Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday announced a blanket ban on the use of pen drives in official devices across all administrative departments, citing cyber security concerns and the need to safeguard sensitive government data.
According to a circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), the decision has been taken “to enhance the cyber security posture of the Union Territory, protect sensitive government information, and minimize the risks of data breaches, malware infections, and unauthorized access.” The directive applies to all departments at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar, as well as offices of Deputy Commissioners in districts.
The order, however, allows limited exceptions. In cases where operational requirements justify the use of pen drives, departments may seek permission for up to three devices through their Administrative Head, routed to the State Informatics Officer (SIO), NIC. Such approved devices must be submitted to NIC Cells for reconfiguration, authorization, and ownership registration before use.
As an alternative, the government has urged departments to adopt *GovDrive* ([https://govdrive.gov.in](https://govdrive.gov.in)), a cloud-based platform that provides every official with 50 GB of secure storage and synchronized access across devices.
The circular also bars the use of public messaging applications such as WhatsApp and unsecured third-party services like *ILovePDF* for sharing or processing official data. It directs that all sensitive information be handled strictly through government-approved secure channels.
The GAD has warned that violations of these directions will be taken seriously and may attract disciplinary action under official conduct and IT usage rules. The order has come into immediate effect following approval by the competent authority.
J&K Govt Tightens Cyber Security, Bans Pen Drives
