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No 30011112/2015-0&M (C N: 6452)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
New Delhi dated 13th May, 2020
Office Memorandum
Subject: Framework for "Work From Home"
The COVID 19 Pandemic has necessitated many Ministries/ Departments to

operate from Home to maintain social distancing. Many of the Ministries/
Departments in Government of India have successfully managed and rendered
exemplary results in combat against the ongoing pandemic outbreak during the lock
down period by leveraging e -office and video conferencing facilities of NIC. This
was the first of its kind of experience in the Government of India.
It is quite likely that for the near future, the Central Secretariat will continue to go
for staggered attendance and variable working hours to maintain social distancing at
workplace. Therefore, a broad framework for Work from Home is important to
standardize the operating procedure even post Lock down situation and to ensure
safety and security of information, while accessing Government files and information
remotely from home.
Accordingly a draft consultation paper for the Work from Home is being enclosed at
Annexure for comments. We shall be grateful for considered views and comments of
your Ministry/Department on the proposal latest by 21st May 2020. If comments are
not received by 21st May 2020, then, it will be presumed that your
Ministry/Department IS III agreement with the proposed draft.
This issue with the approval of Secretary (DARPG)
(Ajit
~.Ki:~fLL
:ah)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Ph:23401408
e-mail: ak.sah@nic.in
Encls: Annexure
To
1. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India
2. The DG (NIC)
3. JS (CIS) Ministry of Home Affairs
ANNEXURE
DRAFT
Subject: Framework for "The Work from Home"
The COVID 19 Pandemic has necessitated many Ministries/ departments

to operate from Home to maintain social distancing. The backbone of this
remote operation is e -office and virtual meetings through video
Conferencing. It is quite likely that for the near future, the Central
Secretariat will continue to go for staggered attendance and variable
working hours to maintain social distancing at workplace.
Therefore, a standard framework for Work from Home" across the
Ministries/ Departments/ Subordinate offices in Government of India is
needed for a smooth and seamless functioning of the government, which
will ensure continuity of the office works besides imparting resilience in
the ecosystem even post lock down situations. In this regard several
rounds of consultations were held with the ministries/ Departments.
Based on their inputs, broad framework for The Work from Home,
which will be in place during and after lock down, is being proposed here
as under:
1. Presently about 75 Ministries/ Departments are actively using e -

office platform of which 57 Ministries / Departments have achieved
more than 80% of their work in e- office. The remaining Ministries/
Departments would also make endeavour for expeditious
implementation of e-office in secretariat/Ministries/Departments
and also in their attached and subordinate offices in a time bound
manner.
2. Box e. 7.1 of Central Secretariat manual of Office Procedure (CSMoP

2019) provides for VPN to the officers at the level of Deputy
Secretary and above to access the electronic files remotely on
secured network. However, Ministries/ Departments with the
approval of the respective HODs, can provide VPN to the officers up
to the level of Section officers based on the functional requirements
in their Ministry/ Departments subject to the proper due
diligence for security aspects.
3. Chapter 13, Box e.13.1 of CSMoP 2019 deals with treatment of
classified papers/files in e -office. However, as per instructions of
ministry of Home Affairs no classified information shall be handled
through e-office. Therefore, classified files shall not be processed in
e-office during work from home. NIC may evaluate the existing
security protocol for remote access of classified file/ information in
consultation with MHA and propose suitable guidelines and standard
operating procedures for handling classified information in e-office.
Till the time classified files shall be processed on standalone
computers only as specified in Para 2 of Box e.7.1 of CSMOP2019
4. Logistic supports in the form of laptop/ Desktop, shall be decided by

the Ministries/Departments in accordance with the orders issued by
the Department of Expenditure 3(6 )/2020-E- II(A) dated
27.03.2020. Ministries may use the inventory of laptops on
rotational basis for the officers who are working from home and
needed such logistic support.
5. Department of Expenditure may consider reimbursement for data

uses to the officers working from home and if required may issue
separate guidelines in this regards.
6. Central Registry Unit (CRU) shall remain functional to receive the

