Question : Hiking Hardship Pay

(a) whether the Government is considering hiking hardship pay for its officials posted in various troubled countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether most of the countries pay upto 35 per cent extra salary based on the hardship its employees face on account of safety, isolation, housing, climate and local inflation and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has set a ceiling of 35 per cent of the foreign allowance as determined by UN indices for that country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (d) Hardship allowance is currently given to Government of India officials posted in extremely dangerous places affected by war/civil unrest/terrorist attacks. These are non-family stations where personnel are at risk and medical facilities are very poor. The allowances at these places are fixed and reviewed by Government periodically.
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