[01st April 2024]

AESL Flexible Benefit Plan (FBP)

 Flexible Benefit Plan (FBP)
Objective

Flexible Benefit Plan (FBP) allows employees to structure their benefits to suit their individual needs.
With FBP, employees can choose from a bouquet of components that comprise their benefits structure.

A desired value can be assigned to each benefit component chosen. The assignable value is subject to
maximum allowed limits as per FBP policy. The components can be redefined only once in a financial
year. This document enables and provides detailed information on each of FBP’s components.

The amount available for definition under FBP is regulated upon FBP Component maximum limit or
current special allowance as mentioned in CTC annexure of the employee (whichever is less). Any
unutilized FBP amount would be treated as taxable as per the policy.

Any change in the Government Policies, Rules or Regulations or any enactments or amendments
thereto shall be applicable to the employee from time to time.

Effective Date
This Policy is effective with immediate effect.

Eligibilit
This policy is applicable to permanent employees of AESL who have declared for any of the below
mentioned FBP components as part of their CTC using Hono FBP declaration portal.
1) Food Reimbursement (Meal)
2) Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
3) Learning Development Allowance (L&D)
4) Telephone & Internet Allowance
5) Books and Periodical Allowance
6) Health & Wellness Allowance
7) Uniform Allowance
8) National Pension Scheme (NPS Employer Contribution)

Disclaimer
The FBP policy reflects the current tax provisions. Any change in the tax provisions, will necessitate a
change in the FBP policy. Any misappropriation of claim(s) for reimbursement made by the employee
may result in disciplinary action against the employee and in the event of misappropriation the
employee shall be liable to compensate the company for any actions / claims from Income Tax
department.

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 Pluxee (Sodexo) Multi-Benefit Pass
Objective

Pluxee (Sodexo) Multi-Benefit Pass aims at providing allowances like Food Reimbursement (Meal),
Telephone & Internet, Learning & Development, Book & Periodicals, Health & Wellness and Uniform
through a “Pluxee (Sodexo) card”.

Pluxee (Sodexo) card is a prepaid card that can support multiple employee benefits on one card. It is
reloadable and comes with a 3-year validity.

Eligibility
This policy is applicable to permanent employees of AESL who have opted for any of the above-
mentioned flexi benefit plan as part of their CTC.

Limits:
Limit (Per Tax Regime
Components Payment
Month) Applicability
Direct credit in Pluxee
Learning Development Allowance (L&D) 10000* Old Regime
(Sodexo) Card

Direct credit in Pluxee

Telephone & Internet Allowance 4000* Old Regime
(Sodexo) Card

Direct credit in Pluxee

Books and Periodical Allowance 3000* Old Regime
(Sodexo) Card

Direct credit in Pluxee

Food Reimbursement (Meal) 2400* Old Regime
(Sodexo) Card

Direct credit in Pluxee

Health & Wellness Allowance 3000* Old Regime
(Sodexo) Card

Direct credit in Pluxee

Uniform Allowance 2000* Old Regime
(Sodexo) Card

*Up to a maximum of above-mentioned limits or equal to employee current special allowance as

mentioned in CTC annexure, whichever is less.

Procedure
1) Employee needs to opt for the any of the above-mentioned flexi benefit options using FBP
declaration portal in HonoHR.
2) The Pluxee (Sodexo) Card will be delivered by Pluxee (Sodexo) at the address provided by the
employee.
3) Employee can use the Pluxee (Sodexo) card:
a. Meal Benefits (Food Reimbursement): Swipe the card at Pluxee (Sodexo) affiliated
meal merchant outlets across India for the purchase of food and non-alcoholic

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 beverages only, also the Meal card can be used online on portals of Pluxee (Sodexo)
affiliated meal merchants. Please use the card details printed on the Meal Card to make
payments.

b. Non-Meal Benefits: Insert the chip at RuPay accepting outlets to use your non-Meal
benefits like Telecom, Learning & Development, Books & Periodicals, Health & Wellness
and Uniform.

