F.No.31011/07/2025 PP.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Pers. Policy Division
North Block, New Delhi
Date: 1st July, 2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — clarifications/ modifications in the LTC instructions - Regarding.
The undersigned is directed to say that this Department is in receipt of several references, RTI applications, individual grievances of the employees working in different offices, etc. in respect of different issues related to Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988. Based on the queries received from different sources, this Department has felt the need of issuing comprehensive instructions in the form of detailed clarifications on various aspects of LTC Rules. These instructions are being issued as a supplement to the existing instructions issued by this Department from time to time, as under:
| S.No. | Questions | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| (A) FAMILY | ||
| 1 |
Definition of Family for the purpose of availing LTC facility [as defined in Rule 4(d) of CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988] |
Relations included in the definition of Family: • Spouse (Husband & Wife) • Two eldest surviving unmarried children including step children and legally adopted children, and • Divorced / abandoned / separated from husband / widowed daughter(s) wholly dependent and residing with Government employee. • Children exceeding two as a result of second child birth resulting in multiple births (in exceptional case) • Parents and step parents, who are wholly dependent on the Government employee, irrespective of whether they are residing with the Government servant or not. • Siblings (unmarried minor brothers and unmarried/ divorced/ abandoned/ separated/ widowed sisters) residing with and wholly dependent on the Government employee, provided that their parents are either not alive or are themselves wholly dependent on the Government employee. |
1. Definition of Family for the purpose of availing LTC facility
2. What is the dependency criterion for the purpose of LTC?
3. Is it compulsory for the wife, parents and children to reside with Government employee to claim LTC?
No. Spouse is considered as one unit, hence dependency not relevant. Parents and children should be wholly dependent.
4. Whether son/daughter of the Government employee, who is above 25 years of age but still unmarried, is eligible for LTC claim?
Yes, if he/she is unmarried and wholly dependent on the Government employee.
5. Are the in-laws of a Government Employee eligible to avail LTC?
No.
6. Are family members allowed to travel separately?
Yes. Government employee and family may travel separately or in groups during the LTC block period.
7. Can some family members avail LTC to ‘home town’ while others to ‘anywhere in India’ in the same block?
Yes.
8. Are spouse and children residing at different locations allowed to avail LTC?
Yes.
9. Can the spouse working in private sector avail LTA or travel reimbursement from his/her employer?
Yes. No restriction.
10. Is reimbursement allowed in respect of a child aged less than 5 years, who travels by train and opts for a separate seat/berth?
No.
11. Can a non-air entitled employee claim air fare for child under 5 if full fare is charged?
No. Unless allowed under Special Dispensation Scheme. Rail fare for children 5–12 is reimbursed.
12. Can a government employee under suspension avail LTC?
No, but his/her family can avail LTC.
13. What is Block Year?
Block Year is a period of 4 calendar years. The current block is 2022–2025. For those with approved Home Town, the block is divided into two sub-blocks: 2022–23 and 2024–25.
14. Block Year for employees with same Home Town and Headquarters?
They are entitled for one 'Anywhere in India' LTC during 2022–2025.
15. Block Year for employees with different Home Town and Headquarters?
They may avail LTC in two sub-blocks: one for Home Town and one for 'Anywhere in India'.
16. Can an employee with declared Home Town avail two LTCs in one year?
Yes. One from previous block and one from current block can be availed at the beginning of each sub-block.
17. Can an employee with same Home Town and HQ avail two LTCs in a year?
Yes. One from previous and one from current block in the first year of the new block.
18. Are LTC blocks extendable?
Yes, by one year till 31st December of the next calendar year.
19. Are employees with same HQ and Home Town eligible for Home Town LTC?
No.
20. Are employees residing in other states of NCR eligible for Home Town LTC?
Yes, if their headquarters is Delhi and they reside outside Delhi in NCR states.
21. Is leave encashment allowed if employee does not avail LTC but family does?
Yes, leave encashment is allowed once in a sub-block/block year.
22. Is reimbursement of leave encashment allowed with private travel or nil claim?
Yes, subject to conditions: advance intimation, leave sanctioned, self-declaration of journey.
23. Is leave encashment permissible if applied before journey?
Yes.
24. Can both husband and wife get leave encashment if both are govt employees?
Yes.
25. Which kind of leave is necessary for LTC?
Any kind of leave is allowed: casual, special casual, child care leave, etc.
26. Is leave required if only family is travelling?
No.
27. Can LTC be availed during weekends/holidays alone?
No. Leave is required.
29. Is travel by taxi/auto-rickshaw allowed under LTC?
Only between places not connected by rail/road and if the mode is public carrier approved by authorities.
30. Is hired/personal vehicle allowed in case of disability?
Yes, with medical certificate, self-declaration, and cost capped to entitled class fare.
31. How is reimbursement done for partial journey by private transport?
Public transport segment reimbursed as per entitlement. For private transport (max 200 km), self-certification needed.
32. Is reimbursement allowed for private ferry?
Yes, limited to entitled ship fare if Govt ferry is available.
33. Is LTC reimbursement allowed for Tejas/Vande Bharat/Humsafar Express?
Yes.
