The Central government has introduced a new rule to tighten the use of official vehicles across its ministries and departments. Under the revised policy, a senior officer who is already entitled to an official staff car cannot receive another government vehicle, even if they hold an additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU) or autonomous body. The move aims to prevent the misuse of official vehicles, avoid duplication and ensure better use of public resources.

The Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance issued the revised guidelines through a recent Office Memorandum (OM). The department directed all Union ministries and departments to strictly follow the new instructions while managing official staff cars. The latest order strengthens the government’s rules first introduced in September 2022 to regulate the use of official vehicles across the Central government.

Under the revised policy, an officer who already has an official staff car must continue using the same vehicle, even after receiving additional responsibility in another ministry, department, PSU or autonomous body. The government has made it clear that holding extra charge does not make an officer eligible for another official vehicle. This rule forms the core of the new "One Officer, One Official Car" policy.

The government has introduced the new measure to improve the management of official vehicles across ministries and departments. It also wants to remove unnecessary duplication in vehicle allocation. Officials believe the policy will help ministries use government resources more efficiently while keeping unnecessary expenses under control.

The Office Memorandum also places restrictions on the use of vehicles owned by public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and quasi-government organisations. Under the revised norms, Central government officers cannot use such vehicles unless they are travelling for official work or on an authorised tour. The government has clearly limited the circumstances under which these vehicles can be used to ensure that they serve only official purposes.

The memorandum also directs ministries and departments to take proper care of surplus or unused government vehicles. Instead of allowing such vehicles to remain in unofficial use, ministries must keep them in safe custody. The government wants departments to maintain better control over official assets and prevent their misuse.

According to the Department of Expenditure, the revised instructions aim to improve administrative efficiency across the Central government. The department also wants to prevent the misuse of government resources and reduce avoidable spending on official transport. Officials believe the "One Entitled Officer, One Official Car" principle will make the management of staff cars more organised and transparent.

The Centre also expects the revised policy to strengthen fiscal discipline. Officials believe that limiting officers to a single official vehicle will reduce unnecessary expenditure on maintenance, fuel and other transport-related costs. The government has presented the measure as part of its broader effort to ensure responsible use of public funds.

The latest directive builds on the Department of Expenditure's Master Office Memorandum issued on September 1, 2022. That memorandum reviewed and brought together all existing instructions related to the use of staff cars in Central government offices. It created a common framework for ministries and departments to follow while allocating and managing official vehicles.

With the latest Office Memorandum, the government has reinforced those earlier instructions and reminded all ministries and departments to follow them without exception. The Department of Expenditure has asked every ministry to ensure strict compliance with the revised norms. The government expects the updated policy to improve accountability, strengthen financial discipline and ensure that official vehicles remain available only for genuine government work.

The new "One Officer, One Official Car" rule reflects the Centre's effort to make government administration more efficient and accountable. By limiting officers to a single official vehicle, regulating the use of vehicles owned by PSUs and autonomous bodies, and directing departments to properly manage unused vehicles, the government aims to reduce waste, prevent misuse and promote responsible use of public resources. The revised guidelines also reinforce the Centre's commitment to improving administrative practices while keeping government expenditure under control.