Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for Central Government Employees : Important facts

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Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for Central Government Employees



The Leave Travel Concession (LTC) is one of the key welfare measures extended to Central Government employees, aimed at promoting family bonding, domestic tourism, and work-life balance. It allows employees to travel to their hometown or to any part of India along with eligible family members, with reimbursement of travel expenses as per prescribed rules.

Objective of LTC

The primary objective of the LTC scheme is to encourage employees and their families to visit different parts of the country, thereby fostering national integration and providing an opportunity for relaxation during leave periods.

Eligibility

All Central Government employees, including those on regular service, are eligible for LTC, subject to completion of one year of continuous service. Newly recruited employees are also eligible for certain LTC benefits under specific conditions.

The LTC facility is also extended to the employees’ eligible family members, which typically include:

  • Spouse

  • Two surviving children (subject to conditions)

  • Dependent parents

  • Dependent siblings residing with the employee

Types of LTC

The LTC scheme generally covers two types of travel:

  1. Home Town LTC:

    • Permitted once in a block of two years.

    • Allows the employee and eligible family members to visit their declared home town.

  2. All India LTC:

    • Permitted once in a block of four years.

    • Allows travel to any place in India of the employee’s choice.

Employees can avail either two Home Town LTCs or one Home Town and one All India LTC in a four-year block.

Current Block Year

The current block for LTC purposes is 2022–2025. Employees who could not avail of LTC during the previous block due to administrative or personal reasons may also be allowed carryover benefits as per rules.

Entitlements under LTC

The travel entitlements under LTC are determined based on the employee’s pay level and mode of travel:

  • Rail Journey: Eligible for reimbursement of fare as per the entitled class under TA rules.

  • Air Journey: Employees in Pay Level 9 and above are entitled to air travel. Others may be permitted under special relaxation orders (for instance, North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

  • Road Journey: Reimbursement is permissible for travel by Government or recognized public transport services.

Advance and Claim Settlement

Employees may apply for LTC advance, generally up to 90% of the estimated fare, subject to approval.
Claims must be submitted within three months of completion of the return journey, along with tickets, boarding passes, and necessary certificates.

Special Relaxations

From time to time, the Government issues relaxations under the LTC scheme, such as:

  • Special Package for North East Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh, allowing air travel irrespective of pay level.

  • LTC Cash Voucher Scheme (during COVID-19 pandemic) — an optional scheme allowing employees to receive cash reimbursement in lieu of LTC, subject to certain spending conditions.

Important Conditions

  • LTC cannot be combined with any other kind of leave except Earned Leave.

  • Journey should be performed by shortest route.

  • Fraudulent claims or misrepresentation may lead to disciplinary action.

  • Employees must submit a Self-Declaration that the travel was actually undertaken.

Conclusion

The Leave Travel Concession (LTC) is a unique and beneficial scheme that not only supports the welfare of Central Government employees but also contributes significantly to the promotion of domestic tourism. By availing LTC regularly and as per rules, employees can rejuvenate themselves and strengthen family ties while exploring the diversity of India.

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