New Delhi: In a move aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline and ensuring efficient use of government resources, the Central Government has introduced a ‘One Officer, One Official Car’ policy, preventing officers from being allotted multiple official vehicles even if they hold additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU), or autonomous body.
The Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance has issued a fresh Office Memorandum (OM) directing all Central ministries and departments to strictly comply with the revised norms. The latest instructions supplement the comprehensive guidelines governing the use of government staff cars that were issued in September 2022.
No Additional Official Car for Officers Holding Extra Charge
Under the revised policy, any officer already entitled to an official staff car will continue using the same vehicle for all official responsibilities, even if assigned additional charge elsewhere.
The government has made it clear that no second official vehicle will be sanctioned solely because an officer is handling multiple assignments.
The measure is intended to curb unnecessary allocation of government vehicles and ensure optimal utilisation of existing resources.
Restrictions on Use of PSU and Autonomous Body Vehicles
The Finance Ministry has also clarified that Central Government officers should not use vehicles belonging to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), autonomous bodies or quasi-government organisations, except while undertaking authorised official duties or official tours connected with those organisations.
The clarification aims to prevent the routine use of vehicles owned by government-linked institutions for purposes beyond officially sanctioned work.
Focus on Preventing Misuse of Government Assets
The revised guidelines further instruct all ministries and departments to ensure that surplus or unutilised staff cars remain under proper custody and are not used for unauthorised or unofficial purposes.
Departments have been asked to maintain strict oversight of vehicle deployment so that government assets are neither misused nor left without proper accountability.
Building on 2022 Staff Car Guidelines
The latest Office Memorandum supplements the comprehensive staff car guidelines issued in September 2022 and is part of the government’s broader effort to rationalise expenditure and improve administrative efficiency.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the revised instructions seek to:
- Eliminate unnecessary expenditure on official vehicles.
- Promote prudent and efficient management of government assets.
- Improve administrative efficiency.
- Strengthen fiscal discipline across ministries and departments.
Strict Compliance Directed
The Department of Expenditure has directed all Central ministries and departments to ensure strict adherence to the revised policy. The government expects the new norms to streamline the deployment of official staff cars while preventing duplication and misuse of government vehicles.
With the introduction of the ‘One Officer, One Official Car’ policy, the Centre has reinforced its focus on accountability, resource optimisation and responsible utilisation of public assets across the Union Government.
