Gifts Received On Official Duty Cannot Be Retained Anymore: Centre

New Delhi: The Centre has made it all the more difficult for IAS, IPS and other senior government functionaries from taking home the gifts they receive on official duty, especially from foreign visits.

The Narendra Modi government on July 29 notified the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 removing a section that allowed officials to receive and retain gifts whose market value does not exceed Rs 1000.

The amended rule says gifts can be received and retained in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Acceptance or Retention of Gifts or Presentation) Rules, 2012.

This, in effect, means all the gifts they receive will have to be deposited in an ‘uphaar sangrahalaya’ or ‘gift museum’. If the value of the gift exceeds Rs 5000, they will be given an option to purchase the gift on payment of the difference between the market value and Rs.5000.

According to some media reports, the government has decided to establish a strongroom by the name of ‘uphaar sangrahalaya’ in the office of the Controller General of Accounts, and the gifts would be deposited there. Not just civil servants, but also other officers working for the government would be required to deposit their gifts.

The amended rules of July 29 further states that Group A and Group B officers will not accept any gift without the sanction of the government if the value of the gift exceeds Rs five thousand. Earlier, the limit was Rs 1500. In case of Group C and Group D officers, the limit has been raised from Rs 500 to Rs 2000.