Access the following Non-Meal Benefit Accounts from Multi-Benefit Pass on the app:
i. Telephone & Internet: Money in your telecom benefit account can only be used
at telecom merchants like Airtel, Jio, Vodafone etc.
Biller Rules Yes/No
Allow bills which are not in English? Yes
Allow handwritten bills? Yes
Allow EBills? Yes
Allow bills with advance payment of current FY Yes
Allow bills without employee name No
Allow bills without Service provider GST No
Allow bills from Previous financial year No
Allow screenshots of receipts from apps like Paytm/Freecharge
etc.? No
Allow images of SMS receipts for bill payments? No
Allow bills with late payment fees? No
Allow bills for Prepaid mobile connections recharge No
Allow bills for Installation/Shifting/Device Charge? Yes
Allow bills for International Roaming Charge Yes
Allow bills for International Call/SMS Charges Yes
Allow bills for OTT Subscription & DTH Recharge No
Allow bills with relative’s name on connection No
Allow bills without invoice date/bill period (from date - to date) No
Allow bills with different connection versus what is mentioned
in Invoice No

ii. Learning and Development: Money in your Learning & Development benefit
account can only be used for learning purpose. Ex - Udemy, LinkedIn Learning,
Coursera, Udacity, Simplilearn, edx.org, Edureka etc.
Biller Rules Yes / No
Allow bills which are not in English? Yes
Allow handwritten bills? No
Allow bills without employee name No
Allow Bills Without GST No
Allow bills from the previous financial year No
Allow bills without enrollment/subscription details No
Allow bills for university educational courses/ qualification Yes
Allow bills for skill/course/certification? Yes
Allow bills for ACM Membership without GST ID No

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 Allow bills for International/Overseas entities course bill with
address and without GST ID Yes
Allow bills for Udemy Subscription/Course without GST ID No
Allow bills for Leetcode and Toastmasters subscription Yes
Allow bills for Project Management/PMI without GST ID No
Allow bills for Hardware component semiconductor/PCB
boards / IOT Learning equipment No
Allow bills for Photography / Lens / Camera courses Yes
Allow bills for German and Spanish Course No
Allow Webinar bill without GST Yes
Allow Bills without course completion certificate on Pluxee
(Sodexo) Yes
Allow bills for LinkedIn learning courses Yes

iii. Books & Periodicals: Money in your Books & Periodicals benefit account can
only extended to employees towards purchase of Books & Periodicals in relate
to employee’s field of work and is essential for the performance of his/ her
duties.
Biller Rules Yes /No
Allow bills which are not in English? Yes
Allow handwritten bills? Yes
Allow bills without employee name No
Allow Bills Without GST Yes
Allow bills from the previous financial year No
Allow bills without product purchase details No
Allow bills with Item code on Invoice No
Allow Book purchase bill without GST Yes
Allow bills for technical books/Business Books/e-
books/magazines/newspaper subscription? Yes
Allow bills for reading gadgets / fictional book Yes
Allow University Any Degree Books Yes
Allow bills for Amazon Kindle Subscription (Audio / E-book)
Yes
Allow bills for International Book purchase with address and
without GST ID Yes
Allow bills for Stationery (PEN, Marker, Note Book, Dairy
book & Calculator) Yes
Allow Product Order confirmation bill No

iv. Health & Wellness: Benefit granted by employer to employees for health and
wellness activities:
Rules Yes/No
Allow bills without GST details Yes
Allow handwritten bills? Yes
Allow bills without prescription? Yes
Allow bills from Gym/Fitness centres? Yes
Allow bills for Yoga/Zumba/Marathon related activities? Yes

