Postal Assistant Exam Typing & Computer test information

Disclaimer: - All the Information provided in this post are Compiled by A. Praveen Kumar, SPM, Papannapet SO-502303 (Medak Division, Mob no. 9849636361, 8019549939) for in good faith of Postal Assistant exam aspirants.  Author of blog does not accepts any responsibility in relation to the accuracy, completeness, usefulness or otherwise, of the contents.

Part-II will be of 100 marks. Time duration is of 30 minutes (15 minutes each for computer typing test and Date entry test respectively)

Part-II will be of qualifying nature with minimum of 40% for OC, 37% for BC and 33% for SC /ST candidates.

The final merit shall be prepared on the basis of the aggregate marks obtained by the Applicants in the Aptitude Test (Paper I) only subject to their qualifying in Computer/Typing test (Paper II). i.e., there will be no marks for Typing/Data entry test. You have to just qualify the minimum criteria in Paper-2 and final merit list shall be prepared on the basis of marks of Paper-I only.

TypingTestPattern: -

Typing test will be divided in to two sections:

1) Computer typing Test: 

This test will evaluate Candidate’s Computer typing efficiency. Candidates are required to type a passage in English/Hindi (450 words passage for English & 375 words passage for Hindi) within the duration of 15 minutes.

Typing Speed: - Recommended typing speed for selection is 25-30 words per minute (WPM).

Only candidates opting for Hindi script test will have to give Hindi typing test. It’s upon your personal preference. English typing is considered easier to learn and pass. You can choose either English or Hindi for typing test.

The typing test and test of data entry operations will be conducted on Computer key board but not on type writer.

2) Data-Entry test: 

This test will evaluate Candidates data-entry efficiency. Candidates are required to type figures, letters and manuscript data within the duration of 15 minutes.

Typing Speed and Accuracy tests allow you to check a candidate's typing speed and accuracy automatically based on existing documents or documents you create.

Data Entry Speed and Accuracy tests allow you to check a candidate's alphanumeric or numeric data entry speed and accuracy automatically; based on existing forms

Typing tests measure two things, speed and mistakes, so when you take typing speed test, do not look only at your speed, look also at the number of your mistakes and concentrate on reducing your mistakes rather than increasing your typing speed. The end result will be increased productivity.

WPM

WPM is an abbreviation of Words-Per-Minute. Confusingly this does not literally mean whole words, as one might find in a dictionary, but rather word-units.

For speed to be comparable, it must be measured in standard units. In the case of typing speed if we used actual words for the WPM measurement then typing speed test results would not be comparable unless everyone used the same texts for their respective typing speed tests - which would give us the additional factor of memorisation so, the word-units we use are artificial.

One word-unit is five keystrokes. Thus, "typed" is one word-unit, "type on it" is two word-units (spaces count as keystrokes too).

Typing technique

Make sure you feel comfortable at your computer. Adjust your chair so your arms comfortably reach the table at a 90-degree angle. Make sure your wrists are straight. Sit up straight in your chair with your back resting against the chair. Place both feet on the ground.

Whether you’re taking a typing test, preparation is an important factor in the outcome. The best way to prepare is to work on your technique; sit comfortably and practice tests that are similar to the one you’ll have to take.

Use All Your Fingers

Learn how to type using all your fingers – not just your two pointer fingers. Even though you may be able to type quickly with two fingers, you can type even faster with practice if you use all your fingers to do the work. Typing lessons can help you learn which finger to use to type each letter. This memorization can help your brain direct your fingers to the letters you need without requiring you to look at the keys. As you teach your fingers to find the keys, you can look at the screen to see what you’re typing instead of watching your fingers, which will further increase your typing speed.

Avoid Seeing:

Yes, you should not see the keyboard while you type. You should have military level of discipline. Look at the screen or the source paper. After you are familiar with the finger placements you can try this. While riding bicycle, what will you see? The road or the pedals

Practice a Similar Test

Not all typing tests are the same. You might take a three- or five-minute typing test, or it may be longer. The test might not allow you to press the backspace key. It might be in the form of a game, or it might be a simple paragraph you must read and copy. If you can, find out the format of the timed typing test you’ll be taking. Look on-line for free on-line typing tests that are similar to what you might encounter during your test.

