As per the code of conduct, a Minister, including the Union Ministers, the Chief Ministers and other Ministers of State Governments/Union Territories, should not permit their spouse and dependents to accept employment under a Foreign Government, in India or abroad, or in a foreign organisation (including commercial concerns) without prior approval of the Prime Minister.
Where the wife or a dependent of a Minister is already in such employment, the matter should be reported to the Prime Minister for decision whether the employment should or should not continue.
As a general rule, there should be total prohibition on employment with a Foreign Mission.
A Minister should not accept valuable gifts except from close relatives, and he or members of his family should not accept any gifts at all from any person with whom he may have official dealings nor permit a member of his family to contract debts of a nature likely to embarrass or influence him in the discharge of his official duties.
A Minister may receive gifts when he goes abroad or from foreign dignitaries in India. Such gifts fall into two categories.
The first category will include gifts which are of symbolic nature, like a sword of honour, ceremonial robes etc. and which can be retained by the recipients.
