New Delhi, July 28 (APAC Media): In a move aimed at preventing misuse of government vehicles and improving expenditure management, the Ministry of Finance has directed that senior bureaucrats will no longer be eligible for more than one official staff car, even if they hold additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU) or autonomous body.
The directive, issued through an Office Memorandum (OM) by the Department of Expenditure, has been circulated to all Union ministries and departments for immediate compliance.
No Additional Vehicle for Additional Charge
According to the revised instructions, officers already entitled to an official staff car for their primary assignment will not be allotted another government vehicle while handling additional responsibilities in any ministry, department, attached office, subordinate office, autonomous body or PSU.
The measure is intended to optimise the utilisation of government vehicles and eliminate unnecessary duplication.
Ministries Asked to Ensure Better Vehicle Management
The Finance Ministry has also instructed ministries and departments to ensure that vehicles not currently in use are kept in safe custody instead of remaining underutilised.
In another important provision, the government has barred Central Government officials from retaining staff cars belonging to government undertakings, autonomous bodies, quasi-government organisations or PSUs, except while undertaking official tours.
Builds on 2022 Guidelines
The latest directive reinforces the Department of Expenditure’s guidelines issued in September 2022 governing the use of official staff cars across Central Government offices.
All ministries, departments, financial advisers and private secretaries to Union Ministers have been directed to ensure strict adherence to the revised norms.
The government believes the updated rules will promote greater accountability, improve resource utilisation and strengthen financial discipline in the use of official vehicles.
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