Keep Corrections to a Minimum

While it’s important to type quickly with as much accuracy as possible, going back to correct mistakes can slow down your typing speed considerably. Practice finding the correct keys the first time so you don’t have to worry about errors. Use discretion when choosing which errors to go back and correct.

The material you are tested on will most likely be something you’ve never seen before. Chances are you won’t have an opportunity to read over the material beforehand. To prepare for your test, practice typing things with which you’re not familiar. Don’t worry about whether you understand what you’re typing; just focus on typing it correctly.

Also, be aware that not all computer keyboards feel the same way. Although it will still be a QWERTY keyboard, which is the standard computer keyboard, the keys may feel a little different when you type on it. They might stick a little more or be a little touchier than the ones on the keyboard you use to practice. Another thing to consider is your surroundings. If you’re not used to typing in different surroundings, it may be a good idea to try out a new location. Doing these things might help you feel more relaxed when you take your typing test.

Touch Typing

Touch typing is typing without looking at the keyboard. The idea is to teach your fingers the location of each keys. Typing Speed is measured in Words Per Minute (WPM), commonly used in typing test examination and recruitment. For the purposes of WPM measurement a word is standardized to five characters or keystrokes. Therefore, “write” counts as one word, but “understand” counts as two words and blank space also count as one character.

Key ideas
1) Place your indexes on 'F' and 'J'.

2) Use same finger all time to type each key.

3) Don't look at the keyboard, your eyes should always look at the screen

NATURE OF MISTAKES
A. Full Mistakes: The following errors are treated as full mistakes:--

-- For every omission of word/ figure.
-- For every substitution of a wrong word /figure.
-- For every addition of a word / figure not found in the passage.

B. Half Mistakes: The following errors are treated as half mistakes:--

(i) Spacing Errors: Where no space is provided between two words, e.g. ‘Ihope’ or undesired space is provided between the words or letters of a word e.g. hope I have, ‘I hxxave’.

(ii) For every spelling error committed by way of repetition, or addition or transposition or omission or substitution of a letter/letters, e.g. the word
‘spelling’ typed as ‘seeplings’ etc.

(iii) Wrong Capitalisation: Wrong use of capital letter for small letter and vice-versa. (This does not apply to Hindi typewriting scripts).

Beware! Your KYC papers may be misused

MUMBAI: Leaving your 'know your customer' (KYC) documents floating around can be dangerous for your financial well-being. Banks have discovered several cases of identity theft where fraudsters have created a new third-party identity using misappropriated KYC documents, such as copies of phone bills and PAN card, to avail of credit cards or loans. 

Some weeks ago, a Mumbai resident found that his identity had been stolen and a fraudster had been using a credit card obtained by misappropriating his KYC documents. Besides this, there are several cases where identity theft attempts have been made, but have been nipped in the bud by banks using fraud detection software. 

In another case, a fraud attempt was detected after two applicants for a primary and add-on card provided details that differed from what was provided by identical applicants in another application. The fraud was detected because the bank used a fraud detection service called Hunter provided by Experian. 

"Typically, the fraudster will provide most of the details of the fake identity but will change either the mobile phone or email to keep contact with the bank. Our software matches details provided by the individual in other applications and flags it as suspicious if there are too many discrepancies," said Mohan Jayaraman, MD, Experian Credit Information Company. Because it is a credit information company, Experian by law can retain information of borrowers on its database. 

According to Jayaraman, credit companies in the UK provide a service whereby borrowers can sign up and receive alerts every time a bank inquires about his credit history. Such credit checks are made at the time of granting loans or cards and an individual is immediately alerted if his identity is being misused. "Consumers need to be alert in disposing of their statements and should not dispose KYC documents to the 'raddi-walla'," he said. 

