Rajasthan Moves To Cut Costs: No Govt-Funded Foreign Travel, Orders Carpooling And EV Adoption

In a move aimed at tightening financial discipline and improving resource management, the Rajasthan government has imposed restrictions on government-funded foreign travel for ministers, officers and employees, while also directing departments to adopt electric vehicles, digital governance measures and expenditure cuts.

The directive, issued on May 22, followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve petrol and diesel and improve resource efficiency. Departments have been instructed to ensure “efficient management of resources and financial discipline in public expenditure.”

The Finance Department’s Budget Section issued a circular outlining reforms related to transport, administrative functioning, energy conservation and implementation

of government schemes.

On official travel, the order said, “the Chief Minister has limited the number of vehicles in his convoy. All Ministers and heads of corporations/boards/commissions, etc., who are permitted convoy vehicles shall also use only the minimum essential number of vehicles in their convoy.”

The government also directed that “all petrol/diesel government vehicles shall be converted in a phased manner into electric vehicles,” while adding that “for officials whose routine work remains within the city, any new vehicles to be purchased shall be only electric vehicles.”

The circular further stated that “in contract vehicles as well, priority shall be given to the use of electric vehicles in a phased manner,” and advised departments to promote EV usage among officials whose duties are largely within cities or states.

It also instructed that “officers and employees travelling towards the same destination shall give priority to car pooling (Car Pooling) in government/contract / private vehicles.”

On foreign travel, the order made clear that “Travel abroad at government expense shall remain completely prohibited.”

The Finance Department additionally directed that “events, ceremonies, etc., organised from time to time by various departments of the State Government, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings, etc. shall be conducted in government buildings,” while encouraging departments to rely more on digital platforms.

The circular further stated that “meetings shall, as far as possible, be organised through video conferencing.”

To strengthen digital governance, the government mandated that “use of e-Office and e-files shall be ensured across various offices” and asked departments to prioritise the “Raj-Kaj Portal instead of physical correspondence.”

It also said that “wherever possible, training programmes shall be conducted online in place of physical training programmes,” with departments encouraged to maximise use of the “Karmayogi Portal (iGOT).”

The directive instructed the Energy Department to prioritise installations under the “PM Surya Ghar Scheme,” while the Agriculture Department was asked to promote “Natural Organic and Sustainable Agriculture,” increase “Agri-Stack” registrations and reduce “urea for non-agricultural purposes.”

The order also emphasised rational fertiliser use and directed government offices to adopt solar energy systems. It stated that “installation of solar energy systems for electricity consumption shall be ensured in government buildings,” while advising offices to use electricity judiciously and switch off equipment after working hours.

For implementation, the circular said “the Principal Secretary/Secretary in-charge of the concerned administrative department and the Head of Department shall be responsible” for ensuring compliance.

The Rajasthan government said the measures are intended to improve efficiency, strengthen financial discipline and promote sustainable governance practices across departments.