Ceiling of Rs. 5 Lakh on subscription to General Provident Fund (Central Services) in a financial year
F. No. 3/13/2022-P&PW(F) (8353)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
374 Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003
dated: 02.11.2022
Office Memorandum
Subject:- Ceiling of Rs. 5 Lakh on subscription to General Provident Fund (Central Services) in a financial year- instructions regarding.
The undersigned is directed to say that in accordance with the General Provident Fund (Central Services), Rules, 1960, the amount of subscription to the GPF in respect of a subscriber, shall not be less than 6% of the emoluments and not more than total emoluments of the subscriber. Rules 7, 8 & 10 of the General Provident Fund (Central Services) Rules, 1960 were amended vide Notification No. G.S.R. 96 dated 15.06.2022. As per the said Notification dated 15.06.2022, the sum of the monthly subscription by a subscriber under the GPF during a financial year together with the amount of arrear subscriptions deposited in that financial year shall not exceed the threshold limit (at present Rupees Five Lakh) referred to in sub clause (i) of clause (c) of the Explanation below sub rule (2) of the rule 9D of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 [as inserted vide Notification No. G.S.R. 604 (E) dated 31.08.2021 of Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue (Central Board of Direct Taxes)].
2. Further, instructions have been issued vide this Department’s OM No 3/6/2021-P&PW (F) dated 11.10.2022 for strict implementation of the above amended provisions of the General Provident Fund (Central Services), Rules, 1960.
3. References have been received in this Department seeking advice as to how the GPF subscription is to be regulated in the case of those Government servants in which cases the total subscription of GPF in the current financial year (i.e 2022-23) has already exceeded the limit of Rupees Five Lakh or is likely to exceed this limit even with the minimum subscription of 6% of emoluments prescribed under General Provident Fund (Central Services), Rules, 1960.
4. The amendment Notification limiting the maximum annual GPF subscription was issued on 15.06.2022. A situation of annual total subscription exceeding the limit of Rupees Five Lakh in the current financial year would not have arisen if appropriate steps were taken immediately after the issue of the above amendment notification. However, keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the Ministries/Departments, the matter has been examined and the following further instructions are issued in this regard:
(a) In the case of those Government servants, whose GPF subscription during the current financial year (i.e. 2022-23) has already exceeded the threshold limit of Rs. 5 lakhs, no further deduction of GPF subscription may be made from their salary in the current financial year. In those cases, the provision regarding minimum monthly subscription of 6% of the emoluments shall be deemed to have been relaxed.
(b) In the case of those Government servants, whose GPF subscription during the current financial year (i.e. 2022-23) has not yet reached/exceeded the threshold limit of Rs. 5 lakh, further deductions towards GPF subscriptions during the current financial year may be phased out in such a manner that the total subscription during the current financial year does not exceed Rs. 5 lakh. In cases where the total contribution is likely to exceed Rs. 5 lakh even with minimum monthly subscription of 6% of the emoluments, deduction of GPF subscription from the salary may be stopped as soon as the total contribution in the current financial year reaches Rs. 5 lakh. In such cases also, the provision regarding minimum monthly subscription of 6% of the emoluments shall be deemed to have been relaxed.
5. All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the above instructions to the notice of the all concerned for strict compliance.
(Vishal Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Govt of India
Source: documents.doptcirculars.nic.in