The Centre has introduced stricter rules for the use of official vehicles by implementing a "One Officer, One Official Car" policy. Under the new guidelines, senior bureaucrats will no longer be eligible for multiple government vehicles even if they hold additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU) or autonomous body. The move is intended to prevent misuse of official vehicles, avoid duplication and promote efficient use of public resources.
In a recent Office Memorandum (OM), the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance instructed all Union ministries and departments to strictly implement the revised staff car guidelines. The latest order builds upon the comprehensive instructions issued in September 2022, which brought together the rules governing the use of official vehicles across the Central government.
According to the revised norms, officers already entitled to an official staff car cannot be assigned another government vehicle solely because they have taken on additional responsibilities in another ministry, department, PSU or autonomous body. They are required to continue using the vehicle already allotted to them.
The memorandum also bars central government officers from using vehicles owned by PSUs, autonomous bodies or quasi-government organisations, except when travelling on official assignments or authorised tours. Ministries have also been directed to keep surplus or unused vehicles in secure custody instead of allowing them to be used unofficially.
The Department of Expenditure said the revised measures are aimed at improving administrative efficiency, preventing misuse of government assets and reducing unnecessary spending on official transport. By enforcing the "One Entitled Officer, One Official Car" principle, the government expects to streamline staff car management across ministries and departments while encouraging greater fiscal discipline.
The latest directive follows the Master Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Expenditure on September 1, 2022, which consolidated all existing instructions on the use of official vehicles in government offices. The Centre has once again directed all ministries and departments to ensure strict adherence to these rules.
