This is Set 19 of 42 in the smartvidya question bank on the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Part IV: Gifts and dowry. This set covers Rule 13(4) gifts from foreign dignitaries, Rule 13(5) foreign firms, and GoI decisions on Toshakhana, cash gifts, airline benefits, arms and book clubs.
Try each question first, then tap Show answer to see the correct option, a short explanation and the rule reference. The gift limits in Rule 13(3) are as revised in 2019, and share-trading intimation follows the DoPT OM of 07.02.2019.
Set 19: Rule 13 – Foreign gifts, foreign firms and Government decisions
1. Rule 13(4) deals with gifts received by a Government servant from:
(a) Near relatives on weddings
(b) Subordinates on transfer
(c) Contractors on festivals
(d) Foreign dignitaries, as a member of an Indian delegation or otherwise
Ans. (d) Foreign dignitaries, as a member of an Indian delegation or otherwise — Explanation: Rule 13(4) deals with gifts from foreign dignitaries received by a Government servant as a member of the Indian delegation or otherwise. [Ref: Rule 13(4)]
2. Acceptance and retention of gifts from foreign dignitaries beyond what Rule 13(4) itself permits is regulated by:
(a) Instructions issued by the Government from time to time
(b) The discretion of the Government servant
(c) The foreign Government's rules
(d) The Head of Office alone
Ans. (a) Instructions issued by the Government from time to time — Explanation: Rule 13(4) permits retention within a small limit on one occasion; in all other cases, acceptance and retention of such gifts is regulated by Government instructions. [Ref: Rule 13(4)]
3. Under long-standing Government instructions of 31.03.1956, gifts from foreign dignitaries that a Government servant cannot retain are to be deposited in:
(a) The office almirah
(b) The Consolidated Fund of India
(c) The National Museum
(d) The Toshakhana
Ans. (d) The Toshakhana — Explanation: The Toshakhana, maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs, receives gifts from foreign dignitaries that cannot be retained by the recipient. [Ref: Rule 13(4); GoI decision dt 31.03.1956]
4. Under Rule 13(5), a Government servant shall not accept a gift from which kind of foreign firm?
(a) Only foreign firms from neighbouring countries
(b) Only foreign firms that are listed on a stock exchange
(c) One contracting with the Government of India, or one with which he had, has or is likely to have official dealings
(d) Any foreign firm registered in India
Ans. (c) One contracting with the Government of India, or one with which he had, has or is likely to have official dealings — Explanation: Rule 13(5) bars gifts from any foreign firm contracting with the Government of India or with which the Government servant had, has or is likely to have official dealings. [Ref: Rule 13(5)]
5. Under Rule 13(5), gifts from foreign firms that are neither contracting with the Government nor having dealings with the Government servant are governed by:
(a) The sanction limits in Rule 13(3)
(b) The report thresholds in Rule 13(2)
(c) No restriction at all
(d) An absolute ban
Ans. (a) The sanction limits in Rule 13(3) — Explanation: Rule 13(5) says acceptance of gifts from any other firm is subject to Rule 13(3), which requires sanction above Rs. 5,000 (Group 'A' and 'B') or Rs. 2,000 (Group 'C'). [Ref: Rule 13(5); Rule 13(3)]
6. The words "had, has or is likely to have" official dealings in Rule 13(5) cover:
(a) Only current dealings
(b) Past, present and likely future official dealings
(c) Only dealings above a notified value
(d) Only past dealings
Ans. (b) Past, present and likely future official dealings — Explanation: The rule covers past, present and prospective dealings, so a firm expecting future business is also barred from giving gifts. [Ref: Rule 13(5)]
7. A foreign firm bidding for a defence contract sends a Government servant in the procurement wing an expensive gift pen. What should he do?
