India raises electronic device allowance for senior bureaucrats to ₹1.8 lakh

The Finance Ministry's Expenditure Department has issued updated guidelines permitting the purchase of electronic devices for central government officers, raising the maximum permissible cost to ₹1.8 lakh inclusive of taxes. The revised framework, released on November 10, expands eligibility and modernizes procurement rules for digital equipment across ministries and departments.

Under the new guidelines, officials at Section Officer rank and above qualify for device allocation. Eligible gadgets now include laptops, tablets, notepads, ultrabooks, and similar computing devices deemed necessary for official work. A significant policy change permits officers to retain these devices for personal use after completing a four-year tenure with the government.

The updated instructions supersede previous guidelines issued in July 2023, which had set a lower procurement ceiling. While the earlier framework explicitly addressed mobile device purchases, the current guidelines focus on computing and portable work devices, reflecting evolving workplace technology needs.

The move aligns with efforts to equip government staff with contemporary tools required for administrative functions and digital governance initiatives. Officials across the central administration are now authorized to procure devices within the revised spending parameters, streamlining the purchasing process for essential workplace technology.