7th Pay Commission Briefcase Allowance, Official bag, and Ladies’ purse 2025
The 7th Pay Commission has introduced a new allowance for employees to help cover the cost of briefcases, official bags, and ladies’ purses. This allowance recognizes the importance of these items as essential tools for employees in carrying important documents, laptops, and other work-related items. It is designed to help offset the cost of purchasing these items, which can often be expensive, particularly for those who need to replace them frequently due to wear and tear. The allowance is available to all eligible employees and is intended to provide additional support for those who need it in their daily work.
As part of their entitlements, the CG Officers have the option to purchase briefcases, office bags, and ladies’ purses from any private or public outlet. They can select items that match their personal style and preferences, allowing them to feel comfortable and professional during work. However, it is important to note that reimbursement for these purchases is subject to monetary ceiling limits, ensuring that expenses remain reasonable and within budget.
Briefcase Allowance Current Ceiling Rates 2025
According to the order issued by the Department of Expenditure on May 1, 2024, there has been a revision of the monetary ceiling for the reimbursement of Briefcases, Office Bags, and Ladies’ Purses. This includes the existing rate ceiling as well as the updated ceiling rates, which encompass GST.
- Pay Level 6: Rs. 3500 to 4375
- Pay Level 8 to 10: Rs. 4000 to 5000
- Pay Level 13: Rs. 5000 to 6250
- Pay Level 14: Rs. 6500 to 8125
- Pay Level 15 and 16: Rs. 8000 to 10000
- Pay Level 17: Rs. 10000 to 12500
Briefcase allowance DoPT Order PDF | Briefcase allowance for Central Govt employees DoPT Order
Reimbursement of Briefcase Allowance in Central Government Services
Reimbursement of Briefcase Allowance in Central Government Services refers to the provision of compensation for expenses related to the purchase of a briefcase or bag used for official duties. This allowance is specifically designed to aid employees in carrying important documents and equipment safely and securely. The reimbursement is applicable to individuals who work in various central government services, including but not limited to administrative services, civil services, and defense services. The amount of reimbursement may vary depending on the organization’s policies and the nature of the employee’s work.
Railway Board order
As per the Railway Board order issued on 10 April 2019, the revision of the monetary ceiling affected by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for purchasing briefcases, ladies’ handbags or purses:
| Level of Officers | Existing Monetary Ceiling | Revised Monetary Ceiling | Period |
| Board Members / DGs (Apex Level) | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Advisors/PED/Addl. Members (HA Grade) or equivalent | Rs. 8,000 | Rs. 8,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Joint Secretary/Executive Directors (SA Grade) or equivalent | Rs. 6,500 | Rs. 6,500 | Once in 3 years |
| Director / Joint Director / Deputy Secretary/PSO/Sr. PPS or equivalent | Rs. 4,500 | Rs. 5,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Deputy Director/Under Secretary / PPS or equivalent | Rs. 4,000 | Rs. 4,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Section Officer/PS or equivalent | Rs. 3,500 | Rs. 4,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Assistant Section Officer/PA/Inspector or equivalent | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 3,500 | Once in 3 years |
The reimbursement will be limited to the above-mentioned ceiling limits subject to the submission of proper invoices or bills with the GST number, Book number and invoice number of the trader. The bills should clearly mention the name of the article and the name of the Officers or Staff purchasing the article.
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
As per the order issued on 20 July 2017 by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, the previous and revised ceiling in respect of the officers:
| Level of Officers | Existing Monetary Ceiling | Revised Monetary Ceiling | Period |
| Secretary, Special Secretary or Equivalent | Rs. 7,000 | Rs. 10,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Addl. Secretary & equivalent | Rs. 6,000 | Rs. 8,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Joint Secretary & equivalent | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 6,500 | Once in 3 years |
| Director / Dy. Secy. /PSO/Sr. PPS or equivalent | Rs. 4,000 | Rs. 5,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Under Secretary / PPS or equivalent | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 4,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Section Officer or equivalent | Rs. 2,400 | Rs. 4,000 | Once in 3 years |
| Assistant / PA or equivalent | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 3,500 | Once in 3 years |
The Briefcase, Office Bag, and Lady’s Purse shall be provided to the above officers on completion of three years from the date of issue of the earlier one.
As per the CDA order issued on 31st January 2017, those who are drawing Grade Pay of Rs. 4600 to Rs. 5400 irrespective of the gazetted status to procure a briefcase, official bag, ladies’ purse of their choice from any private or public outlet. However, reimbursement shall be restricted to Rs. 3000 concomitant with the respective level/grade pay of officer/official, as prevalent in the Ministry of Defence.