(a) Accept it if below Rs. 5,000
(b) Accept it and deposit it in the Toshakhana
(c) Decline it, since Rule 13(5) bars gifts from foreign firms likely to have official dealings
(d) Accept it and report within one month
Ans. (c) Decline it, since Rule 13(5) bars gifts from foreign firms likely to have official dealings — Explanation: A firm bidding for a contract is likely to have official dealings with him, so Rule 13(5) bars the gift outright, whatever its value. [Ref: Rule 13(5)]
8. Government instructions of 19.11.1956 on gifts abroad say that a Government servant:
(a) May accept any cash gift below USD 100
(b) May accept cash if deposited in the Toshakhana
(c) Should not accept cash gifts abroad
(d) Must accept gifts to avoid offending hosts
Ans. (c) Should not accept cash gifts abroad — Explanation: The 1956 instructions forbid acceptance of cash gifts abroad. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 19.11.1956]
9. Government instructions of 10.12.1969 under Rule 13 say that which of these should not be accepted as a gift?
(a) Sweets on festivals
(b) Prohibited arms
(c) Flowers
(d) Books
Ans. (b) Prohibited arms — Explanation: The 1969 instructions say prohibited arms are not to be accepted as gifts. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 10.12.1969]
10. A Government servant wants to join a foreign book club that offers him free books. According to instructions of 03.07.1973, he needs:
(a) Only intimation after joining
(b) Permission, since such membership may involve gifts
(c) No permission, since books are educational
(d) Sanction of the foreign Government
Ans. (b) Permission, since such membership may involve gifts — Explanation: The 1973 instructions say joining foreign book clubs needs permission. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 03.07.1973]
11. Under Government instructions on airline benefits, frequent-flier miles earned on official travel:
(a) Can be sold for cash
(b) Belong to the Government servant for personal use
(c) Must be surrendered to the airline
(d) Are Government benefits and should not be used for private travel
Ans. (d) Are Government benefits and should not be used for private travel — Explanation: Instructions of 1997 and 15.09.1998 treat frequent-flier benefits from official travel, from all airlines, as not available for private use. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decisions dt 19.08.1997 and 15.09.1998]
12. The Government decision of 19.08.1997 under Rule 13 specifically relates to:
(a) Dowry
(b) Inaugural flights
(c) Flying Returns (frequent-flier) benefits
(d) Foreign book clubs
Ans. (c) Flying Returns (frequent-flier) benefits — Explanation: The 19.08.1997 decision concerns benefits under the Flying Returns frequent-flier scheme. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 19.08.1997]
13. Instructions of 05.03.1997 deal with companion tickets offered by airlines. What do they allow?
(a) No companion tickets at all
(b) Companion tickets on all airlines freely
(c) Companion tickets only for Group 'A' officers
(d) Companion tickets only on national carriers, under conditions laid down
Ans. (d) Companion tickets only on national carriers, under conditions laid down — Explanation: The 1997 instructions permit companion tickets only on national carriers, and the 15.09.1998 instructions kept this limit while extending frequent-flier restrictions to all airlines. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decisions dt 05.03.1997 and 15.09.1998]
14. The Government instructions of 15.09.1998 on airline benefits are notable because they:
(a) Covered frequent-flier benefits from all airlines, while companion tickets remained limited to national carriers
(b) Allowed cash encashment of miles
(c) Applied only to officers on foreign deputation
(d) Abolished all rules on airline benefits
Ans. (a) Covered frequent-flier benefits from all airlines, while companion tickets remained limited to national carriers — Explanation: The 1998 instructions extended the position on frequent-flier benefits to all airlines, while companion tickets continued to be allowed only on national carriers. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 15.09.1998]
15. Which authority maintains the Toshakhana in which gifts from foreign dignitaries are deposited?
(a) The Ministry of External Affairs
(b) The Reserve Bank of India
(c) The Department of Personnel and Training
(d) The Ministry of Finance
Ans. (a) The Ministry of External Affairs — Explanation: The Toshakhana is maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs. [Ref: Rule 13(4); GoI decision dt 31.03.1956]
16. Consider these statements: 1. Gifts from foreign firms contracting with the Government of India are barred. 2. Gifts from other foreign firms follow the Rule 13(3) limits. 3. Cash gifts may be accepted abroad if small. Which are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
Ans. (c) 1 and 2 only — Explanation: The first two statements restate Rule 13(5). The 1956 instructions forbid cash gifts abroad. [Ref: Rule 13(5); GoI decision dt 19.11.1956]
17. Government instructions of 24.07.1958 and 12.11.1962 under Rule 13 relate to gifts received on:
(a) Religious functions
(b) Foreign tours
(c) Transfer and retirement
(d) Weddings
Ans. (c) Transfer and retirement — Explanation: These instructions deal with gifts on transfer and retirement, occasions that are not among those in Rule 13(2). [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decisions dt 24.07.1958 and 12.11.1962]
18. A Government servant on an official delegation abroad is presented a memento by a foreign minister. Which provision governs whether he can retain it?
