No. 4(4)/E.Coord/2015
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

 New Delhi, 27th November 2017

Subject: Instructions for processing foreign visits of officers of the Government of India for approval of Screening Committee of Secretaries (SCoS)

Reference is invited to this Department’s OM of even number dated 5th January 2016 on the above subject. Para 22 of the ibid OM provides that ‘Proposals, complete in all respects, seeking approval of SCoS shall be submitted to Department of Expenditure 15 days prior to departure date of delegation’.

2.It has been observed that Ministries/Departments are not submitting their proposals within the stipulated time, often sending proposals one day prior to the departure of the official (s). While it is understandable that requisite approvals and clearances from different agencies/departments take time, it has been observed that Ministries/Departments have been casual in processing their proposals internally without giving due regard to the time frame stipulated for receiving the proposals in Department of Expenditure and seeking approval of the SCoS. Late receipt of proposals for SCoS approval leads to administrative inconveniences both for the SCoS and Ministries/Departments.

3.Hence, Ministries/Departments are directed to ensure that as far as possible, proposals of foreign visits requiring SCoS approval are received 15 days prior to departure date of the delegation but not later than 5 days before date of departure of the delegation. Proposals not adhering to the time frame are liable to be rejected.

S/d,
(H. Atheli)
Director

Source: DoE

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New Delhi: Government has relaxed the 50 per cent norm for overstaying abroad after official visit, by allowing bureaucrats to avail a four-day holiday if their official tour is of less than 8 days.

Under the earlier norms, bureaucrats travelling abroad on official tour could seek leave for staying abroad up to 50 per cent of the duration of visit, subject to a maximum of 15 days.

It has been decided that in case of official visit/tour abroad (including training and excluding study leave) where the period of deputation is less than 8 days, the government official may be granted ex-India leave for a maximum period of 4 days, said the office memorandum issued by the Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry.

The memorandum, however, clarified that in respect of official visit/tour abroad, including training for more than 8 days, the limit of 50 per cent ex-India leave will continue.

It further said, that during ex-India leave the closed holidays, like Saturday, Sunday, etc, may be pre-fixed/ suffixed subject to the condition that no extra financial implications like payment of hotel charges/per-diem allowance are involved.

Earlier this year, the Ministry had said that bureaucrats can go on a maximum four overseas trips in a calendar year, and that Secretaries should undertake such travels only when no one else can be deputed.

Secretaries to government departments had also been barred from travelling abroad during a Parliament session unless absolutely unavoidable. Also, Secretary and the Minister of a department cannot be abroad at the same time.

The foreign travels of bureaucrats have to be authorised by Screening Committee of Secretaries (SCoS).

PTI

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No. 7(l)/E.Coord/2014
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
25th November 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Foreign tours/travels as part of Training Programmes —approval of Screening Committee of Secretaries (SCOS).

Instructions have been issued by this Department from time to time on the need to curtail expenditure on foreign travel. In recent months it has been observed that Ministries/Departments have been proposing Foreign Study Tours (FSTs) of large delegations of officers as a part of training programmes. In keeping with the Government’s drive on economy and rationalization of expenditure and to have an objective assessment of such FSTs, it has been decided that prior approval of the Screening Committee of Secretaries would be required for all FSTs of delegations exceeding 5 members (irrespective of level/rank of officers), where Government of India is funding such tours and which are part of career training programme(s) or stand alone tours or otherwise.

2. This has the approval of Cabinet Secretary.

(N. Radhakrishnan)
Director(E.Coord)

source-finmin

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