The other solution that financial advisers are recommending is that every time photocopies are issued for KYC purposes, the borrower should mention on the copy the purpose for which the documents are being issued. 

"Obtaining a credit profile from the credit bureau will give you an idea if your identity has been used by someone," said Rajiv Raj, founder of Creditvidya, a credit counseling firm. "A change in address should be immediately updated with all service providers. Otherwise this gives an opportunity for mail to be intercepted and misused." 

-The Times of India

Moral Booster

An old man lived alone in an American town.
His only son was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son
Dear Son,
... I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant
my potato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be
digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren’t in prison.
Love,
Dad
Shortly, the old man received this telegram:
‘For Heaven’s sake, Dad,
don’t dig up the garden !! That’s where I buried the GUNS !!’
At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.
Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what had happened, and asked him what to do next.
His son’s reply was: ‘Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad. It’s the
best I could do for you, from here.’
MORAL: NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO
SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART, YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT
MATTERS, NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS.....

Nine useful Web Sites for Improve your Typing Speed - PA/SA Exam 2013

Improve your typing  speed     1

Check  your  typing  skill        2

Online test  for typing  speed    3

Practice  and  improve  your  speed     4

More  Practice in  Typing  Test   5

Type  ,  Type  and  get  more  6

Get  ready  your  fingers  for  Typing test   7

Corner  for Typing  Test    8

Endless  Typing Test  9

Top 7 Financial Products Offered By Indian Post Office

 The financial market has been persistently changing. With increased number of banks, financial institutions and online facilities, there have been ample options through which one can invest their money into.

 

However, the Indian Post Office has been such an institution since very long time. The savings scheme and other financial products are a favourite with investors. The telegram and postage stamps may have gone out of fashion, but the financial services offered by the Indian Post Office are still very much in demand. And if the India Post bags the banking license, it could be a financial powerhouse with its 1.55 lakh branches across the country.

Read on to know top 8 financial products offered by the India Post, listed by Economic Times.

1. Recurring Deposit Tenure: 5 years
Interest rate: 8.3 Per cent

 

The Recurring Deposit Account can be opened by cash/cheque and in case of cheque the date of deposit shall be date of presentation of cheque. On maturity, the term can be extended up to 5 years. Apart from these facilities the account holder can appoint a nominee at the time of opening and also after opening of an account. Account can be transferred from one post office to another and any number of accounts can be opened in any post office. In case the account holder deposits 6 instalments in advance, they are also entitled with a rebate. Investor is also given a flexible window of up to 15 days to deposit the sum.

 

 

2. Senior Citizens’ Saving Scheme
Tenure: 5 Years
Interest Rate: 9.2 Per cent

 

An individual of the Age of 60 years or more may open the account. Individuals taking superannuation or VRS can also open an account, but the account should be opened within one month of receipt of retirement benefits.

The maturity period is 5 years and the account can be opened by cash for the amount below 1 lakh and above by cheque only. The depositor can operate more than one account in individual capacity or jointly with spouse (husband/wife). Interest can be drawn through auto credit into savings account standing at same post office, through PDCs or Money Order.

The maximum amount limit per individual is 15 lakh and the investments are eligible for deduction under Section 80C

 

3. Public Provident Fund Tenure: 15 years
Interest rate: 8.7 Per cent

An individual can open an account with minimum deposit of 500 in a financial year and maximum 1, 00,000 and account can be opened by cash or cheque. Deposits qualify for deduction from income tax under Sec. 80C of IT Act. The interest earned on the deposits is completely tax free. From the third financial year loan facility available but premature closure is not allowed before 15 years.

 

4. Money Transfer

The Money Transfer facility provides a fast and easy way of transferring personal payment from abroad to beneficiaries in India. The service is valid only for the purpose of remittances towards family maintenance and remittances favouring foreign tourists visiting India are permissible. No outward remittance from India is permissible under MTSS.

