Mumbai, July 28, 2025 – The Maharashtra government has issued stringent new social media guidelines for its employees, prohibiting them from criticising any current or past government policies and mandating a clear separation between personal and official online activity.
According to the Government Resolution (GR) released on Monday, employees across all state departments, public sector undertakings, and local bodies whether permanent, contractual, or temporary must refrain from using social media irrespossibly. Any violation of these norms will lead to disciplinary action under the Maharashtra Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1979.
The GR emphasizes that while employees may share posts about their professional achievements, they must avoid self-promotion and ensure their content does not cross into the realm of criticism, defamation, or provocation. Sharing or downloading objectionable, discriminatory, or hateful content is strictly forbidden.
Further, personal social media profiles must not display any designation, government logos, official buildings, uniforms, or vehicles. The only permitted identifier on personal accounts is the employee’s photograph. Additionally, all officials are barred from using any apps that have been banned by either the state or central government.
Coordination through messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram is allowed, but only for official work and within limits prescribed by the authorities. Only specifically designated officials are authorised to post or publicise government projects and schemes on official social media channels, and that too with prior approval.
The guidelines also require that outgoing officers hand over control of official social media accounts to their successors upon retirement or transfer, ensuring continuity and security of government communication.
No part of any confidential file, internal document, or official communication can be uploaded, forwarded, or shared in digital format without proper authorisation, the resolution warned.
The new rules are seen as an effort to preserve the integrity of official communication and protect the government from reputational risks in the digital age, where social media content travels fast and often unfiltered.