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 Allow bills for Sports activities (Indoor & Outdoor)? Yes
Allow purchase of Sports/Gym/Fitness equipments, kits
and/or accessories? Yes
GYM Personal Trainer Yes
Dietician / Nutrition Fee Yes

v. Uniform Allowance: Benefit extended to employees towards expenses incurred on

purchase of uniform/Formal Office wear:
Rules Yes/No
Allow bills which are not in English? Yes
Allow handwritten bills? Yes
Allow Bills from previous financial year No
Allow stitching charges Yes
Require employee name on the bill Yes

Categories Yes/No
Allow formal shirts Yes
Allow trousers Yes
Allow t-shirts No
Allow collar/polo t-shirts No
Allow jeans No
Allow blazers Yes
Allow formal business suit Yes
Allow tie Yes
Allow kurtas Yes
Allow scarves Yes
Allow salwar kameez Yes
Allow sarees Yes
Allow skirts No
Allow dupatta Yes
Allow waistcoat Yes
Allow socks Yes
Allow sweater Yes
Allow belts Yes
Allow watches No
Allow formal shoes Yes
Allow casual shoes No
Allow dress material Yes
Allow stitching charges Yes

vi. Alternatively, you can also upload bills related to these 5 wallets on Pluxee
(Sodexo) app and submit a claim as per the biller rules. Once your claims are
approved by Pluxee (Sodexo) team, the money from respective wallet will move
to your 'Reimbursement Account' to the extent of approved bill.
vii. Reimbursement: Money in your 'Reimbursement account' can be used
anywhere on RuPay network just like a debit card (NO RESTRICTION)

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 4) Employee can use the mobile app to manage benefits on-the-go. Enjoy features like: Generate
dynamic PIN, Change static PIN, View balance and much more.
5) The Pluxee (Sodexo) Card is non-transferrable and should not be assigned or transferred in any
way by the employee to any third party. Any Pluxee (Sodexo) Card assigned, sold or otherwise
transferred in violation of this provision may be invalidated or cancelled.
6) The Pluxee (Sodexo) Card does not facilitate balance transfer or cash withdrawal.
7) In case the Pluxee (Sodexo) Card is misplaced / stolen, the employee can block the Card through
Pluxee (Sodexo) Web Portal or Mobile App. The lost Card will be blocked and upon deduction
of charges and taxes new card would be issued to the employee. AESL or Pluxee (Sodexo) shall
not be responsible for any loss before the Pluxee (Sodexo) Card is blocked.
Pluxee (Sodexo) Charges for Employees

Lost/Replacement Card INR 150

Revalidation of card after card expiry INR 200

Card Inactive Fee (180 days of Inactivity) INR 20

Transfer to Bank Account (User can transfer 2.50% of
money to their salary account from transfer
reimbursement wallet) value

Card Activation:
All Pluxee (Sodexo) Multi-Benefit cards are dispatched in an inactive mode for security reasons. The
card must be activated before usage.

To activate your card online:

1. After receiving the mail from Pluxee (Sodexo) India do-not-reply.in@Pluxee (Sodexo).com
on your official email id.
2. Visit https://activation.consumers.pluxee.in/
3. Enter your official E-mail ID.
4. Enter the 12-digit card reference number receive via mail from Pluxee (Sodexo) India.
5. Click on 'Get Activation Code.
6. Provide KYC information (Use may provide Passport, Driving License, Voter’s ID and PAN
Card details) Should be in JPEG format & less than 1 MB.
7. Enter activation code received on e-mail.
8. Complete OTP based mobile number verification.
9. Click on 'Activate Card ‘and card activation confirmation will be sent to your mobile
number.
10. Once the card is activated, download the Pluxee App from Play Store or App Store and
start using your Pluxee (Sodexo) Meal Benefit Card.

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 Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) Policy

Objective
With a view to enable employees to take time off from their work and to enjoy a holiday with their
family, the company has provided a policy for reimbursing the travel expenses^ incurred by the
employee along with his/her family members.

The word “family” shall include, (i) spouse and children* (ii) dependent parents and (iii) brothers and
sisters who are wholly dependent on the employee.

