New norms for foreign trips by officials, ministers

The government has issued fresh guidelines to regulate frequent foreign travels by government officials. The guidelines come in the wake of officials making repeated requests seeking approval from the government for foreign travel. There have also been instances where officials have placed requests without specifying reasons for the trip.

According to a circular issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) on August 28, officials wanting to make a foreign trip have to get clearance from the minister of the department concerned. Subsequently, they have to send the tour proposal in a specified format to DPAR.

Any proposal submitted to the chief minister’s office without the required clearances will not be considered. It will also be essential for ministers, IAS officers and other staff travelling on foreign trips to get prior ‘political clearance’ from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Ministers, officials and other staff of the department will also have to submit the details of all the persons in a delegation touring a foreign nation. They will also have to explain the benefits of such a trip, before embarking one, the circular said. It has also been made compulsory for the host nations organising such trips to take permission from the Home Ministry. The circular was issued based on several office memorandums issued by the Centre regarding the guidelines for foreign tours of ministers and officials.