The collaboration between the Department of Posts, Government of India with the Western Union Financial Services and MoneyGram International facilitates instantaneous remittance of money from around 195 countries, 22 foreign currencies and territories to India.

5. Commercial Banking

The Department of Post submitted application before the Reserve Bank for a license to offer full-fledged banking services. The India postal network has 1,54,822 post offices in the country. Of these, 1,39,086 are in rural areas and 15,736 are in urban regions. There are around 90,000 bank branches in the country and provision of real-time banking services through postal network is estimated to triple the current banking network.

The Department of Post (DoP) has plans to start 50 bank branches in the first year and scale it to a total of 150 branched in 5 years, reported PTI. The Post Banks are proposed to be owned by DoP but with a completely independent board, governance structure and operations. It will have representation from Ministries of Finance and Communication & IT.

6. NSCs
Tenure: 5 - 10 years
Interest rate: 8.5 - 8.8 Per cent

The scheme is specially designed for government employees, businessmen and other salaried classes who are Income Tax assesses. There is no fixed limit of investment and no tax deduction at source. The certificates can also be used as collateral security to get loan from banks. Investment up to 1, 00,000 per annum qualifies for IT Rebate under section 80C of Income Tax Act. The rate of interest is 8.50 per cent.

7. Life Insurance

Postal Life Insurance is a contract entered into by the Government to pay a given sum of money on the death of an individual to his nominee or himself, if he survives that period. The scheme is only for Government and Semi-Government employees and it is the only Insurer that offers low premium and high bonus.

The Insurant can deposit the premium by the Premium Receipt Book. Deposits of premium can be done in any departmental PO, and there is a facility of recovery from pay for all employees belonging to the Central Government.

 

Government allots Rs 1,300 cr to Post Bank

NEW DELHI: The expenditure department has decided to sanction Rs 1,300 crore to the proposed Post Bank of India to meet its capital requirements even as the department of financial services (DFS) - the wing in the finance ministry that deals with state-run banks and their poliiies – chose to stay away from the   issue.

The proposal's backing by the expenditure finance commission and its subsequent green light by finance minister       P Chidambaram is seen as the official go-ahead by the finance ministry, ignoring the DFS's stance. The DFS position is seen as the first instance of the agency not backing the Post Bank's plan, which officers in the department have privately mocked at.

"They think they can use the postal deposit model for their banking foray. Nothing in their plan seems to be clear. Banking isn't easy," said an officer, who did not wish to be identified. In fact, a strong Post Bank is seen to be the biggest challenge to existing public sector banks, including State Bank of India, which controls 70% of the banking business in the country. SBI, the largest lender, has a little less than 15,000 branches, while there are over 1.5 lakh post offices across the country.

Although Post Bank does not intend to open a bank branch in each post office, the plan is to use postmen to meet the financial inclusion goal. Secretary (posts) P Gopinath refused to speak to TOI despite several attempts.

According to the plan, Post Bank will have 50 branches in the first year, which will be increased to 150 by the fifth year. The branches will be located in select Head Post Offices in Tier-1-4 centres and select Sub-Post Offices in Tier-5-6 centres.

To meet RBI norms, the postal department proposes to set up a new entity - Post Bank of India - that will have an independent board and separate operations. Apart from independent directors, the board will have representatives from the finance ministry and the postal department. Separate recruitment has been planned to have specialist bankers.

While converting the entire postal network would have meant a capital requirement of over Rs 60,000 crore, by setting up a special entity, the fund requirement has been reduced. This, officers said, will also help create a more focused strategy.

Source : THE TIMES OF INDIA  dated 22/07/2013

Ex-servicemen re-employed in Banks to get Military Service Pay – Earlier clarification of Department of Financial Services dated 23.12.2012 has been withdrawn

Ministry of Finance , Department of Financial Services letter No. 4/1/2010-SCI (B) dated 23.03.2012 for denying Military Service Pay (MSP) for Ex-servicemen re-employed in Banks has been withdrawn. Hence, all the Retired Defence Personnel who are no re-employed in Banks will be eligible for MSP (Military Service Pay)

In fact, the original DOPT Office Memorandum O.M. NO. 3/19/2009-ESTT. PAY II DATED 8.11.2010 provides for grant of MSP to retired Ex-Servicemen re-employed in Banks while their pay is refixed.

