Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 12: The Central government has revised its guidelines allowing eligible government employees to retain official laptops, tablets and other electronic devices after completing four years of use.

The revised rules, issued through an Office Memorandum by the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance, also introduce new price limits for devices purchased for official purposes. The maximum cost has been fixed at Rs 1.5 lakh plus applicable taxes, which increases to Rs 1.8 lakh plus taxes for devices containing more than 40 per cent Make-in-India components.

The guidelines cover laptops, tablets, notepads, ultrabooks, notebooks and similar electronic equipment provided to government officers for official work. They replace the earlier provisions issued on July 21, 2023, and also apply to officers who are already using government-issued devices.

Under the revised provisions, eligible officers can retain their devices after completing four years of usage. However, departments must ensure that all official data stored on the equipment is erased before handing it over for personal use.

The government has also specified provisions for officers who retire or leave government service before completing four years. They will be permitted to retain their devices by paying the depreciated book value, calculated at an annual depreciation rate of 25 per cent.

The revised guidelines also specify eligibility for receiving electronic devices based on the pay levels of Central Government officers. Officers in Pay Level 12 and above will be eligible for devices covering 100 per cent of the sanctioned strength of their respective departments.

For gazetted officers in Pay Levels 8 to 11, the eligibility limit has been fixed at 50 per cent, which may be increased to 75 per cent depending on official requirements.

The rules further stipulate that an officer cannot receive another device within four years of being issued one, unless the existing equipment is declared beyond economical repair.

The revised guidelines apply to Central Government ministries and departments, including their attached and subordinate offices. State governments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and consultants are excluded from their scope.

The updated policy lays down the purchase limits, eligibility conditions and retention provisions for electronic devices issued to Central Government officers for official purposes.