New Delhi/Alive News: Central government employees will now be allowed to retain office-issued laptops and other electronic devices for personal use after four years of official service. The Finance Ministry has raised the maximum purchase limit for such devices to ₹1.50 lakh plus taxes, which increases to ₹1.80 lakh plus taxes for products with more than 40% Make-in-India components.
The Department of Expenditure issued revised guidelines on November 10, replacing the earlier rules introduced in July 2023. The devices will remain government property for four years from the date of purchase. After completing this period, the officers using them can retain the devices.
Who Is Eligible?
Under the revised rules, officers in Pay Level 12 and above under the 7th Pay Commission will be eligible for these devices. In departments with employees in Pay Levels 8 to 11, up to 50% of officers can receive them.
The guidelines cover laptops, tablets, notebooks, notepads and similar devices. Officers will be responsible for ensuring the safety and security of official data stored on these devices.
Unlike the earlier guidelines, the revised rules do not specifically include mobile phones.
Cabinet Approves Noida-Greater Noida Metro Extension
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension of the Noida Metro’s Aqua Line from Sector 51 to Greater Noida Sector 4. The 8.449-km elevated corridor will have five stations.
Other Major Cabinet Decisions
- Stand-Up India Scheme: The scheme has been extended for five years to promote entrepreneurship among women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Mudra Loan Guarantee: The Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) will continue until March 31, 2031, with a corpus of ₹5,000 crore to support loans worth ₹12.6 lakh crore.
- Fertiliser Subsidy: The Cabinet approved ₹62,370.02 crore in nutrient-based subsidies for phosphatic and potassic fertilisers for the Rabi 2026-27 season.
- Battery Waste Exports: The government prohibited the export of specified categories of battery waste and scrap, including lithium-ion battery black mass.
- Electric Vehicles: The Finance Ministry has asked government departments to make electric vehicles their preferred choice for staff cars, with a procurement price ceiling of ₹20 lakh.