 

 

O.M. NO. 3/19/2009-ESTT. PAY II DATED 8.11.2010.

SUB:   FIXATION OF PAY OF RE-EMPLOYED PENSIONERS-TREATMENT OF                      MILITARY SERVICE PAY.

 

The undersigned is directed to refer to the orders issued vide O.M. dated 5.4.2010 on fixation of pay of re-employed pensioners. These orders inter-alia lay down that on re-employment in civilian organizations, Military Service Pay shall not be admissible. However, the benefit of MSP given to all retired Defence Forces officers/personnel by reckoning it at the time of calculation of their pension (notionally in the case of pre-1.1.2006 pensioners) should not be withdrawn. Accordingly while the pension of such re-employed pensioners will include the element of MSP, they will not be granted MSP while working in civilian organizations.

 

In the instructions issued by the Ministry of Defence vide their letter No. 1/69/2008/D (Pay/Service) dated 24th July 2009, Pre-retirement pay has been defined as under:

(i)            In respect of re-employment  taking place on/or 1.1.2006 pre-retirement pay for those who retired after 1.1.2006 means the pay in the pay band plus grade pay but inclusive of Non-Practicing Allowance(NPA) if any, last drawn before retirement.

(ii)          In case of officers who retired before1.1.2006 and also those who retired after 1.1.2006 in the pre-revised pay scales without opting for the revised pay scales promulgated on or after 1.1.2006 the pay will be basic pay including stagnating increment and Rank pay plus the Dearness pay and
Dearness allowance drawn at the time of retirement.

As per these orders, for pre-2006 retirees rank pay is included as a part of pay but for post-2006 retirees, the MSP is not reckoned in the pre-retirement pay for the purposes of pay fixation on re-employment. However, for pension purposes the reckonable emoluments are- basic pay + grade pay + MSP + NPA wherever admissible. Therefore, while MSP is not taken into consideration for the purpose of pay fixation on re-employment, the element of MSP in pension is deducted.

It has been decided in consultation with the Department of Expenditure, that since the element of MSP is not reckoned in the pay fixation on re-employment, it need not be reduced from the pension either. Hence, in respect of all those Defence Officers/personnel, whose pension contains an element of MSP that need not be deducted from the pay fixed on re-employment.

Sd/-

(Mukesh Chaturvedi)

Deputy Secretary

PA / SA APTITUDE TEST RESULTS ANNOUNCED BY INDIA POST

	Aptitude Test (Paper I) for all the postal circles is completed. The List of shortlisted candidates for the Computer Typing / Data Entry (PAPER II) for Andhra Pradesh, Gujrat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Odisha, West Bengal Postal Circles is given in the link below:              SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES FOR PAPER II                               The list in respect of the remaining Postal Circles will be published shortly.
	The above Short List has been prepared in accordance with the procedure published in the Notification No 60-9/2009 SPB1 dated 8-5-2012. The candidates who figure in the above list have qualified for appearing in the Paper II based on marks in the Paper I.
	The list is in order of Roll Number.
	Paper II is tentatively scheduled on 10th,11th,24th,25th,31th August 2013 and 1st September 2013
	Admit Card for Paper II will be dispatched shortly. Admit Card can also be generated on this website by the candidates.   Click here for :     SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES FOR PAPER II

REVISED INCENTIVE STRUCTURE TO POST OFFICE STAFF INVOLVED IN MGNREGS RELATED WORK.

World Population Day observed across the World on 11 July

11 July: World Population Day 

World Population Day was observed on 11 July 2013 across the world. The theme for the year 2013 is ‘Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy’. In 1989, in its decision 89/46, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) declared 11 July as the day that should be observed as World Population Day by the International Community. 

