LTC Special Dispensation Scheme 2026
The LTC Special Dispensation Scheme is a special relaxation under the Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988. It allows eligible Central Government employees to visit the North Eastern Region (NER), Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands under special LTC provisions.
One of the major benefits of the scheme is that employees who are not normally entitled to air travel can travel by Economy Class by air to the covered destinations, subject to the applicable Government instructions.
What is the LTC Special Dispensation Scheme?
The Special Dispensation Scheme provides additional relaxation under LTC for Central Government employees travelling to selected regions of the country. The scheme covers:
The scheme is particularly useful for employees who are otherwise not entitled to travel by air under normal LTC rules.
LTC Special Dispensation Scheme Validity
26 September 2024 to 25 September 2026
The present extension was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) through its Office Memorandum dated 17 September 2024.
Which Destinations Are Covered?
| Destination | Covered Under Special Dispensation? |
|---|---|
| North Eastern Region | Yes |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Yes |
| Ladakh | Yes |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Yes |
| Lakshadweep | No |
Which States Are Included in the North Eastern Region?
The North Eastern Region includes the following eight States:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Tripura
- Sikkim
Who Can Avail the LTC Special Dispensation Scheme?
Eligible Central Government employees covered by the CCS (LTC) Rules can avail the scheme subject to the conditions prescribed by DoPT.
One of the most important provisions allows an eligible employee to convert one Home Town LTC into LTC for visiting NER, Andaman & Nicobar, Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh, subject to the applicable conditions.
Conversion of Home Town LTC
The Home Town LTC conversion facility is one of the most important features of the Special Dispensation Scheme.
For example, if an employee has Home Town LTC available during the relevant block, the employee may use the special facility to visit Ladakh instead of travelling to the declared Home Town.
Home Town and Headquarters Are the Same
If Home Town Is Already in NER, J&K, Ladakh or A&N
Special conditions apply when the employee's declared Home Town is already located in one of the regions covered by the scheme.
In such cases, the employee can use the applicable conversion facility for another eligible region as permitted under the Special Dispensation Scheme. The region in which the employee's Home Town is situated is subject to the specific restriction prescribed by DoPT.
Special Provision for Fresh Recruits
Fresh recruits have special LTC provisions under the CCS (LTC) Rules. The Special Dispensation Scheme provides additional flexibility to fresh recruits.
An additional conversion facility for visiting Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh is also available to fresh recruits as prescribed under the scheme.
Can Non-Air-Entitled Employees Travel by Air?
This special relaxation applies to travel to:
- North Eastern Region
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Ladakh
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Air Travel From Gateway Cities
For non-air-entitled employees, special provisions exist for air travel through specified gateway cities.
| Destination | Important Air Route / Gateway |
|---|---|
| North Eastern Region | Kolkata / Guwahati to places in NER |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Kolkata / Chennai / Visakhapatnam to Port Blair |
| J&K / Ladakh | Delhi / Amritsar to places in J&K / Ladakh |
The journey from the employee's Headquarters to the applicable gateway is governed by the employee's normal travel entitlement.
Air Ticket Booking Rules
Employees should be particularly careful about air-ticket booking. Merely purchasing a flight ticket does not guarantee reimbursement.
The applicable Government instructions cover:
- Booking through authorized travel agents where required
- Selection of eligible fares
- Advance booking
- Applicable flight timing conditions
- Cancellation and rescheduling
- Submission of supporting documents
- Reimbursement of eligible fare
Authorized Travel Agents for LTC Air Tickets
The Government has designated authorized agencies for booking air tickets for LTC travel.
| Authorized Agency | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd. | LTC air-ticket booking |
| Ashok Travels & Tours | LTC air-ticket booking |
| IRCTC | LTC air-ticket booking |
Cheapest Air Fare Rule
Government employees are required to select the cheapest available fare or a fare within the permitted range under the applicable LTC air-ticket booking instructions.
The fare-selection instructions provide for comparison of available flights within the applicable three-hour time slot. A fare up to 10% higher than the cheapest available fare within the relevant slot may be permitted under the applicable instructions.
| Time Slot | Period |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 03:00 – 06:00 |
| Slot 2 | 06:00 – 09:00 |
| Slot 3 | 09:00 – 12:00 |
| Slot 4 | 12:00 – 15:00 |
| Slot 5 | 15:00 – 18:00 |
| Slot 6 | 18:00 – 21:00 |
| Slot 7 | 21:00 – 24:00 |
How Much Air Fare Will Be Reimbursed?
The actual amount reimbursed depends upon the employee's applicable LTC entitlement and the conditions of the Special Dispensation Scheme.
Employees travelling in a class higher than their entitlement may have their reimbursement restricted to the admissible entitlement.
Is Break Journey Allowed?
Employees should be careful when planning stopovers or personal breaks during an LTC journey.
