Launching the drive to contain public expenditure, the government today asked ministries and departments to restrict foreign travel and refrain from holding meetings in five-star hotels.
The ministries have also been asked not to purchase new vehicles or create new posts, except for organisations which are to be set up during the course of the year.
"It would be the responsibility of the secretary of each ministry/department to ensure that foreign travel is restricted to most necessary and unavoidable official engagements based on functional necessity," said an official memorandum issued by the Finance Ministry.
Economy and rationalisation of expenditure, it added, was necessary to "carry on the process of fiscal consolidation vigorously and to meet the fiscal and revenue deficit targets announced in the budget for 2011-12."
Elaborating on travel restrictions, it said officials at appropriate levels involved with the relevant subjects should be sponsored for foreign trips, instead of those at higher levels. "The size of delegation and the duration of visit will be kept to the absolute minimum," it added.
The government further said that officials would not go abroad on study tours, workshops, conferences and presentation of paper at government expenses. Only those whose visit is funded by sponsors would be permitted to travel abroad.
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According to the memorandum, "There will be a ban on holding meetings and conferences at five star hotels."
Holding of exhibitions, seminars and conferences abroad, it added, should be "strongly discouraged" except in cases of exhibitions for trade promotion.