level 14 and above: ₹9,000
• Level 12 and 13: ₹8,000
• Level 9 to 11: ₹7,000
• Level 6 to 8: ₹6,000
• Level 5 and below: ₹4,500

II. Messing Facilities

Employees will receive a messing allowance equivalent to the Ration Money Allowance for Central Armed Police Forces personnel, currently set at ₹142.75 per day.

III. Pension Payment

Pensioners residing outside the Kashmir Valley, who cannot access their monthly pensions through local banks or offices, will be permitted to receive their pensions at their current locations.

Other points:-

1. The concessions apply exclusively to the ten districts of the Kashmir Valley.
2. Temporary Status Casual Laborers in the region are also eligible for these incentives under existing government schemes.
3. All Central Government employees, regardless of their origin, can benefit from the additional house rent allowance if they relocate their families.
4. Messing and per diem allowances are also available to natives of the Kashmir Valley under this package.

This comprehensive package aims to enhance the working conditions and welfare of Central Government employees in the challenging environment of the Kashmir Valley. Text of DoP&T O.M. dated 24.02.2025 reproduced below:-

e.F.No. A-24011/3/2025-Estt. (Leave)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)

New Delhi, the 24th February, 2025

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Extension of Special concessions / incentives to the Central Government employees working in Kashmir Valley in attached /subordinate offices or PSUs falling under control of the Central Government for a further period of three years with effect from 1st day of August, 2024 – regarding.

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The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. A-24011 /22/2022-Estt.(Leave) dated 12.09.2022 on the subject mentioned above and to state that it has been decided by the competent authority to extend the package of concessions/ incentives to Central Government employees working in Kashmir Valley for a further period of three years with effect from 01.08.2024. The package for the period of three years with effect from 01.08.2024 is as per Annexure.

2. The package of incentives is uniformly applicable to all Ministries/Departments and PSUs under the Government of India and they should ensure strict adherence to the rates prescribed in the package. The concerned Ministry / Department may ensure implementation and monitoring of the package in conformity with the approved package, and therefore, all court cases in which verdicts are given contrary to the package would have to be contested by the Ministries / Departments concerned.

(J.S. Kanth)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Encl. As above.

 

ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE to DOPT’s O.M. No. A-24011/3/2025-Estt. (Leave) dated the 24th February, 2025.

DETAILS OF PACKAGE OF CONCESSIONS OR INCENTIVES TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WORKING IN KASHMIR VALLEY IN ATTACHED/SUBORDINATE OFFICES OR PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS FALLING UNDER THE CONTROL OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

[Kashmir Valley comprises of ten Districts namely, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora.]

Extension of Special concessions / incentives to Central Government employees working in the 10 districts of Kashmir Valley for a further period of three years with effect from 01.08.2024.

I. ADDITIONAL HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCES AND OTHER CONCESSIONS:

(A) EMPLOYEES POSTED IN KASHMIR VALLEY:

(i) The employees have an option to move their families to a selected place of their choice in Country at Government expenses and travelling Allowance for the families allowed as admissible in permanent transfer inclusive of the Composite Transfer Grant at the rate of 80 per cent of the last month’s basic pay.

(ii) The employees who do not wish to move their families to a selected place of residence are paid per diem allowance of Rs. 141/- per day for each day of attendance to compensate for any additional expense in transportation from to and from office, which is at par with the reimbursement of travel charges for travel within the city in terms of the Department of Expenditure OM No. 19030/1/2017-E.IV, dated the 13th July, 2017 and Government instructions and decisions taken, thereafter vide O.M. No 1/5/2024-E.II(B) dated 21st October, 2024.

(iii) The employees who opt to move their families to selected place of their choice in Country shall not be eligible for per diem allowance since they avail the benefits of Composite Transfer Grant at the rate of 80 per cent of the last month’s basic pay.

(iv) Departmental arrangements will be made for stay, security and transportation to the place of work for employees.

(v) The employees shall be eligible for drawing House Rent Allowance provided departmental arrangement is not made for their stay. They shall also be eligible for drawing additional House Rent Allowance at the rate of Class “Y’ city (20 per cent of basic pay) admissible to the Central Government employees has been revised and being paid at the enhanced rates in accordance with the provision contained in the Government instructions, especially the Department of Expenditure O.M. No. 2/5/2017-E.II(B) dated 07% July, 2017 and O.M No. 1/5/2024-E.II(B) dated 21st October, 2024 except those employees who have retained Government Accommodation at their last place of posting.

(B) THE PERIOD OF TEMPORARY DUTY EXTENDED TO SIX MONTHS.

For the period of temporary duty, an incentive known as the Kashmir Valley Special Incentive shall be paid at the following rates along with food charges (as per 7th Pay Commission norms), apart from departmental arrangements for stay, security and transportation:

Pay Range	Rate Per month (on pro rata)
(i) Level 14 and above	Rs.9000
(ii) Level 12 and 13	Rs.8000
(iii) Level 9 to 11	Rs.7000
(iv) Level 6 to 8	Rs.6000
(v) Level 5 and below	Rs.4500

II. MESSING FACILITIES: 

Messing allowance at par with rates of Ration Money Allowance given to the Central Armed Police Forces personnel, at present @ Rs.142.75/- per day will be provided.

III. PAYMENT OF MONTHLY PENSION:

The Pensioners of the Kashmir Valley who are unable to draw their monthly pensions through either Public Sector Banks or Pay and Accounts Office or treasuries, from which they were receiving their pensions, shall be given pensions outside the Valley, where they have settled, in relaxation of relevant provisions.

NOTE :-

1. The package of concessions / incentives shall be admissible in Kashmir Valley comprising of ten districts namely, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and Bandipora.

2. The Package of concessions / incentives shall be admissible to Temporary Status Casual Laborers working in Kashmir Valley in terms of Para 5(i) of the Casual Laborers (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme of Government of India, 1993.

3. The benefit of additional house rent allowance admissible under the Kashmir Valley package shall be admissible to all Central Government employees posted in Kashmir Valley irrespective of whether they are natives of Kashmir Valley, if they choose to move their families anywhere in Country subject to the conditions governing the grant of these allowances.

4. The facilities of Messing Allowance and Per Diem Allowances shall also be allowed to natives of Kashmir Valley in terms of the Kashmir Valley package.

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