Maharashtra Government Issues New Social Media Rules for Government Employees

The Maharashtra government has introduced strict social media rules for all government employees, including those on contract, deputation, or working in local bodies, corporations, and public undertakings. The General Administration Department (GAD) issued a circular on July 28, outlining the expected online behaviour of employees. The move aims to prevent leaks of confidential information, stop the spread of misinformation, and restrict unauthorised public statements.

Why the Government Introduced These Rules

According to the circular, the increasing use of Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, WhatsApp, and Telegram has raised concerns about their potential for misuse.

The government stated that the convenience of social media has created risks of confidential data leaks and the rapid spread of misinformation.

Key Rules Employees Must Follow

The circular lists several dos and don’ts for employees:

• No criticism of government policies or actions of the Maharashtra government or any other government in India.
• Use social media consciously and responsibly, keeping personal and official accounts separate.
• Posts about government schemes should highlight initiatives, not self-praise.
• Employees should avoid giving blind praise and instead focus on sharing facts about initiatives.
• Government logos, uniforms, official vehicles, and buildings should not appear in photos or videos, except as profile pictures.
• Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram can be used for internal communication purposes only.
• Official government social media accounts will be operated only by authorised personnel.

Disciplinary Action for Violators

The circular clearly warns that any violation of these rules will lead to disciplinary action against the employee.

Who Will Be Affected?

The guidelines apply to all officers and employees of the Maharashtra government, including those working on a contractual basis, deputation, and in local bodies, boards, corporations, and public undertakings.

The Takeaway

With the rise of social media use among government staff, the Maharashtra government aims to control the leaks of sensitive information and prevent the dissemination of misleading posts.
The new rules encourage employees to share official initiatives factually and responsibly while maintaining professional conduct online.

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