*Further, such an exemption is not available for more than two children of an employee born after 1
October 1998. Children born before 1 October 1998 do not have any restriction. Further, in cases of
multiples births on second occasion after having one child is also not affected by this restriction.

^Travel Expenses means the cost of travel i.e., the air, rail or bus fare incurred by the employee and
does not include any other expenses such as local conveyance, sightseeing, hotel accommodation,
food, etc.

Eligibility
This policy is applicable to permanent employees of AESL who have opted for old regime and opted for
LTA as part of their CTC. LTA exemption is available for only two journeys performed in a block of four
calendar years. The LTA can be claimed only once during the LTA Year.
In case of new joiners, employee must declare in advance, as per the declaration format prescribed by
AESL time to time, the details of LTA claimed in the previous company. AESL also deserves rights to ask
for the evidence proof of LTA claimed and journey performed in the previous company.

The tax exemption of leave travel allowance is not available in case you choose the new tax regime.

Limit
Up to a maximum of Rs.7000 per month or equal to employee CTC special allowance whichever is
less.

Block Year
A block year is different from a financial year and is decided by the Government for LTA exemption
purposes. It comprises of 4 years each. The very first 4-year block commenced from 1986. List of block
years are 1986-1989, 1990-93, 1994-97, 1998-2001, 2002-05, 2006-09, 2010-13 and so on. The block
applicable for the current period is the calendar year 2022-25. The previous block was the calendar
year 2018-21.

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Carry Forward
If the employee doesn’t claim the permitted two LTAs in any of the prescribe block of four years,
exemption can be claimed in the first calendar year of the next block, but in respect of only one journey.
However, if the LTA is not claimed till March of the following calendar year of next block, it will be
considered as taxable allowance only, though exemption would still be available in the remaining 9
months of the calendar year.

Leave
Assistance under this scheme will be admissible only when an employee is on approved Leave for at
least four continuous days. In case the leave period commences in one financial year and ends in the
next financial year, it shall be deemed that the executive concerned has availed the LTA for the year in
which the leave has commenced.
The sanctioning authority for the purpose of LTA shall be same as Leave sanctioning authority as per
the matrix.

Conditions

LTA is applicable when the employee is proceeding on approved leave to any place in India. The LTA
shall be the amount actually incurred on undertaking such travel subject to the following conditions,
namely:
• Journey performed by Air - Economy Air fare of National carrier by the shortest route or the
amount spent whichever is less will be exempt

• Journey performed by Rail – A.C. first class rail fare by shortest route or amount spent
whichever is less will be exempt.

• Place of origin and destination place of journey connected by rail but journey performed by
other mode of transport - A.C. first class rail fare by shortest route or amount spent whichever
is less.

• Place of origin & destination not connected by rail (partly/fully) but connected by other
recognized Public transport system - First class or deluxe class fare by shortest route or amount
spent whichever is less.

• Place of origin& destination not connected by rail (partly/fully) and not connected by other
recognized Public transport system also – AC first class rail fare by shortest route (as the journey
had been performed by rail) or the amount actually spent, whichever is less.

• LTA exemption can be claimed where the employer provides LTA to employee for leave to any
ONE place (origin and back to same city of respective work location) in India taken by the
employee and their family. Such exemption is limited to the extent of actual travel expenses
incurred by the employee. Travel has to be undertaken within India and overseas destinations
are not covered for exemption.

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• If the Employee is travelling to different places in a single vacation, the exemption can only be
claimed for the travel cost eligible from the place of origin to the farthest place in the vacation
by the shorted possible route, as mentioned in above clauses

Procedure for Claim

• LTA will be paid to you as taxable in monthly salary and will be treated as tax free if claim is
submitted in that particular financial year before the investment proof window close.
• LTA can be claimed at any time during the year.
• The LTA claim forms (format enclosed) along with the original bills and approved leave print out
from HRIS, duly sanctioned by the sanctioning authority are to be forwarded to the HR
Department after the travel is completed along with requisite supporting documents.