(a) Rule 13(2), as a social occasion
(b) Rule 13(4) and the Government's instructions on such gifts
(c) Rule 18(3), as movable property
(d) Rule 14, as a public demonstration
Ans. (b) Rule 13(4) and the Government's instructions on such gifts — Explanation: Gifts from foreign dignitaries are specifically governed by Rule 13(4) and Government instructions, including deposit in the Toshakhana where retention is not allowed. [Ref: Rule 13(4)]
19. A foreign firm that has never had dealings with a Group 'C' employee sends him a gift worth Rs. 3,000. What does Rule 13 require?
(a) Sanction of the Government, since it exceeds the Rs. 2,000 limit under Rule 13(3)
(b) Deposit in the Toshakhana
(c) A report within one month
(d) Nothing, since the firm has no dealings
Ans. (a) Sanction of the Government, since it exceeds the Rs. 2,000 limit under Rule 13(3) — Explanation: Rule 13(5) routes gifts from other foreign firms to Rule 13(3). For Group 'C', sanction is needed above Rs. 2,000. [Ref: Rule 13(5); Rule 13(3)(ii)]
20. Which statement about gifts from foreign firms is correct?
(a) Foreign firm gifts are always exempt if below Rs. 1,000
(b) Only Group 'A' officers are covered
(c) All foreign firm gifts need only a report
(d) The ban in Rule 13(5) on firms contracting with the Government applies whatever the value of the gift
Ans. (d) The ban in Rule 13(5) on firms contracting with the Government applies whatever the value of the gift — Explanation: For firms contracting with the Government of India or having dealings with the Government servant, Rule 13(5) is an outright bar, not a value-based limit. [Ref: Rule 13(5)]
21. The purpose of the Toshakhana arrangement is to ensure that:
(a) Gifts are sold to the recipient at a discount
(b) Valuable gifts received by virtue of official position become Government property
(c) Gifts are distributed among office staff
(d) Gifts are returned to the donor
Ans. (b) Valuable gifts received by virtue of official position become Government property — Explanation: Gifts from foreign dignitaries are received because of the official position, so those beyond the permitted limits are deposited with the Government. [Ref: Rule 13(4); GoI decision dt 31.03.1956]
22. A Government servant receives a free business-class upgrade from an airline as an "inaugural flight courtesy". Under Government instructions, this is:
(a) A gift, since free inaugural flights have been treated as gifts
(b) An entitlement of his grade
(c) Social hospitality
(d) Permitted if on official tour
Ans. (a) A gift, since free inaugural flights have been treated as gifts — Explanation: Free passage on inaugural flights is treated as a gift by instructions of 25.05.1965. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 25.05.1965]
23. Which of the following Government instructions under Rule 13 is correctly matched?
(a) 31.03.1956 – companion tickets
(b) 19.11.1956 – foreign book clubs
(c) 03.07.1973 – frequent-flier benefits
(d) 10.12.1969 – prohibited arms not to be accepted
Ans. (d) 10.12.1969 – prohibited arms not to be accepted — Explanation: The 1969 instructions deal with prohibited arms. Book clubs are 1973, cash gifts abroad 1956, Toshakhana 31.03.1956 and companion tickets 1997. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decisions]
24. A Group 'A' officer on a private visit abroad is offered cash as a gift by an overseas friend with no official dealings. Under Government instructions, he should:
(a) Not accept cash gifts abroad
(b) Accept if below Rs. 25,000
(c) Accept and report within one month
(d) Accept if it is in foreign currency
Ans. (a) Not accept cash gifts abroad — Explanation: The 1956 instructions say cash gifts should not be accepted abroad. [Ref: Rule 13; GoI decision dt 19.11.1956]
25. Rule 13(4) applies to a Government servant receiving foreign dignitaries' gifts:
(a) Only within India
(b) Whether as a member of the Indian delegation or otherwise
(c) Only as head of a delegation
(d) Only if he is in the Ministry of External Affairs
Ans. (b) Whether as a member of the Indian delegation or otherwise — Explanation: The rule says "being a member of the Indian delegation or otherwise", so it applies in all situations where foreign dignitaries give gifts. [Ref: Rule 13(4)]
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These questions are prepared for practice from the text of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and related Government of India instructions. Always check the latest DoPT orders before relying on any point for official decisions.