Union Government Extends Special LTC Air Travel Relaxation for Central Employees Until 2028

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), under the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has issued an Office Memorandum extending the Special Dispensation Scheme for Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for central government employees. The extended policy, effective from September 26, 2026, through September 25, 2028, allows civilian central employees to travel by air to the North Eastern Region, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands by converting one Home Town LTC within a four-year block. Under the public administration guidelines, government personnel who are not ordinarily entitled to air travel can fly economy class on specific designated routes, including Kolkata or Guwahati to the North East, Kolkata, Chennai or Visakhapatnam to Port Blair, and Delhi or Amritsar to Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh. The rules also maintain direct air travel relaxation from headquarters for non-entitled staff, subject to prescribed reimbursement norms. Fresh recruits receive additional conversion flexibilities within their initial four-year service blocks. To ensure financial discipline and prevent procedural misuse, the DoPT instructed all central ministries and administrative departments to perform randomized verification of submitted airline tickets directly with operating airlines. The decision aims to support civil servants' welfare while boosting regional tourism and connectivity in border and island territories.