• The Human Resource Department after certifying the particulars of leave shall pass the claim
and adjust the approved LTA amount as nontaxable in salary.

• In case the passed LTA claim is lesser than the declared LTA, then the balance LTA amount will
be treated as taxable in salary.

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 LTA Claim Form

Declaration for Exemption of L.T.A. U/s.10 (5) of the I. T. Act., 1961

1. Employee Code: ………………………………………………………………

2. Name of the Employee: ………………………………………………….

3. Location Name: ………………………………………………………………

4. Details of leaves (4 days minimum): From…………………….. To ……………………… (DD/MM/YYYY) Number of days: ………………

5. Name and relation of the dependent member of family:

Name Relation

I. …………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………

II. …………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………

III. …………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………

IV. …………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………

V. …………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………

6. Destination Place of the Journey:

i) Name of the place: From …………………………….(same as city of work) To……………………………………….

ii) Mode of Transport: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

iii) Distance for Journey (K.M): …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

iv) Declared LTA Amount (Rs.): …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

v) Expenditure incurred for the journey (Rs.): …………………………………………………………………………………

vi) Exemption availed (Rs.): ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. I further declare that no exemption U/s.10 (5) availed during the Calendar year …………………………….
(DD/MM/YYYY).

……………………………………………………………………………
(Employee Signature)

For use by HR Department

Leaves verified …………………………………(Yes/No) Claim Passed for: Rs…………………………………………………

Received on: …………………………………… Approved by: …………………………………………………………………………

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 National Pension Scheme (NPS) Policy
Objective
National Pension System (NPS), regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
(PFRDA), is a voluntary contribution scheme introduced by Govt. of India in order to help citizens of
India to save towards their retirement as well as save additionally on tax.

Eligibility
This policy is applicable to permanent employees of AESL who have opted for NPS Employer
Contribution in flexi benefit plan as part of their CTC.

Limits:
10% of basic within a consolidated cap of 7.5 lacs annually (As per the Government of India budget
announcement is capped at a maximum of Rs. 7.50 lacs. Employer’s contribution amount exceeding
the same will be taxable).

Benefits
1) At retirement, subscriber can withdraw a part of the NPS corpus in lump sum and use the
remaining corpus to buy annuity to secure their retired life. Pensionmay be optedfrom 100%
accumulated amountas well
2) Employee who have opted for any regime (Old or New) can opt for the NPS.
3) Employee will get the benefit of the employer NPS contribution in u/s 80CCD (2) over and above
deduction u/s 80C, 80D or 80CCD 1(B).
4) Employee can do the investment u/s 80CCD 1(B) at their end.
5) On NPS account opening, a unique number called PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account
Number) is generated and a PRAN card is allotted to each subscriber. In cae employee already
have NPS account we will move the existing PRAN to the Axis Bank NPS account.
6) Employer NPS contribution will be deposted to the employee PRAN on monthly basis.
7) In case the monthly NPS amount after calculating the paydays is less than Rs.500/- in that case
amount will not be deposited in your NPS account.

Charges for Employees

A subscriber can contribute regularly in their pension account during theirworking life. At retirement,
he/she can withdraw a part of the NPS corpus in lump sum and use the remaining

Head Charges Payment Mode

Initial Subscriber Registration Rs 200/- +Applicable Service Tax Will be collected from the first contribution
deposited by the Employer*
Contribution Charges Rs 30/- + Applicable Service Tax Will be recovered from the monthly
Contribution Amount
Processing of Exit/Withdrawal @0.125 % of corpus with Min Rs To be paid upfront to the bank along with
125/- and Max Rs 500/- request form.
Other transactions not involving Rs 30/- +Applicable Service Tax To be paid upfront to the bank along with
Contributions e.g., Correction in request form.
Name, Personal Details,
Nomination, Reissue of PRAN,
Reissue of I-PIN / T-PIN, Inter POP
Transfer

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