34. Can an employee visiting Sikkim travel by air to Bagdogra?
Yes.
35. How are delayed LTC claims handled?
Claims without advance: within 3 months. With advance: within 1 month. Relaxation possible within 6 months (no advance) or 3 months (with refund and interest).
36. Are tour packages allowed under LTC?
No, unless conducted by IRCTC, ITDC, or STDC with fare certificate.
37. Are incidental/local journey expenses allowed under LTC?
No.
38. Is taxi/auto fare from residence to airport/railway reimbursable?
No.
39. Are concessional circular trip railway tickets allowed?
Yes, reimbursement restricted to shortest route fare.
40. How is LTC regulated for circular tour tickets?
Claim limited to shortest direct route from HQ to declared destination.
41. Is reimbursement of e-ticket booking charges allowed?
Yes, if booked through IRCTC.
42. Are catering charges reimbursed?
Yes, for eligible trains under LTC.
43. Are taxes and levies reimbursable?
Yes.
44. Are SPORTS Lakshadweep tour packages allowed?
Yes, only fare component reimbursed with certificate.
45. Is 21-day advance air ticket booking compulsory?
Not compulsory but recommended for cost saving.
46. What is the procedure for booking of air tickets for employees who do not have any official accounts?
Administrative office must send employee details (name, code, personal email, mobile) to authorized travel agents for registration and booking.
47. Authorized Travel Agencies (ATA) for booking tickets?
48. Is LTC-80 fare still applicable?
No. The LTC-80 scheme by Air India is discontinued since Air India is no longer a government PSU.
49. Do employees have to pay airline cancellation charges?
Yes, as per airline policy. However, the three ATAs do not charge cancellation fees when booked through them.
50. Can Government employees travel by helicopter?
No.
51. Do employees have to book air tickets at cheapest fare?
Yes. Book at cheapest fare or fare up to 10% higher than the cheapest available in a 3-hour window.
52. Is break-journey by air allowed?
No. Break-journey is not allowed except for connecting flights or scheduled layovers.
53. How is reimbursement done if journey is in different class than entitlement?
Reimbursement is limited to entitled class. Higher class: reimbursed as per entitlement; lower class: reimbursed actual fare.
54. Are cancellation charges by travel agents reimbursable?
Yes, but only for official exigencies.
55. What is the validity period of the Special Dispensation Scheme?
Valid from 26 Sept 2024 to 25 Sept 2026.
56. Can journey under the Special Dispensation Scheme start just before midnight on 25th Sept 2026?
Yes.
57. Is Sikkim included in the North Eastern Region (NER)?
Yes.
58. Are Lakshadweep Islands included in the Special Dispensation Scheme?
No.
59. Can employees not eligible for Home Town LTC avail Special Dispensation Scheme?
No.
60. Can non-entitled officers travel by air directly to NER/J&K/Ladakh/A&N?
Yes, under the Special Dispensation Scheme, in economy class. Reimbursement restricted to actual fare or entitlement, whichever is lower.
61. Can employees with Home Town in NER/J&K/Ladakh/A&N visit other regions under SDS?
Yes, except the region where their Home Town is located.
62. Can an employee who already availed Home Town LTC also avail SDS LTC?
Yes, under All India LTC, not under SDS conversion.
63. Can a government employee avail SDS twice in a block?
Yes. Once by converting Home Town LTC, and once using All India LTC.
64. What are the LTC entitlements of a Fresh Recruit?
65. How are two blocks of four years applied to Fresh Recruits?
First two blocks of 4 years from date of joining. Calculated on calendar year basis after one year of regular service.
66. Are LTC blocks for Fresh Recruits same as for regular employees?
No. Fresh recruits have personal blocks initially. After 8 LTCs, they align with regular blocks.
67. Can Fresh Recruits carry forward LTC to next year?
No. Annual LTC lapses if not availed.
68. How are Fresh Recruit LTCs exercised after 8 LTCs?
Depends on overlap with sub-blocks or regular blocks. Only Home Town LTC allowed in transition year.
69. LTC entitlement for a Fresh Recruit who joins on 31st December?
Eligible from 31st December next year. First LTC must be used on the same day or it lapses.
70. Can Fresh Recruit with same HQ and Home Town avail Home Town LTC?
No. Only 4th and 8th occasion (All India LTC) allowed.
71. Timeline for submission of LTC claims?
Without advance: 3 months. With advance: 1 month. Relaxation up to 6 months (no advance) by Ministry/FA.
72. Who is the competent authority for LTC relaxation if booked through unauthorized agent?
FA of Ministry (for employees under Ministry); HoD (Joint Secretary level) for attached offices.
73. How to refer LTC cases to DoPT for clarification/relaxation?
Through e-office with Secretary approval and self-contained note.
74. If family stays with employee at HQ, how is LTC counted?
Travel to Home Town counted as Home Town LTC; to any other place is counted as All India LTC.
75. If family stays away from HQ, how is LTC counted?
Home Town journey: counted as Home Town LTC (fare limited to HQ-HT distance). Any other place: counted as All India LTC.
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