Central govt officers can keep official laptops worth up to ₹1.8 lakh after 4 years; new rules explained

In an office memorandum dated November 10, 2026, the Department of Expenditure (DoE) said the device, including laptop, tablet, notepad, ultra-book, notebook, or devices of similar categories, may be issued to eligible officers for discharge of official work.

These powers are to be exercised by the Secretary of each ministry or department in consultation with the Financial Advisor, "duly taking into consideration the functional requirements and budgetary provisions,". And may be delegated to an authority not below the level of Joint Secretary.

On eligibility for the device, the memorandum sets two slabs.

• For officers in Pay Level 8 (Gazetted) to Pay Level 11 (as per 7th CPC): 50% of the sanctioned strength of the Department can be provided the device. A Secretary may extend the facility to 75% based on their functional requirements.

• For Officers of Government of India in Pay Level 12 and above (as per 7th CPC): 100% of the sanctioned strength of the department can get the device.

The DoE has raised the price ceiling for locally made devices. It said, "The cost of device shall not be more than Rs. 1,50,000/- + taxes. However, for devices with Make-in-India (MII) component of more than 40%, the price ceiling shall be Rs. 1,80,000/- + taxes.". The ceiling is inclusive of standard software such as the operating system, antivirus software or MS Office etc.

Ownership rules

The ownership rules are the most consequential change for serving officers.

DoE said the device shall be property of Government up to four years from the date of purchase. Post completion of four years of usage, "the officer shall retain the issued device", with the department required to wipe the data before handover.

No second device may be sanctioned within those four years, except where the equipment is declared Beyond Economical Repair, defined as repair cost exceeding 50% of book value, in which case the officer keeps the old device at no cost and becomes eligible for a new one.

Officers who retire or leave service within four years of purchase can retain the device by paying its book value on the date of relieving. The book value of the devise is computed on a straight-line method with 25% depreciation a year on a pro-rata basis. The annexure to the DoE's order shows a ₹1.5 lakh device retained after 12 months costing 75% of the original amount, after 24 months 50%, and after 34 months 29.17%.

On transfer, officers will need to carry the device to the new posting and this fact will need be recorded in the Last Pay Certificate along with a copy of the bill. Those posted to PSUs, state governments or autonomous bodies also carry it, but cannot draw a new device during such deputation.

The order supersedes the July 21, 2023 guidelines, and existing holders will be governed by the new retention and transfer rules.

Ministers and their personal staff, PSUs, state governments, autonomous and statutory bodies, and consultants are outside the purview of the DoE's order. Though such entities may adopt the norms with the approval of their governing body.