The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India has extended the Special Dispensation Scheme under Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for another two years.
As per the DoPT Office Memorandum dated 9 September 2026, eligible Central Government employees can continue to avail the facility of air travel to the North East Region (NER), Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Union Territory of Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 26 September 2026 to 25 September 2028.
LTC Special Dispensation 2026–28: Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
| Scheme | LTC Special Dispensation Scheme |
| Extended from | 26 September 2026 |
| Valid up to | 25 September 2028 |
| Covered destinations | North East Region, J&K, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| LTC conversion | One Home Town LTC can be converted in a four-year block |
| Air travel for non-entitled employees | Economy Class, subject to conditions |
| Authorized Travel Agents | BLCL, Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC |
| Airlines | Any airline, subject to applicable conditions |
What is the LTC Special Dispensation Scheme?
Under the special dispensation, eligible Government servants can use LTC to visit the North East Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh by converting one Home Town LTC in a four-year block.
The extension announced by DoPT means that the special facility will remain available for an additional two years, from 26 September 2026 until 25 September 2028.
Who Can Avail This Facility?
1. Eligible Government Servants
Eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in:
- North East Region (NER)
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Ladakh
The facility is available against conversion of one Home Town LTC in a four-year block.
2. Employees Whose Home Town and Headquarters Are the Same
Employees whose Home Town and Headquarters/place of posting are the same cannot convert Home Town LTC under this scheme because they are not eligible for the Home Town LTC facility.
3. Employees Whose Home Town Is in NER/J&K/Ladakh/A&N
A Government servant whose Home Town is situated in one of these regions can also convert Home Town LTC to visit another covered region.
However, the employee cannot use this provision to visit the same region in which his/her Home Town is situated.
Special Provision for Fresh Recruits
Fresh recruits are also covered.
They can convert one of their three Home Town LTCs in a four-year block for visiting NER, A&N, J&K or Ladakh.
In addition, fresh recruits are allowed one additional conversion of Home Town LTC to visit J&K or Ladakh during a four-year block.
Air Travel Rules Under LTC Special Dispensation
One of the major benefits of this scheme is the relaxation permitting air travel to the specified regions.
Employees Already Entitled to Air Travel
Government servants who are otherwise entitled to travel by air can avail the concession from their Headquarters in their entitled class of air travel by any airline, subject to the applicable DoPT instructions.
Employees Not Normally Entitled to Air Travel
Employees who are not entitled to air travel can also travel by Economy Class by any airline under the Special Dispensation Scheme.
The specified sectors include:
- Kolkata/Guwahati ↔ any place in NER
- Kolkata/Chennai/Visakhapatnam ↔ Port Blair
- Delhi/Amritsar ↔ any place in J&K/Ladakh
For the journey from the employee’s Headquarters to Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Delhi or Amritsar, the employee’s normal travel entitlement will apply.
Direct Air Travel Also Permitted
An important provision is that employees who are not entitled to air travel may also travel by Economy Class directly from their Headquarters/place of posting to any place in NER, A&N, J&K or Ladakh.
However, reimbursement will be governed by the conditions prescribed in the relevant DoPT instructions.
LTC Air Ticket Booking Rules
The Special Dispensation Scheme does not mean that employees can book LTC flights through any website or travel agent without following Government instructions.
As per the DoPT’s air-ticket booking instructions, LTC air tickets are to be purchased through the following three Authorized Travel Agents (ATAs):
- Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL)
- Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT)
- Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC)
No agency charges/convenience fees are payable to these authorized travel agents.
Best Available Fare Rule
Employees are required to select the Best Available Fare, meaning the cheapest available fare in their entitled class, preferably a non-stop flight within the applicable time slot.
The Government instructions provide for optimization within a 10% price band for convenience and comfort.
Employees are also encouraged to book their LTC flight tickets at least 21 days before the intended journey to obtain competitive fares and reduce the financial burden on the Government.
What Are the Three-Hour Time Slots?
The applicable time bands are:
- 00:00–03:00
- 03:00–06:00
- 06:00–09:00
- 09:00–12:00
- 12:00–15:00
- 15:00–18:00
- 18:00–21:00
- 21:00–24:00
The fare selection is to be made within the desired three-hour slot.
