New Delhi: No gifts can be given during the festive season, particularly Diwali, using public funds, the Ministry of Finance has directed all ministries, departments and employees.

The order is aimed towards bringing about fiscal discipline and curbing non-essential expenditure, a notification has said. ADVERTISEMENT

According to officials, crores used to be spent in distributing expensive gifts during Dussehra and Diwali by government offices till a few years ago. The practice has been curbed, but some spending still continues.

The Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance has said the move to stop spending public funds on festive season gifts departments or ministries may exchange or give to high-ranking officials, is part of a larger policy of ‘curbing non-essential ex

See Full Page