Introducing austerity measures to reduce fiscal deficit, the government has banned first class air travel for bureaucrats, meetings in five-star hotels and purchase of cars while freezing new appointments. Measures are aimed at cutting non-planned expenditure by 10 per cent including a ban on filling of vacant posts to reduce fiscal deficit to a 7-year low of 4.1 per cent of GDP. Such measures are intended at promoting fiscal discipline, without restricting the operational efficiency of the government,” a finance ministry statement said.
