All Bihar govt employees must go on 2-day family travel every 3 months; here’s why
Bihar government mandates a periodic two-day travel stay for all state employees and officials every three months to evaluate tourism infrastructure
The Bihar government has introduced a unique policy, making it mandatory for all state government officials and employees to take regular family vacations within the state. This initiative aims to boost local tourism, evaluate regional infrastructure, and bring hidden travel spots into the spotlight.
“All government officers and employees working in the state of Bihar shall, once every three months, undertake a two-day visit (including two nights) with their families to any district within the state, excluding their home district, and stay in tourist, eco-tourism or rural tourism destinations,” a communication issued by the General Administration Department said.
The travel mandate
Under the new order issued by B Rajender, the Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, every state employee must undertake a two-day, two-night trip with their family once every three months. These mandatory trips must be taken to a district other than the employee's home district or their current place of posting.
Also Read: Bihar gets first BJP CM in Samrat Chaudhary, but will his govt be stable?
The directive outlines that these trips should cover Friday and Saturday nights. During the weekend, employees are expected to explore up to three nearby tourist, rural, or eco-tourism destinations. To encourage compliance, the government has announced that the duration of these vacations will be officially treated as time spent on duty.
Strict ban on official work
While the travel is considered official duty, the government has drawn a strict line between leisurely exploration and administrative tasks. The order explicitly bars all officials from combining these family trips with any sort of formal work.
During these tours, employees are strictly prohibited from conducting official review meetings, carrying out formal site inspections, or operating out of their official residences. The main focus of the weekend must remain entirely on experiencing the destinations as regular tourists would.
Accountability and field reports
The initiative is built on an accountability framework where employees cannot treat the trip as a casual holiday. After returning, every official must submit a detailed feedback report to their respective District Magistrate or department head. This report must include photographs of the destinations, specific information about the sites, and a summary of their personal experiences.
Also Read: Sitharaman unveils major tourism push in Budget 2026-27; eyes job generation
Nodal officers will be appointed across districts to compile these individual reports. The gathered data will then be forwarded to the Tourism, Forest, and Art and Culture departments to help identify gaps in local infrastructure and upgrade facilities.
Boosting the rural economy
A major goal behind this massive internal travel push is the promotion of local homestays. By sending thousands of government families into under-recognized rural and eco-tourism areas, the state hopes to build a robust homestay network.
The government believes that encouraging tourists to stay in local homes on a payment basis will directly strengthen rural economies. At the same time, it will offer visitors an authentic, immersive experience featuring local food and personalized regional hospitality.
District authorities have also been instructed to coordinate with local hotels and government guest houses to ensure smooth accommodation arrangements as the influx of internal travellers begins.