Right to Information Right to Information

Right to Information

Information regarding Appellate Authority and Public Information Officer under the RTI Act, 2005.
In pursuance of Section 4 (1) (b) of the RTI Act, 2005, the Embassy of India, Sofia has designated the following officers as the RTI Public Information Officer and RTI Appellate Authority to deal with the RTI applications from Indian nationals and NRIs working and living in Bulgaria and Macedonia :

i)

The particulars of its organization, functions and duties;

Embassy of India is headed by the Ambassador of India. His deputy is an officer of the rank of Second Secretary. The Embassy works interalia, for enhancing political exchanges, economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural exchanges and consular services including visa, passport etc.

The Embassy of India is accredited to the Republic of Bulgaria with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of North Macedonia.

(ii)

The powers and duties of its officers and employees;

The Officers of the Embassy function under the guidance and supervision of the Ambassador.

The Embassy functions within the purview of business allocated to the Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India's allocation of business rules and transaction of business rules.

Other powers are derived from the Passport Act Consular and Visa Manuals of India.



(iii)

The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;

All substantive decisions are taken under the instructions and overall supervision of the Ambassador.

(iv)

The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;

Norms are set under the instruction and supervision of the Ambassador.
Following norms have been set for the discharge of its functions:

Citizens’ CharterTime limits for disposal of Consular and other work

Particulars of Consular Service

Period

Visa for Bulgarian & Macedonian citizens

Generally same day

Visa for citizens other than Bulgarians and Macedonians

5 working days

Passport (Issued under the CIPPS)

15-20 days

OCI Card

Around 30 Days

Miscellaneous Consular services (Attestations, Affidavits, Powers of Attorney, etc.) for Indian nationals

Generally same day

Response to RTI Queries

Within 30 days

(v)

The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;


IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time.
Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India’s Representatives Abroad.
Passport Act Consular and Visa Manuals of India. Other Central Government Rules and manuals published by Central Government.

(vi)

A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;

Classified documents / files relating to India’s external relations.
Unclassified documents / files including joint statements, declarations, agreements and MoUs.
Passport and consular services application forms.
Miscellaneous documents related to its establishment and housekeeping work.

(vii)

The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;

The Embassy functions within the norms of India’s foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Policy is implemented by the Embassy under the guidance and supervision of the Ambassador.
Embassy interacts regularly with representatives of think tanks, academic community, Indian Association, Indian Diaspora and others.

(viii)

A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;

Tender Evaluation Committee:
1. Ms. Soni Dahiya (HOC) 
2. Sh Virender Singh Negi, ASO (Consular)
3. Ms. Sneh Batra, Attache (PIC)

Committee for Administration of the Indian Community Welfare Fund:
1.
 Ms. Soni Dahiya (HOC) 
2. Sh Virender Singh Negi, ASO (Consular)
3. Ms. Sneh Batra, Attache (PIC)

(ix)















































(x)

A directory of its officers
Embassy of India, 4 Alfred Nobel Street,Geo Milev, Sofia 1113,Bulgaria
Telephones:+359 2 963 56 75/02 963 56 76/02 963 56 77, Fax:+359 2 963 56 86
Email:
hoc.sofia@mea.gov.in, admn.sofia@mea.gov.in

OFFICERS’ LIST
Name & Designation


Mr. Sanjay Rana
Ambassador

Telephone: +359 29635683
Email: amboff.sofia@mea.gov.in
Ms. Soni Dahiya
Second Secretary (HOC/Commerce)

Telephone: +359 29635685
Email: hoc.sofia@mea.gov.in, com.sofia@mea.gov.in
Sh. Sandeep Kumar
Attache (Consular)

Telephone: +359 28581050
Email: cons.sofia@mea.gov.in
Ms. Sneh Batra
Attache (PIC)

Telephone: +359 29635688
Email: pol.sofia@mea.gov.in, admn.sofia@mea.gov.in

Monthly remuneration received by each officers and employee u/s 4(1) (b) (x) of RTI Act

S. No.

Grade/Post

No. of Post

Level of pay in pay Matrix (7th CPC)

Pay scale

(IN Rs.)

