The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word BABU
B
A
B
U
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Indian government official" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case indian government official = babu.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BABU mean?
BABU noun- (Indian English) A Hindu title of respect, equivalent to Mr., usually appended to the surname of a Hindu man
- (Indian English) (Originally) a Hindu gentleman employed to work as a clerk for the colonial administration; now, a clerk or low-ranking government official.