Staff Welfare: Revised entitlement for wards in railway-empanelled hospitals

 

Revised entitlement for wards in railway-empanelled hospitals 

Codes Vs Manuals

 

Codes Vs Manuals in Indian Railways

Aspect	Codes	Manuals
Nature	Statutory/ Rule-based	Explanatory & procedural
Legal Status	Statutory (Railway Act)	Not Statutory
Purpose	Lays down what the Rules are	Explains how rules are implemented
Content style	Codified Rules & Principles	Detailed instructions, procedures & Illustrations
Flexibility	Cannot be overridden by Executive Instructions	Can be amended by Railway Board
Usage	Fundamental Service conditions	Day-to-day administrative guidance
Binding force	Mandatory / Legally binding	Persuasive / Administrative

PAC - Proprietary Article Certificate in Stores

 

PAC - Proprietary Article Certificate   ( Stores)

• Proprietary (Adjective) -   Of a product, marketed under and protected by a registered trade name.   

• PAC stands for Proprietary Article Certificate  

• Simple Definition of PAC: It is a certificate from the user department stating that the purchase must be made from a particular source/brand because the item is either unique or no acceptable alternative is available. 

• The PAC form

1. Description of Article:  

2. Quantity:  

3. Approximate cost, if known: 

4. Maker’s name and address: 

5. Name of Local Agents:  

6. I approve the above purchase and I certify that: - 

1. No other make / brand will be suitable. 

2. This is the only firm who is manufacturing / stocking this item. 

3. A similar article is not manufactured or sold by any other firm, which could be used in lieu.  

Note: Delete (a) or (c) whichever is not necessary

Signature:

        Date:                                                                   Desg. of Officer:

   

• Brand PAC or Qualified PAC  - (a) is certified and deleting ( c )  

• Clear PAC  - (c ) is certified and deleting (a)   

 Two Types of PAC:   Brand/Qualified PAC and Clear PAC

1. Brand PAC / Qualified PAC - This is when the PAC certifies (a) and deletes (c).

Means: “No other make/brand is suitable, even if a similar article exists.” 

📌 Implication: There might be other products in the market, but for this specific requirement only this brand is acceptable due to reasons like fit, performance, warranty, certification, compatibility, previous experience, safety etc.

➡ Sometimes called Qualified PAC because the justification is based on suitability, not non-existence of alternatives.

Practical Example :  Wheel Sensor for Electronic Braking System (EBS)

Railway Workshop needs 150 EBS wheel sensors for a specific imported coach type.

Supplier A makes the original branded sensor (same as fitted originally).

Supplier B makes technically similar sensors.

But Railway Technical Dept. tests and certifies that Supplier B’s sensor does not comply with braking safety parameters (or warranty/spare fitting issues).

User Dept. issues PAC stating: “No other brand/make is suitable for these coaches because only Supplier A’s sensors meet the stringent performance and warranty requirements.”

🔹 Outcome: Other brands might exist, but Procurement must award to Supplier A.

This is Brand/Qualified PAC.

2. Clear PAC: This is when PAC certifies (c) and deletes (a).

Means: “No similar article is manufactured/sold by any other firm that can be used instead.” 

📌 Implication: This is a stricter condition. There is simply no alternative item or brand available in the market that could serve the purpose.

Practical Example: 

Railway Needs a specific proprietary filter element for a rare imported machine.

Only one manufacturer (say an overseas OEM) produces this exact filter.

No other manufacturer or substitute part exists anywhere in the market.

User Dept. issues PAC stating:

> “A similar article is not manufactured or sold by any other firm that could be used in lieu.”

🔹 Outcome: Purchase can only be made from that one manufacturer — there’s literally no competitor or substitute part.

This is Clear PAC.

