Govt rolls out 'One Officer, One Official Car' rule to curb misuse, cut spending

The Centre has tightened norms governing the use of official vehicles by introducing a "One Officer, One Official Car" policy, barring senior bureaucrats from being allotted multiple government vehicles even if they hold additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU) or autonomous body. The move is aimed at curbing misuse of official vehicles, eliminating duplication and ensuring prudent use of public resources.

In a recent Office Memorandum (OM), the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance directed all Union ministries and departments to strictly enforce the revised guidelines on the use of staff cars. The order supplements and reinforces the comprehensive instructions first issued in September 2022, which consolidated rules governing the use of official vehicles across the Central government.

Under the new norms, an officer who is already entitled to an official staff car cannot be allotted another government vehicle merely because they have been given additional charge of another ministry, department, PSU or autonomous body. Instead, the officer must continue using the staff car already assigned to them.

The memorandum also prohibits central government officers from using vehicles belonging to PSUs, autonomous bodies or quasi-government organisations, except while travelling on official duty or during authorised tours. Ministries have been instructed to ensure that surplus or unused vehicles are kept in safe custody instead of being put into unofficial use.

The Department of Expenditure said the revised instructions are intended to improve administrative efficiency, prevent misuse of government resources and reduce avoidable expenditure on official transport. The "One Entitled Officer, One Official Car" principle is expected to streamline the management of staff cars across ministries and departments while promoting fiscal discipline.

The latest directive follows the Department of Expenditure's Master Office Memorandum issued on September 1, 2022, which comprehensively reviewed and consolidated the Centre's instructions on the use of staff cars in government offices. The government has now reiterated that all ministries and departments must ensure strict compliance with these norms.

The Centre has tightened norms governing the use of official vehicles by introducing a "One Officer, One Official Car" policy, barring senior bureaucrats from being allotted multiple government vehicles even if they hold additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU) or autonomous body. The move is aimed at curbing misuse of official vehicles, eliminating duplication and ensuring prudent use of public resources.

In a recent Office Memorandum (OM), the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance directed all Union ministries and departments to strictly enforce the revised guidelines on the use of staff cars. The order supplements and reinforces the comprehensive instructions first issued in September 2022, which consolidated rules governing the use of official vehicles across the Central government.

Under the new norms, an officer who is already entitled to an official staff car cannot be allotted another government vehicle merely because they have been given additional charge of another ministry, department, PSU or autonomous body. Instead, the officer must continue using the staff car already assigned to them.

The memorandum also prohibits central government officers from using vehicles belonging to PSUs, autonomous bodies or quasi-government organisations, except while travelling on official duty or during authorised tours. Ministries have been instructed to ensure that surplus or unused vehicles are kept in safe custody instead of being put into unofficial use.

The Department of Expenditure said the revised instructions are intended to improve administrative efficiency, prevent misuse of government resources and reduce avoidable expenditure on official transport. The "One Entitled Officer, One Official Car" principle is expected to streamline the management of staff cars across ministries and departments while promoting fiscal discipline.

The latest directive follows the Department of Expenditure's Master Office Memorandum issued on September 1, 2022, which comprehensively reviewed and consolidated the Centre's instructions on the use of staff cars in government offices. The government has now reiterated that all ministries and departments must ensure strict compliance with these norms.