Revision of Briefcase Allowance for Defence Personnel
Briefcase Allowance in Defence Accounts Department
The CGDA issued orders on 29th May 2020 regarding the eligibility and revised rates for reimbursement of briefcase allowance to DAD staff and officers. The revised rates and entitlement of the briefcase allowance will be in effect from 1.6.2020. [See the detailed order]
As per the order issued on 28 January 2020 by the Controller General of Defence Accounts, reimbursement of briefcase allowance to the officers and staff of DAD at varied rates prescribed by the Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide its circular No. S(10)/2013/Gen Dated 16th April 2013.
| Level of Officers / Officials (DAD) | Level of Officers / Officials (DAD) | Rates |
| Secretary/Special Secretary | CGDA | Rs. 9,000 |
| Addl. Secretary & Equivalent | Addl. CGDA / PCsDA and equivalent | Rs. 8,000 |
| Joint Secretary & Equivalent | CsDA and equivalent | Rs. 6,500 |
| Director/Dy. Secy./Sr. PPS & Equivalent | Addl. CsDA / Jt. CsDA and equivalent | Rs. 5,000 |
| Under Secretary/PPS & Equivalent | DCsDA / PPSs and equivalent | Rs. 4,000 |
| Desk Officer/Section Officer & Equivalent | ACsDA / ADs (OL) / Sr.AOs / AOs / AAOs / SPSs and equivalent | Rs. 3,500 |
| Assistant/ PA (GP Rs. 4600) & Equivalent | Non-Gazetted Staff in the Grade pay equivalent Rs. 4600 and above. | Rs. 3,000 |
Application for claim of reimbursement for purchase of Briefcase – PDF Download
7th CPC Recommendations on Briefcase Allowance
8.17.5 Certain categories of Central Government employees are entitled to reimbursement of expenditure incurred on the purchase of briefcases/official bag/purses as per the following provisions:
| Pay Band | GP Ceiling |
| Apex | 10000 |
| HAG, HAG+ | 8000 |
| GP 10000 | 6500 |
| GP 7600 to GP 8700 | 5000 |
| GP 4800 to GP 6600 | 4000 |
The periodicity of reimbursement is restricted to once in three years. No demands have been received regarding this allowance.
Analysis and Recommendations: The Commission is of the view that the present rates are adequate, However, the ceiling shall further increase by 25 per cent each time DA increases by 50 per cent
| No | 19 |
| Name of the Allowance | Briefcase Allowance |
| Recommendations of the 7th CPC |
Retained. Status Quo to be maintained. |
| Modifications accepted by the Government |
Accepted |
Revision of Briefcase Allowance 2021
The PCDA under the Ministry of Defence has published an order regarding the revision of the monetary ceiling for reimbursement of the cost of the Briefcase/Handbag on 19th January 2021.
- Apex Level 17: Rs. 10000
- HAG, HAG+ Level 15 & 16: Rs. 8000
- GP 10000 Level 14: Rs. 6500
- GP 7600 to 8700 Level 12 & 13: Rs. 5000
- GP 4800 to 6600 Level 8 to 11: Rs. 4000
- GP 4200 to 4600 Level 6 to 7: Rs. 3500
The above ceiling shall further increase by 25% each time DA increases by 50%
Calculation of Residual Value of Laptop
Clarification on Provision of Laptops to officer in lieu of Desktops: Calculation of Residual Value of Laptops in Percentage as per Laptop Policy [Click to view more]
Department of Fisheries – Briefcase Allowance
The Ministry of Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries (Department of Fisheries) has published an order regarding reimbursement of expenditure incurred for a Briefcase, Office Bag, and Lady’s Purse on 17th June 2019 – Click to view the order
Level of Officers / Rates limit (One in 3 years)
- Secretary / Special Secretary or equivalent: Rs.10.000
- AS & Equivalent: Rs.8000
- JS & Equivalent: Rs.6500
- Director & Equivalent: Rs.5000
- DS /Sr. PPS or Equivalent: Rs.5000
- US / PPS & Equivalent: Rs.4000
- SO/PS& Equivalent: Rs.4000
- ASO / PA (GP. Rs.4.600/- ) & Equivalent: Rs.3500
List of All 7th CPC Allowances
- Provision of Laptop to Gazetted Officers in Indian Railways
- Laptop Policy – Chart of Calculation Residual Value in Percentage
- Briefcase Allowance order 2022 Reimbursement Claim Form PDF Download
What is the Briefcase allowance?
A particular group of officers in Central Government Services are entitled to get the allowance for the handling of official documents.
What is the rate of Briefcase allowance in 7th CPC?
The minimum Briefcase allowance is Rs.3500 and the maximum monetary ceiling is Rs.10000 after the 7th CPC.
What is the entitlement duration of the Briefcase allowance?
Once in three years, the entitled officers can claim the amount spent on the purchase of a briefcase, official bag, or ladies’ purse of their choice from any private or public outlet.
whether a CG employee who is in probationery period is eligible for purchasing of brief case and get reimbursement
It will be given for necessary duty involved for office purpose only as per the pay levels. Not for all.
