<p>With their coffers squeezed, expenditures are weighing on the government with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushing for fiscal discipline. Modi has restrained ministers from purchasing new cars.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Modi also wants ministers to seek PMO clearance for any expenditure that exceeds Rs 1 lakh.<br /><br />The move is also aimed at sending a message that the government is not splurging on its ministers while asking the people to bear the brunt of price rise.<br /><br />After occupying Raisina Hill, Modi has come up with several guidelines, including for hiring personal staff, and set performance targets that has empowered PMO to run the government machinery.<br /><br />This is in contrast to the UPA regime where the former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s office was not taken seriously as power was centred with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.<br /> <br />Though the directive restricts purchase of new cars, it is not clear whether a detailed austerity drive would follow to curtail non-Plan expenditure.<br /><br />The UPA government had also announced a slew of austerity measures last year barring ministers from hosting meetings in five star hotels and asking the government officials not to fly executive class.<br /><br />The government had also banned fresh recruitment.</p>
<p>With their coffers squeezed, expenditures are weighing on the government with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushing for fiscal discipline. Modi has restrained ministers from purchasing new cars.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Modi also wants ministers to seek PMO clearance for any expenditure that exceeds Rs 1 lakh.<br /><br />The move is also aimed at sending a message that the government is not splurging on its ministers while asking the people to bear the brunt of price rise.<br /><br />After occupying Raisina Hill, Modi has come up with several guidelines, including for hiring personal staff, and set performance targets that has empowered PMO to run the government machinery.<br /><br />This is in contrast to the UPA regime where the former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s office was not taken seriously as power was centred with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.<br /> <br />Though the directive restricts purchase of new cars, it is not clear whether a detailed austerity drive would follow to curtail non-Plan expenditure.<br /><br />The UPA government had also announced a slew of austerity measures last year barring ministers from hosting meetings in five star hotels and asking the government officials not to fly executive class.<br /><br />The government had also banned fresh recruitment.</p>