The NDA does an UPA with its just-launched austerity drive. The Narendra Modi government will cut non-plan expenditure by 10 per cent and has barred bureaucrats from travelling first class on overseas visits and have been asked to use video conferencing as much as possible.

With an aim to restrict fiscal deficit to 4.1 per cent of GDP in 2014-15, the Finance Ministry has barred officials from holding meetings in five-star hotels and put a freeze on fresh appointments and filling up posts lying vacant for over one year.

"While officers are entitled to various classes of air travel depending on seniority, utmost economy would need to be observed while exercising the choice keeping the limitations of budget in mind. However, there would no bookings in the first class,' said the office memorandum.

The facility of Video Conferencing, it said, "may be used effectively'.

Remember the Congress govt's austerity drive? Read this.