<p>"The PMO should be kept informed of the proposed private visits. However, prior political and Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) clearances are mandatory", the note issued to all Secretaries last week said.<br /><br />It also made it clear that no official or member in the personal staff of the Minister or from the ministry should accompany him on such visits.<br /><br />Chief Ministers and ministers in the states and union territories also have been asked to keep the PMO informed about their official or private visits and they too need to get MEA and FCRA clearances.<br /><br />For official travel too, Central Ministers have to send their proposals to the MEA at least 15 days prior to their departure and at least five days before the trip to the PMO for obtaining PM's approval.<br /><br />"Proposals received beyond the stipuated period in the PMO and the proposals received without political clearance will not be processed and will be returned", it said in the note to all Secretaries.<br /><br />It has been made clear that proposals for foreign travel of ministers should not be taken up directly with either the foreign government, international organisations or its representatives in India or elsewhere, without the prior clearance of the MEA.<br /><br />In cases where proposals for minister level foreign travel are already covered under an existing bilateral or multilateral mechanism, discussions to plan such visits can be undertaken with the foreign government, international organisations or its representatives in India or elsewhere. However, in all cases, political clearance from MEA would be required, it said.<br /><br />Minister-level visits abroad should be undertaken only in response to formal governmental invitations from the country concerned, it said.<br /><br />In case of an international conference abroad, Minister-level visits should be proposed only if it has been certified by the MEA that attendance at that conference was going to be at the level of Ministers, the directive said.<br /><br />"Minister-level visits in response to invitations from various non-governmental bodies would not be advisable unless specifically recommended by MEA and our Embassy/High Commission concerned," it said.<br /><br />The exact date of departure from India and return should be indicated clearly in the note submitted to the Prime Minister, the directive said.</p>
<p>"The PMO should be kept informed of the proposed private visits. However, prior political and Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) clearances are mandatory", the note issued to all Secretaries last week said.<br /><br />It also made it clear that no official or member in the personal staff of the Minister or from the ministry should accompany him on such visits.<br /><br />Chief Ministers and ministers in the states and union territories also have been asked to keep the PMO informed about their official or private visits and they too need to get MEA and FCRA clearances.<br /><br />For official travel too, Central Ministers have to send their proposals to the MEA at least 15 days prior to their departure and at least five days before the trip to the PMO for obtaining PM's approval.<br /><br />"Proposals received beyond the stipuated period in the PMO and the proposals received without political clearance will not be processed and will be returned", it said in the note to all Secretaries.<br /><br />It has been made clear that proposals for foreign travel of ministers should not be taken up directly with either the foreign government, international organisations or its representatives in India or elsewhere, without the prior clearance of the MEA.<br /><br />In cases where proposals for minister level foreign travel are already covered under an existing bilateral or multilateral mechanism, discussions to plan such visits can be undertaken with the foreign government, international organisations or its representatives in India or elsewhere. However, in all cases, political clearance from MEA would be required, it said.<br /><br />Minister-level visits abroad should be undertaken only in response to formal governmental invitations from the country concerned, it said.<br /><br />In case of an international conference abroad, Minister-level visits should be proposed only if it has been certified by the MEA that attendance at that conference was going to be at the level of Ministers, the directive said.<br /><br />"Minister-level visits in response to invitations from various non-governmental bodies would not be advisable unless specifically recommended by MEA and our Embassy/High Commission concerned," it said.<br /><br />The exact date of departure from India and return should be indicated clearly in the note submitted to the Prime Minister, the directive said.</p>