A break journey generally refers to a stay at a place other than the declared destination, except where the stop is necessary because of a connecting flight or a permitted halt/layover.
LTC and Leave
LTC is linked with admissible leave. Employees should obtain the necessary leave sanction and LTC permission before commencing the journey.
LTC may be availed during admissible leave, including Casual Leave or Special Casual Leave, subject to the applicable rules.
LTC Advance
An eligible employee can apply for LTC advance under the applicable rules. The advance application should be submitted sufficiently before the journey.
After completion of the journey, the employee must submit the required claim and settle the advance within the prescribed period.
Earned Leave Encashment With LTC
An employee may also be eligible to encash Earned Leave along with LTC, subject to the applicable CCS (Leave) Rules and prescribed conditions.
What Expenses Are Not Covered?
LTC is not an all-inclusive holiday reimbursement scheme. Generally, expenses such as the following are not reimbursed as LTC travel expenses:
- Hotel accommodation
- Food and meals
- Sightseeing
- Personal taxi expenses
- Local transportation
- Personal shopping
- Other personal expenses
Can Family Members Avail LTC?
Eligible family members can avail LTC along with the Government servant, subject to the definition of family and other conditions under the CCS (LTC) Rules.
Employees should verify family eligibility and applicable dependency conditions before submitting the claim.
Special Dispensation vs Normal LTC
| Feature | Normal LTC | Special Dispensation |
|---|---|---|
| Home Town LTC | Available | One Home Town LTC can be converted subject to conditions |
| NER | Normal entitlement | Special relaxation available |
| J&K | Normal entitlement | Special relaxation available |
| Ladakh | Normal entitlement | Special relaxation available |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Normal entitlement | Special relaxation available |
| Non-air-entitled employees | Normal travel entitlement | Economy air travel permitted subject to conditions |
| Lakshadweep | Separate rules | Not covered under this scheme |
| Current Special Dispensation validity | — | 26 Sep 2024 – 25 Sep 2026 |
Examples of LTC Special Dispensation
Example 1: Employee Posted in Pune Wants to Visit Ladakh
Suppose a Central Government employee is posted in Pune and has Home Town LTC available. The employee may convert the eligible Home Town LTC to visit Ladakh, subject to the applicable conditions.
If the employee is not normally entitled to air travel, the special provision can permit Economy Class air travel to Ladakh.
Example 2: Home Town and Headquarters Are the Same
If an employee's declared Home Town and Headquarters are the same, the employee is not eligible for Home Town LTC. Therefore, the Home Town LTC conversion facility under this provision cannot be used.
Example 3: Home Town Is in Assam
Assam is part of the North Eastern Region. If an employee's Home Town is in Assam, special restrictions apply to using the conversion facility for the same region. The employee may instead use the applicable facility for another covered region, such as J&K, Ladakh or Andaman & Nicobar, subject to the scheme conditions.
Important Checklist Before Booking LTC
- Confirm LTC eligibility.
- Check the applicable LTC block.
- Confirm availability of Home Town LTC for conversion.
- Check that Home Town and Headquarters are not the same.
- Confirm that the destination is covered.
- Obtain LTC permission.
- Obtain leave sanction.
- Check air travel entitlement.
- Book through the prescribed authorized agency where required.
- Select an eligible fare.
- Keep ticket and boarding documents safely.
- Follow the prescribed claim procedure.
- Submit the LTC claim within the applicable time limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LTC Special Dispensation Scheme available in 2026?
Can I use the scheme for Ladakh?
Can I use the scheme for Jammu & Kashmir?
Is Sikkim covered?
Is Lakshadweep covered?
Can a non-air-entitled employee travel by air?
Can Home Town LTC be converted?
Can an employee whose Home Town and Headquarters are the same use this facility?
Can fresh recruits avail this scheme?
Can the journey start on 25 September 2026?
Important DoPT Documents
- DoPT Office Memorandum dated 17 September 2024 regarding extension of the Special Dispensation Scheme.
- DoPT instructions on LTC air-ticket booking and reimbursement.
- DoPT FAQ on LTC and Special Dispensation.
- CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 and subsequent amendments/orders.
Conclusion
The LTC Special Dispensation Scheme 2026 provides an important travel benefit to Central Government employees wishing to visit the North Eastern Region, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The biggest advantage is that eligible employees who are not normally entitled to air travel can travel by Economy Class by air to these destinations under the special relaxation.
However, employees must carefully follow the rules relating to Home Town LTC conversion, LTC blocks, air-ticket booking, authorized travel agencies, eligible fares, leave, advance and reimbursement.
Disclaimer: LTC rules and departmental instructions may be updated from time to time. Employees should verify the latest DoPT orders and their departmental instructions before making travel arrangements or submitting an LTC claim.
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