IAS, IPS and IFoS officers were needed to take prior government sanction before accepting gifts
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New Delhi: IAS and IPS officers will now need to take prior permission from the Union government before accepting gifts, including free transportation, lodging, worth more than Rs 5,000.
Earlier, IAS, IPS and IFoS officers were needed to take prior government sanction before accepting gifts if their value exceeded Rs 1,000. According to the recently amended all-India services rules, they also need to inform the government if they accept gifts of over Rs 25,000 from their relatives or friends. Earlier, they had to inform the government, if the values exceeded Rs 5,000.
They may accept gifts from near relatives or personal friends with whom they have no official dealings on occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals, but they have to report to the government if the value of such a gift exceeds Rs 25,000, the rules state.
Free transportation, free boarding and lodging and any other service when provided by a person other than a near relative or personal friend, having no official dealing with the member of the service, will be construed as a gift, as per the definition in the existing rules.
However, the rules state that gifts does not include casual meals, casual lift or other social hospitality. Officers shall avoid accepting lavish and frequent hospitality from persons having official dealings with them or from commercial firms, the rules say.
( Source : PTI )
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