LTC Rule Change: Government Employees Can Now Claim Flight Tickets for These Areas – Check Eligibility and Time Frame

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NP English
Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:26:28 IST
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The Government of India has announced an important extension to the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) rules, allowing central government employees to claim flight tickets for travel to select regions. This move, detailed in an Office Memorandum (OM) by the Ministry of Personnel , Public Grievances & Pensions, extends the scheme until September 2026. The regions covered include the North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, offering significant travel benefits to government employees.


# Key Highlights of the New LTC Rule Extension

1. Extended Air Travel Benefits:


  • Government employees are now eligible to claim air travel under the LTC scheme for visiting the North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  • This scheme, which was set to expire on September 25, 2024, has now been extended for another two years, until September 25, 2026.

2. Eligibility Criteria for LTC Air Travel :

  • Employees can convert one of their hometown LTCs (from a four-year block period) to visit the regions mentioned above.
  • Government employees whose hometown and place of posting are the same are not eligible for this conversion.
  • Employees whose hometown is located in one of these regions can use the scheme to visit any of the other three regions, excluding their Home Town.
  • Fresh recruits are also eligible for this conversion, with the added benefit of one extra LTC to visit Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh during the same four-year block.

3. Travel Provisions:


  • Employees entitled to air travel can avail their designated class of airfare, with bookings allowed on any airline, as per the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) guidelines.
  • Those not eligible for air travel in their regular entitlements can still travel in Economy class on flights between specified cities and the eligible regions, such as Kolkata to the North East or Delhi to Jammu & Kashmir.

4. Additional Guidelines:

  • Non-entitled employees can travel by air from their Headquarters directly to the eligible regions, though reimbursements will follow specific conditions set out in previous OMs.
  • Authorized travel agents, optimal fare selection, and booking instructions continue to apply under this scheme.

# Time Period and Application
The extension of the LTC air travel scheme presents a valuable opportunity for government employees, enhancing travel options for both personal and professional reasons. The scheme is valid until September 2026, offering ample time for eligible employees to plan and enjoy visits to these unique regions of India.

By simplifying the LTC process and providing air travel access, the government aims to encourage tourism and connectivity to remote regions, making travel more accessible and convenient for central government employees.