Central government officers will now be allowed to retain government-issued laptops, tablets and other approved electronic devices after four years of use, under revised procurement rules issued by the Finance Ministry.
The new guidelines also raise the maximum permitted purchase cost of these devices to Rs 1.8 lakh, plus applicable taxes, for equipment with more than 40 per cent Make-in-India content. For other devices, the purchase ceiling has been set at Rs 1.5 lakh, plus taxes. Both limits include standard software.
Issued by the Department of Expenditure on 10 November, the revised policy replaces the July 2023 guidelines, which had capped device purchases at Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.3 lakh, respectively.
The benefit will not automatically extend to all government employees. Officers in Pay Level 12 and above are eligible for devices across the full sanctioned strength of their respective departments. For employees in Pay Levels 8 to 11, the initial eligibility is limited to 50 per cent of sanctioned posts. This can be increased to 75 per cent with the approval of the department secretary in consultation with the Financial Adviser, if required for official work.
Under the revised rules, officers can retain their devices after completing four years of use, provided all official information stored on them is erased before handover.
Employees who retire or leave government service before completing the four-year period can also retain their devices by paying their depreciated value. The government will calculate depreciation at 25 per cent annually.
The policy restricts employees from receiving another device within the four-year period unless their existing equipment is declared beyond economical repair.
The revised guidelines cover Central government ministries and departments, including their attached and subordinate offices. State governments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and consultants are excluded.
The permitted devices include laptops, tablets, notepads, ultrabooks and notebooks. Unlike the earlier guidelines, mobile phones have not been included in the revised list.
