The Centre on Tuesday issued rules barring bureaucrats from making “criticism of Government” on television, social media or any other communication application by any means including caricatures. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) proposed to expand the ambit of the rules that check criticism of Government. “The member of service shall also not criticise the Government — its policy or action, capable of embarrassing the Centre’s relations with State and foreign countries Governments — on television, social media or any other communication application,” said the DoPT order. It further advised that no member of the service would in any radio broadcast or communication over any public media or in any document (which may include a caricature) published anonymously, pseudonymously or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance, make any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any policy of the central or State Governments, as per the proposed rules.