The UNDP recommended 11 July as world Population Day, in order to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development plans and programmes and the need to find solutions for these issues. 

The 2013 World Population Day is being observed with an aim of raising awareness on the issue of adolescent pregnancy with the hope of delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted and every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The 2013 aim has been proposed because as per reports about 16 million of girls under 18 years of age give birth to a child every year. Apart from this about 3.2 million undergoes an unsafe abortion and about 90 percent of the pregnant adolescents in the developing world are married. 

In case of India, pregnancy among adolescent is a serious challenge, as the latest National Family Health Survey data reports that about 3.5 percent girls in India gets married before attaining age of 18 years. This problem gives rise to early child bearing tendency among girls. 

World and impacts of growing Population
The world population went up to 7 billion people in 2011 from 2.5 billion as recorded in 1950. The population growth had profound implications on development, as this growth in population is an opportunity as well as a challenge with implications on sustainability, urbanization, access to health services and youth empowerment.
 
World Population Day in India 
Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare observed the World Population Day by organising a Walk towards Population Stabilization from India Gate to Vijay Chowk. The walk was followed by a National Dialogue on Population Stabilization for a Better Tomorrow at Vigyan Bhavan. 

The Walk was flagged off by Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi.

About Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh
The Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) (National Population Stabilisation Fund) has been registered as an autonomous Society established under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. JSK has to promote and undertake activities aimed at achieving population stabilisation at a level consistent with the needs of sustainable economic growth, social development and environment protection, by 2045.

India and Impacts of Growing Population
As per the latest 2011 census, India’s population in India went up by 17.64 percent to 1.21 billion in a decade’s time during 2001--2011 in comparison to 21.15 per cent in 1991--2001. The 2001-2011 period is the first decade with exception of 1911-1921 which has actually added less population compared to the previous decade but states like UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh have witnessed high growth of population .

Themes of Past World Population Day

•     2012 - Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services
•     2011 - 7 Billion Actions
•     2010 - Be Counted: Say What You Need
•     2009 - Fight Poverty: Educate Girls
•     2008 - Plan Your Family, Plan Your Future
•     2007 - Men at Work
•     2006 - Being Young is Tough
•     2005 - Equality Empowers

Fixed deposits earning you negative returns

BANGALORE: Holders of fixed deposits have been earning a negative return in real terms for most of the preceding five years, thanks to inflation outstripping interest rates. 

To make matters worse, depositors continue to be taxed on this nominal income.

Although bank fixed deposits have never been tax friendly, the level of compliance has been sketchy. But compliance is slowly getting stricter. In the past, RBI norms required banks to take into account deposits in one branch for the purpose of tax deduction at source—a rule which allowed depositors to break up FDs across branches to avoid TDS.

Also, several private banks allowed customers to break up FDs and route them into multiple branches to avoid TDS. But after recent sting operations banks are getting tough and taking into account interest income from all branches for the purpose of TDS.

A study conducted by Ashish Das, professor, IIT Mumbai's department of mathematics, shows that for most of the five years since 2008-09 real returns on bank fixed deposits have been negative.

The lowest real return was -5 .4% in 2009-10 when consumer price index for industrial workers CPI-IW rose by 12.4% and the weighted average deposit rate on term deposits was 6.97%. The weighted average return takes into account the average cost of deposits for banks after factoring in the extent in each maturity basket. Although bankers offer the highest return on deposits of 3-years and above, bulk of bank deposits are around the one-year category.

RBI's weighted average deposit rates are available only up to March 2011. However , given that long-term deposit rates have not crossed 10% and that most deposits are in the one-year basket, it can be safely assumed that the weighted average deposit rates are not above 8.5% for the last two years. The highest real return in recent years has been 2011-12 when the return after being adjusted for inflation stood at 0.2%. In 2001-02 , bank FDs had recorded a real return of 5.3% given that CPI rose by only 4.3% even as bank deposits yielded over 9.6%. According to Das, the tax on interest income on fixed deposits is unfair to investors.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com