According to the most recent guidelines released by the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry, employees of the central government are entitled to receive mobile phones, laptops, or similar electronic gadgets valued at up to Rs 1.3 lakh for official purposes. After a span of four years, they are allowed to retain these devices for personal use.
As per the latest guidelines, officers holding the rank of deputy secretary and above in the central government will be eligible to receive electronic devices. For Section Officers and Under Secretaries, 50% of the sanctioned strength will be provided with such devices. The maximum cost of the device is set at Rs 1 lakh plus taxes. However, if the device has a Make-in-India component exceeding 40%, the price ceiling is raised to Rs 1.30 lakh plus taxes.
It is important to note that officers who have already been allocated a device in a ministry/department within the last four years, except for cases of irreparable damage, will not be eligible for a new one. Once the four-year period has elapsed, the officers are permitted to retain the device for personal use.
Before allowing personal use, the concerned Ministry/Department must ensure that all data on the device is thoroughly wiped out (data sanitised).
This new memorandum, dated July 21, 2023, replaces the previous one issued on March 27, 2020. Unlike the older memorandum, the latest guidelines now permit central government employees to keep the gadgets for personal use after the specified period, and the cost ceiling for such equipment has been increased to Rs 1.3 lakh.
