What is ‘political clearance’ and why do chief ministers need it for foreign trips?

Political clearance is an approval process conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for government officials travelling abroad. This clearance is required, not just for chief ministers and other top officials, but for any government servant undertaking a foreign trip. The MEA processes hundreds of such clearance applications monthly from different ministries and bureaus.

The decision to grant or deny political clearance depends on several factors including the nature of the event, level of international participation, type of invitation, and India's relations with the host country. This system aims to prevent any potential diplomatic or foreign-policy issues arising from official foreign visits that haven't been thoroughly assessed by the government.

Chief Ministers, like Revanth Reddy, require political clearance along with Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance to travel abroad. They also need clearance from the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and must submit a copy of their application to the DEA Secretary. Without political clearance, no public servant can embark on a foreign journey.

Instances of denied political clearance are not uncommon. For example, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had to cancel his Singapore visit in 2022 due to lack of clearance. Similarly, in 2019, the MEA denied political clearance for a conference abroad, which was addressed via videoconferencing.

In Reddy's case, his office is seeking clarification from the MEA regarding the denial of permission for the UK trip. The Centre informed the state government about the refusal of permission even after the official delegation reached the UK.