Government decides ₹1.8 lakh is the magic number for official gadgetry

The Indian government has updated its rules for electronic devices issued to officers, raising the price ceiling to ₹1.8 lakh (approximately $2,150 USD) per item. This policy applies to laptops, tablets, and other gadgets purchased with government funds. The new guidelines also introduce a 'personal retention' clause, allowing officers to keep the devices for personal use after four years of service.

For officers, this means an upgrade to potentially higher-spec laptops or tablets funded by the taxpayer, with a clear path to ownership. For taxpayers and procurement watchdogs, it formalizes a familiar cycle: public funds purchasing premium hardware that eventually becomes private property. The update is less a tech breakthrough and more a bureaucratic refresh of who gets what gear, and when it stops being public property.