Important Change Regarding Fare Evidence
The 2023 modification to the air-ticket booking procedure is particularly important.
The three authorized travel agents are required to display the cheapest fare and flights costing up to 10% more than the cheapest fare within the selected time slot.
Consequently, booking an LTC air ticket through the website of one of the three authorized travel agents itself serves as proof that the employee selected the cheapest fare according to the prescribed guidelines.
The authorized agents are also required to indicate “LTC” on tickets issued for LTC journeys.
What If the Employee Does Not Have an Official Government Email ID?
The 2023 instructions provide a facility for employees who do not have official Government email accounts.
The administrative office can send the employee’s details—including name, employee code, private email ID and mobile number—to the authorized travel agents so that the employee can register for digital LTC air-ticket booking.
LTC Advance for Air Travel
Government employees entitled to air travel may apply for LTC advance with the relevant fare details from an authorized travel agent.
The instructions state that such employees may apply for advance at least 30 days before the intended journey, along with the required flight and fare details.
For employees not entitled to air travel but travelling by air under the Special Dispensation Scheme, LTC advance can be based on the applicable Rail/Bus fare from Headquarters to the relevant railhead plus the eligible air fare for the onward journey.
Reimbursement Rules for Direct Air Travel
For a non-air-entitled employee travelling directly by air from Headquarters to the destination under the Special Dispensation Scheme, the employee must retain the required fare details for the relevant railhead and destination.
If the flight is not available in the same time slot, details of flights available in the next time slot may be retained.
In such cases, reimbursement will be restricted to the actual direct air fare or the fare admissible under the Special Dispensation Scheme, whichever is lower.
Important: Avoid Holding Multiple Tickets
Employees are advised to book only one ticket for each leg of the intended LTC journey.
Holding more than one ticket is not permitted.
Employees are also encouraged to make digital bookings through the online platforms of the three authorized travel agents.
What Happens If an Unauthorized Travel Website Is Used?
In unavoidable circumstances, if an employee books an LTC ticket through an unauthorized travel agent or website, relaxation may be granted by the competent authority specified in the DoPT instructions.
Therefore, employees should not routinely book LTC air tickets through private travel websites when the prescribed authorized channels are available.
Misuse of LTC Can Lead to Action
The DoPT has specifically warned that misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and employees may face appropriate action under the rules.
Ministries and Departments have also been advised to randomly verify air tickets submitted by employees with airlines to check the actual cost against the fare shown on the submitted ticket.
Employees should therefore maintain proper records of:
- Air ticket
- Fare details
- Booking information
- Applicable LTC documents
- Relevant screenshots/printouts wherever required
- Advance and reimbursement documents
LTC Special Dispensation 2026: Quick Checklist
Before booking an LTC journey under the extended scheme, employees should check:
☑ Destination falls within NER/J&K/Ladakh/A&N
☑ Employee is eligible for the applicable LTC facility
☑ Correct Home Town LTC conversion is being used
☑ Air-ticket booking is made through an authorized travel agent
☑ Best Available Fare requirement is followed
☑ Correct three-hour time slot is considered
☑ Only one ticket is booked for each journey leg
☑ Required fare/booking evidence is retained
☑ Reimbursement limits are understood
☑ LTC advance requirements are followed, where applicable
LTC Special Dispensation Scheme Extended Till 25 September 2028
The latest DoPT Office Memorandum dated 9 September 2026 provides welcome relief to Central Government employees planning LTC journeys to the North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The special air-travel dispensation has now been extended for two years from 26 September 2026 to 25 September 2028.
Employees planning to use this facility should carefully follow the LTC conversion, air-ticket booking, fare, advance and reimbursement provisions rather than relying solely on the general LTC rules.
Official Document
DoPT Office Memorandum: F.No. 31011/15/2022-Estt-A-IV, dated 09 September 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is prepared from the DoPT Office Memorandum provided with this article. Employees should refer to the applicable Government orders and their administrative/establishment section for their specific LTC case before making a claim.