Please tell that Junior Engineers can get Bag Briefcase Allowance in Level – 6….?
I AM TO RETIRE AFTER SEVEN MONTHS. CAN I PURCHASE NEW OFFICE BAG FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSE.
I have joined in Central Government services in July 2023, pay level 7 . Whether iam eligible for Briefcase Allowance.
Yes, you are eligible to get of Rs.3500/-
could you please provide a copy of the circular issued on 31.08.2017 by the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE regarding the Reimbursement of the Briefcase allowance?
Briefcase ceiling limit amount is inclusive of GST or exclusive of GST. If exclusive of GST, then kindly send me order in my email.
Please confirm that newspaper allowance is applicable to lowest level of officer i.e. Section officer and equivalent. who are in the category of equivalent? please confirm pay level wise.
At least group B gazetted with grade pay 4600/- and above
My grade pay is 4600 and I am retiring from defence service on 30 Jun 22 after 38 years of service at the age of 58 Yrs. Whether i can apply briefcase allowance ?
Will I get briefcase allowance if I buy a trolley bag instead of a briefcase in Indian Railways?
Pls send latest order reg revision of monetary ceiling of reimbursement of ladies bag to UDC grade pay 4200 in Level-6 of dopt order
can we claim for two bills. Suppose my limit for reimbursement is Rs. 3500/-. Can i claim two bills or purchase two bags one for Rs. 2500/- and one for Rs 1000/-
If husband & wife living in same house any one of the spouse is eligible for first two children as per terms of CEA RULES.
Please read my previous post as last claim
I have lost claimed my briefcase allowance on 08.06.2016. Am I eligible for a two suitcases claims now? please clarify. my pay band is 13
No. It will be given for the government documents carrying out side the office premises with official work those who are only eligible for it.
I am working in CCRS, Under Minister of AYUSH as per the 7th CPC Grade pay 4200/- also eligible. I need a Briefcase Allowance order
Dear Sir/Madam,
I want to know that how to calculate the previous 3 years for purchasing briefcase?
3 years completed of my job. But I purchased briefcase last year in Nov.
Can I purchase a briefcase or not…?
Then how to calculate for purchase briefcase.
Plz reply to me…thanks
No. Three Years are counted from the last Purchase/reimbursement. We have mentioned that in OM. Please check the OM for your department
Is 3 years counted from the date of purchase as mentioned in the bill or when reimbursement is done or when we apply for reimbursement?
It’s not mandatory to get three years, after old was damaged/teared condition it should be returned and get new. Because for new & old should maintain in stock register with signatures.
Brief case allowance for Group A officers under Ministry of Ayush.. please provide the order copy if available
Briefcase allowance for Army Officer????
What about GST? Is it included in the ceiling limit of briefcase allowances?
how to calculate previous 3 year for purchasing briefcase? either purchasing date or reimbursement of briefcase payment through pao office.
3 years purchase of date and returned with condition of brief case/purse should be teared with further eligible in that office duty.of the employee.
Are laptop bags allowed under briefcase allowance
an officer granted briefcase allowance of 3500/- he resigned from service. whether the amount to be recovered from him
Is the reimbursement also limited to single article or multiple articles can be bought within the specified limit. I am in Level 11 of pay matrix.
Can u plz send Dopt order for nursing officer level-8 for briefcase allowence…
It will be given those who are having handling government documents as per their basic pay.
Are we entitled to office bag/briefcase, of Railway Board Ministry of Railways staff of pay lable 6 (Rs. 4200 Grade Pay)
Are you carrying any risk duty of handling to carry office documents to outside? If yes of rs.3500/- p.m. and if already not sanctioned to previous 3 years.
What is the monetary ceiling for purchase of Office bag in case of Gazetted Officer in Level 7 @ Ministry of Environment forest and Climate Change.
Rs.3,500/-p.m. for MATRIX LEVEL 7 with additional duty cary office document or valuable things of go in the out side office.
Pls send latest order reg revision of monetary ceiling of reimbursement of ladies bag to steno grade d 4200 of dopt order
In which Department are you working specific.
Is cabin baggage considered as briefcase and whether it will get reimbursed?
Are you eligible for brief case allowance? Specify your special duty and your basic pay.
Briefcase allowance is applicable to subordinate officers of Indian Coast Guard.
kya 4200/- grade pay wale bhi bag allowance ke eligible hai
Not eligible.
महोदयजी मेरी ग्रेड़ पे 7600 रुपये है लेकिन यह मुझे मेरी दूसरी एम.ऐ.सी.पी. से हुई है , लेकिन मेरा पद नाम ” सहायक निदेशक ग्राफिक्स ” है तो क्या मुझे भी बैग का अलाउंस 5000 मिलेगा या नहीं …
Kindly instruct whether i can get brief case, before completion of three years based on my NEW PROMOTION as Group a Officer, from Group B
It is based on duty of your carrying documents outside office hours.. In the promotion post your carrying documents after officer hours, but you should not retire before three years.