Difference — Simplified Table

S.N	Feature	Brand / Qualified PAC	Clear PAC
1	Certification basis	Only this brand is suitable even if other similar products exist	No similar article exists at all
2	Market alternatives exists	Yes (But unsuitable)	No
3	Restriction Level	Moderate	Stronger
4	Typical Reason	Specified performance, warranty, or compatibility	No alternative product manufactured

✔ Brand/Qualified PAC allows single-source procurement when only one brand is acceptable, even if other technically similar items exist, but cannot be used.

✔ Clear PAC is used when no competitor product exists at all that could serve the need. 

Quick Memory Summary

✳️ Brand/Qualified PAC = “Suitable Brand Only”

✳️ Clear PAC = “No Similar Article Exists”

  Powers of Signing PAC: By User Department 

PHOD/CHOD	CWM/ADRM/SAG	SG/JAG	SS	JS
Above Rs.25 Lakhs	Up to Rs. 25 Lakhs	Up to Rs. 15 Lakhs	Up to Rs.2 Lakhs	Up to Rs.75000

MCQ - Official Language Rules ( Appendix2 Exam 2025)

What is the language of business in Parliament?

Answer: Both Hindi and English

Explanation:

According to Article 120 of the Constitution of India, business in Parliament shall be transacted in Hindi or in English. 

Members can speak in either of the two languages during parliamentary proceedings. 

Additionally, with the permission of the Speaker or Chairman, a member may address the House in their mother tongue if they cannot adequately express themselves in Hindi or English. 

English as Official Language - Article 343 - Indefinite usage - Bilingual

Official Language Rules – Usage of English - Constitutional Framework

Original Constitutional Provision – Article 343(2)

* Constitution of India permitted the use of English for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution.

* Period: 26 January 1950 to 25 January 1965.

Constitutional Authority for Continuation – Article 343(3)

* Empowers Parliament to make a law for the continued use of English even after the initial 15-year period.

* This Article acts as the constitutional bridge from a fixed period to continuation.

Law Made Under Article 343(3)

* Official Languages Act, 1963

* Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967

* These laws provide that English shall continue to be used along with Hindi for official purposes of the Union.

* No time limit is prescribed, hence English continues for an indefinite / unlimited period.

Golden Exam Rules

* “According to the Constitution (original provision)” → 15 years

* “Constitutional authority to continue English” → Article 343(3)

* “Present legal position / as of now” → Indefinite period

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## राजभाषा नियम – संवैधानिक ढांचा

मूल संवैधानिक प्रावधान – अनुच्छेद 343(2)

* भारतीय संविधान के अनुसार, अंग्रेज़ी का प्रयोग 15 वर्षों के लिए अनुमत किया गया था।

* अवधि: 26 जनवरी 1950 से 25 जनवरी 1965 तक।

निरंतरता के लिए संवैधानिक अधिकार – अनुच्छेद 343(3)

* यह अनुच्छेद संसद को यह अधिकार देता है कि वह 15 वर्ष की अवधि के बाद भी अंग्रेज़ी के प्रयोग के लिए कानून बना सके।

* यह अनुच्छेद निश्चित अवधि से आगे निरंतरता के लिए संवैधानिक सेतु है।

अनुच्छेद 343(3) के अंतर्गत बनाया गया कानून

* राजभाषा अधिनियम, 1963

* राजभाषा (संशोधन) अधिनियम, 1967

* इन अधिनियमों के अनुसार, हिंदी के साथ-साथ अंग्रेज़ी का प्रयोग संघ के शासकीय कार्यों के लिए जारी रहेगा।

* कोई समय-सीमा निर्धारित नहीं की गई है, इसलिए वर्तमान में अंग्रेज़ी का प्रयोग अनिश्चित / असीमित अवधि के लिए है।

परीक्षा के लिए स्वर्ण नियम

* “संविधान के अनुसार (मूल प्रावधान)” → 15 वर्ष

* “अंग्रेज़ी जारी रखने का संवैधानिक आधार” → अनुच्छेद 343(3)

* “वर्तमान कानूनी स्थिति” → अनिश्चित अवधि