Top babus will now fly first class.

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First class travel on international airlines has become a reality for top officials with the government issuing orders to substantially improve all travel rules in line with the Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations.

The high-end journeys can be undertaken by cabinet secretary and secretaries while officials a notch below can enjoy business class and all others can travel economy class.

For domestic official tours, all officers with a grade pay of Rs 10,000 or above can travel in business class or by AC first in trains. The entitlements of other officials have been revised from September 1 with the minimum being AC-III for those drawing Rs 4,200 or less as grade pay.

The government has taken a strong view on personal use of "mileage points" of frequent-flier officials and ordered that these points would accrue to the department concerned for concessional travel by others on official tours. "Any usage of these mileage points for purposes of private travel by an officer will attract departmental action.

This is to ensure that the benefits out of official travel, which is funded by the government, should accrue to the government," the order says. To ensure that tours are taken judiciously, the government has clarified that no additional funds would be provided on account of revision in entitlements.

The departments are expected to restrict official tours only to "absolutely essential" requirement. Journeys undertaken in buses and taxis, including air-conditioned ones, will be reimbursed on the basis of actual expenses for officers in grade pay up to Rs 4,200. Official tours in own cars or taxis can be reimbursed at the rate of Rs 16 per km. It would be Rs 8 per km for auto-rickshaws and scooters.

The highest daily expense for hotel stay would be Rs 5,000 now with additional food bills up to Rs 500. The limit goes down as per grade pay to a minimum daily entitlement of Rs 300. A composite transfer grant equal to one month's basic pay can be taken for change of stations beyond 20 km.

The weight limit for shifting household goods has been revised upwards. If an officer's spouse is working, he or she can claim 50% of the transfer grant if moving between same stations within six months but after 60 days of the spouse's transfer.

Source The Times Of India.
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