The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964

13. GIFTS:

(1) Save as provided in these rules, no Government servant shall accept, or permit any member of his family or any other person acting on his behalf to accept, any gift.

EXPLANATION: - The expression "gift” shall include free transport, boarding, lodging or other service or any other pecuniary advantage when provided by any person other than a near relative or personal friend having no official dealings with the Government servant.

NOTE (1) - A casual meal, lift or other social hospitality shall not be deemed to be a gift -

NOTE (2) - A Government servant shall avoid accepting lavish hospitality or frequent hospitality from any individual, industrial or commercial firms, organisations, etc., having official dealings with him.

(2) On occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals or religious functions, when the making of gift is in conformity with the prevailing religious and social practice, a Government servant may accept gifts from his near relatives or from his personal friends having no official dealings with him, but shall make a report to the Government, if the value of such gift exceeds -

*[(i) rupees twenty five thousand in the case of a Government servant holding any Group 'A' post;

(ii) rupees fifteen thousand in the case of a Govem1nent servant holding any Group 'B' post;

(iii) rupees seven thousand five hundred in the case of a Government servant holding any Group 'C' post.]

*[Substituted vide the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Atnend1ncnt Rules, 2014 - Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) Notification dated 4th March, 2014 issued from F.No.11013/3/2013-Estt.(A)]

(3) In any other case, a Government servant shall not accept any gift without the sanction of the Government if the value thereof exceeds-

(i) rupees one thousand five hundred in the case of Government servants holding any Group "A" or Group "B" post; and

(ii) rupees five hundred in the case of Government servants holding any Group "C" or Group "D" post.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (2) and (3), a Government servant, being a member of the Indian delegation or otherwise, may receive and retain gifts from foreign dignitaries if the market value of gifts received on one occasion does not exceed rupees one thousand. In all other cases, the acceptance and retention of such gifts shall be regulated by the instructions issued by the Government in this regard from time to time.

(5) A Government servant shall not accept any gifts from any foreign firm which is either contracting with the Government of India or is one with which the Government servant had, has or is likely to have official dealings. Acceptance of gifts by a Government servant from any other firm shall be subject to the provisions of sub-rule (3).

13-A. Dowry

No Government servant shall-

(i) give or take or abet the giving or taking of dowry; or

(ii) demand directly or indirectly, from the parent or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry.

Explanation:- For the purposes of this rule, ‘dowry’ has the same meaning as in the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961(28 of 1961).

Government of India Decisions »
(1) Manner of disposal of gifts received from foreign dignitaries – those of ‘trifling or ‘symbolic’ may be retained but other to be deposited in the Toshakhana – purchase from Toshakhana on payment of assessed value permissible [MEA DO No. 25/49/55-Ests., dated 31.03.1956] and M.E.A. OM No. F.55-TK/56 dated 19.11.1956] »
(1A) Procedure for disposal of gifts received from foreign dignitaries [MEA OM No. 15(101)(GA)/59/EA I/60(I)/183, dated 11.10.60] »
(1B) Procedure for disposal of gifts received from foreign dignitaries – Clarification [MEA OM No. F.16(11)/GA/60 (EA.1)/60/1/239, dated 31.12.1960] »
(1C) Procedure for disposal of gifts received from foreign dignitaries Do – Clarification [Ministry of E.A. OM No. F.16(2)GA/61CEAI/61/1/36), dated 16.03.1961] »
(1D) Presents received by Government Servants from foreign dignitaries and foreign firms-Instructions regarding [MHA DP &AR No. 11013/4/76-Estt. (A), dated 27.08.1976] »
(2) Acceptance of gifts by Government servants on the occasion of their transfer or retirement [MHA OM No. 25/40/58-Ests. (A), dated 24.07.1958] »
(2A) Acceptance of gifts by Government servants on the occasion of their transfer or retirement – Clarification [MHA OM No. 25/22/62-Ests. (A), dated 12.11.1962] »
(3) Familiarity arising out of private hospitality – recommendation No. 24 of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption [MHA OM No. 43/60/64-AVD, dated 18.01.1965] »
(4) Invitations for free "inaugural flights" – acceptance of, by Government servants and members of their families [MHA OM No. F.25/34/64-Ests. (A), dated 25.05.1965] »
(5) Acceptance of dowry by Government servants [MHA OM No. 25/37/65-Ests. (A), dated 30.08.1965] »
(6) Acceptance of passage and hospitality by officers from foreign contracting firms [MHA OM No. F.25/4/67-Ests. (A), dated 03.04.1967 as amended by OM bearing same number dated 06.11.1967] »
(7) Arms and ammunitions in the prohibited category should not be accepted as presents [MHA OM No. 25/13/65-Ests. (A) dated 10.12.1969] »
(8) Book Clubs run by Foreign Agencies – Acceptance of membership by Government servants [OM No. 25/16/73-Ests. (A), dated 03.07.1973 of Department of Personnel] »
(9) Contacts with business firms – Instructions regarding [DOPT OM No. 11013/1/88-Estt. (A), dated 10.05.1988] »
(10) Acceptance of ‘Free Companion Ticket’ by Government servants and members of their families under the ‘Companion Free Scheme’ introduced from time to time by various Airlines [DOPT OM No. 11013/2/97-Estt. (A), dated 05.03.1997] »
(10A) Acceptance of ‘Free Companion Ticket’ by Government servants and members of their families under the ‘Companion Free Scheme’ introduced from time to time by various Airlines - clarification regarding [DOPT OM No. 11013/2/97-Estt. (A), dated 19.08.1997] »
(10B) Acceptance of ‘Free Companion Ticket’ by Government servants and members of their families under the ‘Companion Free Scheme’ introduced from time to time by various Airlines – Clarification regarding [DOPT OM No. 11013/2/97-Estt. (A), dated 15.09.1998] »