1.

Ambassador

1

Level : 14/13

37,400-67,000

2.

Second Secretary

1

Level : 11/08

15,600-39,100

3.

Attaché/Section Officer

1

Level : 10/16

15,600-39,100

4.

Attaché/Private Secretary

1

Level : 08/09

9,300-34,800

5.

Personal Assistant

1

Level : 07/07

 

9,300-34,800

6.

Assistant Section Officer

2

(i) Level : 07/08

(ii) Level : 07/04

9,300-34,800

7.

Security Assistant

2

(i) Level : 04/16

(ii) Level : 04/10

5,200-20,200

8.

Visiting Prof. ICCR (Hindi) Chair

1

Level : 14/08

37,400-67,000


(xi)

The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;

annexure III



Chancery Budget

Budget Allocation and utilization during Financial Year 2021-22, 2022-23 & 2023-24 :

Budget allocation during FY 2021-22 (FE)
(Rs. in crores only)


INR : 7.02

Expenditure during FY 2021-22
(Rs. in crores only)


INR : 6.98


Budget allocation during FY 2022-23 (FE)
(Rs. in crores only)

INR : 7.01

Expenditure during FY 2022-23
(Rs.  in crores only)

INR : 6.93

Budget allocation during FY 2023-24 (BE)
(Rs. in crores only)

INR : 6.49

Expenditure during FY 2023-24
(Rs. in crores only)




Commerce Budget

Budget allocation and utilization during Financial Year 2021-22, 2022-23 & 2023-24:

Budget allocation during FY 2021-22 (FE)
(Rs. in crores only)


INR : 1.29

Expenditure during FY 2021-22
(Rs. in crores only)


INR : 1.27


Budget allocation during FY 2022-23 (FE)
(Rs. in crores only)

INR : 1.00

Expenditure during FY 2022-23
(Rs. in crores only)

INR : 0.98

Budget allocation during FY 2023-24 (BE)
(Rs. in crores only)


Expenditure during FY 2023-24
(Rs. in crores only)



(xii)

The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;

Embassy of India, Sofia does not have any subsidy programme.

(xiii)

Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it;

No concessions / permits are granted by Embassy of India.



(xiv)

Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;

The Embassy’s website has the required information. Embassy also makes available to interested individuals information on India, its people, culture, trade and investment.

(xv)

The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;

Appellate Authority:-
Mr. Sanjay Rana,
Ambassador  & AA,
Telephone:
+359 29635683
Email: amboff.sofia@mea.gov.in


Central Public Information Officer:-
Ms Soni Dahiya,
HOC & CPIO,
Telephone: +359-29635685,
Email: hoc.sofia@mea.gov.in 

annexure I

annexure 2

(xvi)

The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;

(xvii)

Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year

The Embassy’s website has this information


(xviii) ORGANIZATION CHART


(xix) India establishment diplomatic relations with Bulgaria in 1954
       
Given below name of Ambassador/HOMs since June 1970

Dr. Gopal Singh June 1970 November 1972
2  
Shri K. P. Lukose May 1973 May, 1975
Shri J. R. Hiremath November 1975 July 1977
Shri S. H. Desai November 1977 May 1980
Shri B. Deva Rao June 1980 February 1985
Shri S. S. Nath June 1985 July 1987
Shri Girish Dhume February 1989 February 1993
Shri B. P. Agarwal July 1993 September 1994
Shri Nirupam Sen March 1995 August 1999
10 
Smt Nilima Mitra October 1999 February 2003
11 
Shri Dinkar Khullar February 2003 July 2006
12 
Shri Lal Dingliana July 2006 September 2009
13 
Shri Divyabh Manchanda October 2009 August 2014
14 
Shri Rajesh K. Sachdeva September 2014 March 2017
15 
Ms. Pooja Kapur July 2017 February 2021
16 
Shri Sanjay Rana March 2021