NEW DELHI: The government has made it more difficult for bureaucrats to travel abroad unless they have a really good reason, as part of efforts to cut wasteful expenditure.They'll need to explain why the local mission won't be able do the job, why a colleague already in the neighbourhood can't handle the assignment and why a video-conference won't be enough The questions are part of a 19point form sent to all ministries on July 2 by the Department of Expenditure in the ministry of finance.“While submitting the proforma to this department, it may be ensured that all the points contained therein have been addressed/replied upon satisfactorily, failing which propos als will be returned unproc essed by Department of Expenditure,“ the finance ministry said.Travel proposals need to be sent 15 days ahead, anything after that will need to “obtain condonation of delay“ from no less than cabinet secretary Ajit Seth While India has 160 missions abroad, covering virtually the entire globe, there is some consternation among babus as to whether officers from other ministries would have the expertise to deal with matters alien to their domain, such as an agriculture ministry official touring Italy being asked to intercede in a matter related to energy in France.The latest measure is in addition to previous steps in this regard. ET had reported on June 23 that the cabinet secretary had written to ministries clamping down on foreign trips by ministers and bureaucrats and asking them to make sure that such travel was result-oriented.