Explained: How Chief Ministers’ foreign trips are cleared, and by whom | Explained News,The Indian Express

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said the Centre is delaying clearance for his planned trip to Singapore. What kinds of clearances are required by CMs, ministers, MPs and govt servants for foreign trips, and from whom?

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has questioned why the Centre has delayed the clearance of his trip to Singapore, where he has been invited to attend a World Cities Summit scheduled during July 31- August 3. “I don’t understand why I am being stopped from attending the World Cities Summit,” Kejriwal said on Monday.

In October 2019, the Centre had not given him approval to attend another conference abroad, which he eventually addressed through videoconferencing.

They have to inform the Cabinet Secretariat, which stated in a circular on May 6, 2015: “The Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of External Affairs should be kept informed of the proposed foreign visit, either official or private, of Chief Ministers and Ministers of State Governments/Union Territories. However, prior political clearance and FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) clearance are mandatory.” In case of Chief Ministers and Ministers of state governments, a copy of the application must also be sent to the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).

This comes from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This is required not only for public servants but any government servant for a foreign trip. The MEA gets hundreds of requests for political clearance every month from ministries, secretaries, bureaucrats and other officials.

The decision is taken based on multiple factors such as the nature of the event, the level of participation from other countries, the kind of invitation that has been extended, and also India’s relations with the host country.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/clearing-cms-foreign-trips-8037634/

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