Kindly guide me whether i am entitle for brief case on New Promotion
I claim for bag in august 2016 and office reimburse in june 2017. when will i am eligible for cont of 03 years since august 2016 or june 2017
If you in the same post or eligible post at now. Not as 2019, since it has over.
I am entitled for briefcase/ladies purse allowance. Can I purchase two ladies purse in the same amount which I am entitled for or is it compulsory to buy a single purse.
Both the purses are required for your official duty purposes to keep the office documents & to take that in your home or to your out door duty, it is allowed with your limit of basic pay eligibility amount & your official duty. It is not yours personal purposes it is not allowed as per the rules.
my query is that, here we got an office order from Andrapradesh & Telungana Pr.CCIT datd 15.03.2018 stating that Brief case allowance for Inspector at Income Tax is Rs.5000/-. if you check in Google it shows that allowance is Rs.3500/-.. which one is original and effective on nov’2019..
It depends upon the eligibility of the employees basic pay in its Matrix Level.
Kindly confirm whether the TA on temperary transfer up to 180 days is elible to draw continue including Sunday Saturday and govt holiday to govt.servant.
My pay and account’s office refused to give traveling charges but allowed daily allow rs.800/ for Sunday Saturday and holiday on temperary duty
As per S.R. 73 Saturday & Sunday allowance including for 180 days allowed, but S.R. 72 in that transfer they may take C.L./R.H. or E.L. It will not be given.
Officer going to retire within a month, but he completed 3 years of earlier one.
Kindly confirm whether he is eligible to get brief case allowance.
Murthy
The following conditions should be sanctioned:-
1) He/She should be having to carry the office documents daily & eligibility of Levels of basic pay.
2) As per the latest orders, he/she shouldn’t retire of 33 years in service or 60 years as on 1-4-2020 whichever is earlier.
My query is that I got complimentary macp1 in Sep 2009 (benefit given due to merger of three grades/posts) and pay fixed in GP 4600/- further on completion of 20 years got MACP2 in Dec 2012 and pay fixed in GP 4800/-.
In Sep 2018 I was given promotion with downgraded grade pay in GP 4600/- as the post having GP 4600/- was remained unfilled since 2006 due to non availability of revised RR with Indian Coast Guard (With no option left finally eligible candidates promoted on the basis of old RR in Srp 2018).
My point is can
(a) DPC committee issue promotion order in grade pay 4600/- that was earlier granted under MACP1 in Sep 2009.
(b) since promotion order indicates grade pay 4600/- and i had already availed MACP2 granted in Dec 2012 in GP 4800/- what will be my pay position / pay fixation after promotion that received in Sep 2018 in GP 4600/-
(c) am I suppose to get one additional increment on promotion or no additional increment liable due to MACP1 that was granted in 2006 well before of actual promotion.
(d) am I eligible for macp3 in GP 5400/-on completion of 30 years of service in Dec 2022 ( I am completing 10 years of service in GP 4800/- in Dec 2022)
Kindly advice me. Thanking you
(Sunil Kavlekar
For the promotion in 2018 it has no pay fixation only destination changes higher in the 7th CPC so there is no monetary benefits & not eligible GP 4800. From 2022 on completion of 30 years you will get GP4800 in matrix level 8 as 3 rd MACP. In the service only 3 pay fixation.
Is central government employee with grade pay 4200 eligible for briefcase allowance?
₹ 3,500/- is allowed with the condition of your office documents should carry in your work daily.
Can i get an recent order of briefcase allowance entitlement for 4200 grade pay.
महोदयजी मेरी ग्रेड़ पे 4600 रुपये है लेकिन यह मुझे मेरी तीसरी एम.ऐ.सी.पी. से हुई है तो क्या मुझे भी बैग का अलाउंस 3500 मिलेगा या नहीं …
If you are handle or carry office documents daily, it will be in each in every three years to be reimbursable.
How to claim it? Procedure?
is this allowance made applicable to DAE employees and employees of DAE aided institutions?
Exactly who are the eligible to avail this allowance
It is allowed to few of the government employees who handle or handle or carry a lot of documents every day. Though it is called the briefcase allowance, but it is valid for not only briefcase but also bags,ladies” purse can be bought and reimburse the money. Each eligible employee can get the allowance in three years as per their levels of amount eligible to them.
Are the briefcase allowance also entitled for govt. teachers,.if yes pl explain with eligibility criteria and also provide a copy of order.
Are you carrying any school documents or cash handling work and mention your basic pay ?
is it applicable in defence services