physical Dak/ receipts in the Ministry. CRU Staff will scan and
forward the receipt to the concerned officer in e-office as well as in
his official e-mail.
7. It is important that SMS and email alert in e- office should be

enabled so that the important ftles/daks get immediate attention.
Departmental NIC teams may work out SMS provisions for e-
receipts and e-files in consultation with their Ministries /
Departments.
8. E-office has facility to link the important files and documents for
referencing in e-files. However, to enable this feature in Work from
Home environment, it is important that the important files/ folders
/clrculars are available in the Knowledge Management System of e-
office. The Ministries are therefore advised to make use of this
feature in e-office so that the important documents that may be
3
needed in examining the files are available while working from

home.
9. To facilitate inter ministerial consultations ,exchange of files

between the Ministries may be made seamlessly in e office.
10. E office has facility to dispatch a communication from the

system itself. The dispatch is possible via e-mail or CRU (Central
Registration Unit). In case dispatch is addressed to CRU, then the
CRUon receipt of dak in e-mail immediately diarise and forward the
same to the concerned officer to further process the dak in e file.
If the communication is directly sent in e-mail of the officer,
the concerned officer will initiate necessary action as required in e
-office on receipt of the communication in e-mail and will make full
use of all the functional features available in the e-office even
during the The Work from Home environment.
11. Necessary emails can be made part of the e-file and maintained as
digital record for future reference and processedas fresh receipts.
12. All VIP and parliament matters require utmost attention. Therefore,
SMSalerts be sent for all such receipts and files to the next officer
in the channel.
13.NIC video conferencing facility shall be leveraged to organize

important meetings while working from home. Officers and Staff shall
attend the meetings by activating VC link forwarded to them by NIC in
formal meeting set up. VCs shall also be used as far as possible in
office environment to maintain social distancing during COVID 19
pandemic. NIC may strengthen the VC to make it more facilitative.
Officials working from home shall adhere to all norms of office
environment while attending VC meetings.
14.It shall be incumbent on a Ministry/Department to create a help

desk manned by technical persons. The NIC central help desk may be
contacted in case of advanced technical assistance required during
Work from Home. NIC will ensure that the contact details of central
help desk and Departmental NIC officers are communicated to all
officers.
15. The officers to whom official laptops are provided shall ensure that
they do the official work in official device only. NIC shall ensure that
their devices are well protected against malware and malicious
websites. The officers who are working on their personal computers/
lap tops shall ensure installing regular updates, running antivirus
scans, blocking malicious sites, etc with the help of NIC to ensure
safety of their device against information theft.
16. Officers who are working from home shall be available on phone as
per requirements and directions of their officers.
17.Standard Operating Procedure for e- office has been elaborated

in Central Secretariat manual of Office Procedure (CSMoP 2019) for
further guidance.
18. DOPTmay provide option for Work from .Hometo the eligible officers/
Staff for 15 days in a year as a matter of pollcv,

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No 30011112/2015-0&M (C N: 6452)

New Delhi dated 13th May, 2020

Subject: Framework for "Work From Home"

The COVID 19 Pandemic has necessitated many Ministries/ Departments to

This issue with the approval of Secretary (DARPG)

Subject: Framework for "The Work from Home"

The COVID 19 Pandemic has necessitated many Ministries/ departments

1. Presently about 75 Ministries/ Departments are actively using e -

2. Box e. 7.1 of Central Secretariat manual of Office Procedure (CSMoP

4. Logistic supports in the form of laptop/ Desktop, shall be decided by

5. Department of Expenditure may consider reimbursement for data

6. Central Registry Unit (CRU) shall remain functional to receive the

7. It is important that SMS and email alert in e- office should be

needed in examining the files are available while working from

9. To facilitate inter ministerial consultations ,exchange of files

10. E office has facility to dispatch a communication from the

13.NIC video conferencing facility shall be leveraged to organize

14.It shall be incumbent on a Ministry/Department to create a help

17.Standard Operating Procedure for e- office has been elaborated

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