Restrictions on Foreign Travel of Babus
GOVERNMENT has reiterated its instructions on restrictions of foreign travel by officers:
(i) Proposals for participation in conferences/ seminars/conventions/ workshops/ study tours/presentation of papers abroad at Government cost will not be entertained except those that are fully funded by sponsoring/inviting organizations which may be considered keeping in mind the public interest and Government business at home.
(ii) No officer should undertake more than four (4) official visits abroad in a calendar year. For visits exceeding four by an officer, detailed justification would need to be furnished and such visit would be allowed only in exceptional cases depending on functional need.
(iii) The size of the delegation and the duration of visit shall be kept to the absolute minimum. The Administrative Secretary shall make sure that in every case officers of appropriate functional level dealing with the subject are sponsored/ deputed instead of those at higher levels. Visits at the level of Secretaries should be planned only if their presence is essential and officers of or the level of Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary cannot substitute them for the purpose of enunciating Government policies/standpoint.
(iv) Foreign travel of Government officers at the cost of PSUs/PSEs is discouraged, unless the journey is undertaken specifically in connection with the affairs of the PSU/PSE. Specific reasons for charging the expenditure to the PSU/PSE on account of foreign travel must be spelt out in the proposal. Wherever expenditure on the visit of Government officers is borne by PSU/PSE, the entitlements of the officers shall remain same as his entitlements under Government Rules/regulations/norms/instructions.