India's Central Government Enforces “One Officer, One Car” Policy
The Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance has issued an Office Memorandum directing all Union ministries and departments to enforce a “One Officer, One Official Car” rule. The policy bars senior bureaucrats who already have an entitled staff car from receiving an additional vehicle, even if they assume extra charge of another ministry, department, public‑sector undertaking or autonomous body.
Officers are also prohibited from using vehicles owned by PSUs, autonomous bodies or quasi‑government organisations except for official tours, and any surplus or unused cars must be kept in safe custody. The move is presented as a measure to curb misuse of government transport, eliminate duplication, reduce unnecessary spending, improve administrative efficiency and strengthen fiscal discipline. It reinforces comprehensive staff‑car guidelines first issued in September 2022, which allow limited personal travel of up to 500 km per month for a fee of Rs 3,000.
Entities: Department of Expenditure · Indian Central Government · Ministry of Finance · One Officer One Car policy · Union Ministries and Departments
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An officer with a staff car may use it for personal travel up to 500 km per month by paying Rs 3,000 and surrendering the regular transport allowance. (Source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Officers are prohibited from using vehicles belonging to PSUs, autonomous bodies, or quasi‑government organisations except for official tours. (Source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Under the policy, an officer already entitled to a staff car cannot be allotted another official vehicle even if holding additional charge of another ministry, department, PSU or autonomous body. (Source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The new rules reinforce comprehensive staff‑car guidelines issued in September 2022. (Source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The policy aims to curb misuse, reduce unnecessary expenditure, improve administrative efficiency and strengthen fiscal discipline. (Source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Department of Expenditure issued an Office Memorandum enforcing a “One Officer, One Official Car” policy for all Union ministries and departments. (Source)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Office Memorandum is No. 16(21)/E. Coord/2026 dated 27 May 2026. (Source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Unused or surplus government vehicles must be kept in safe custody. (Source)