Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on LTC entitlements of Fresh Recruit

 

 

No. 31011/7/2014-Estt.(A-IV)
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment (A-IV)

***

Dated: 26th September, 2014
North Block, New Delhi

                    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on LTC entitlements of Fresh Recruit

The 6th CPC had recommended that “Fresh Recruits” to the Central Government may be allowed to travel to their Home Town along with their families on three occasions in a block of four years and to any place in India on the fourth occasion. This was accepted by the Government and orders were issued vide DoPT O.M. No. 31011/4/2008-Estt.(A) dated 23rd September, 2008.

2. This Department receives a number of references seeking clarifications from various Ministry/ Departments about the year wise LTC entitlements of Fresh Recruits. Based on the same, a set of frequently asked questions have been answered as under:

Question 1. What are the LTC entitlements of a Fresh Recruit?
Answer: Fresh recruits to the Central Government are allowed to travel to their home town along with their families on three occasions in a block of four years and to any place in India on the fourth occasion. This facility shall be available to the fresh recruits only for the first two blocks of four years applicable after joining the Government for the first time.

Question 2. How are the two blocks of four years applied to the Fresh Recruit?
Answer: The first two blocks of four years shall apply with reference to the initial date of joining the Government service even though the Govt. servant may change the job within the Government subsequently. However, as per Rule 7 of CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, the LTC entitlement of a fresh recruit will be calculated calendar year wise with effect from the date of completion of one year of regular service.

Question 3. Are the LTC blocks of four years in respect of Fresh Recruits same as the regular blocks like 2010-13, 2014-17?

Answer: No. The first two blocks of four years of fresh recruits will be personal to them. On completion of eight year of LTC, they will be treated at par with other regular LTC beneficiaries as per the prescribed blocks like 2014-17, 2018-21 etc.

Question 4. If a fresh recruit does not avail LTC facility in a particular year, can he/she avail it in the next year?

Answer: No. Carryover of LTC to the next year is not allowed in case of a fresh recruit as he is already entitled to every year LTC. Hence, if a fresh recruit does not avail of the LTC facility in any year, his LTC will deem to have lapsed with the end of that year.

Question 5. How will the LTC entitlements of a Fresh Recruit be exercised after the completion of eight years of service?

Answer: (a) After the completion of eight years of service, when the next LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of the second two year block (eg. 2016-17) of the running four year block (2014-17), he will be eligible only for ‘Home Town’ LTC if he/she has availed ‘Any Place in India’ LTC in the eighth year. Cases, where the new LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the second year of the running two year block (ex. 2017 of 2016-2017), he will not be eligible for LTC in that year. Refer illustrations 1 & 3 for further explanation.

(b) At the end of the eighth year of LTC, when the new LTC cycle of a fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of a regular four year block, his entitlement in the regular block will be exercised as per the usual LTC Rules. Refer illustration 2.

Question 6. How will the LTC entitlement computed in case of a fresh recruit joining the service on 31st December of any year?

Answer: A fresh recruit who joins the Government service on 31st December of any year, will be eligible for LTC w.e.f. 31st December of next year. Since, 31st December is the last date of a calendar year, his first occasion of LTC ends with that year. Hence, he may avail his first Home Town LTC on the last day of that year. From next year onwards he would be eligible for the remaining seven LTCs. Refer illustration 3.

Question 7. How will the entitlements of a fresh recruit be computed who has joined the Govt. service before 01.09.2008?

Answer: A fresh recruit who has joined Government service before 01.09.2008 (i.e before the introduction of this scheme) and has not completed his first eight years of service as on 01.09.2008 will be eligible for this concession for the remaining time-period till the completion of first eight years of his/ her service. Refer illustration 4.

Question 8. Can a fresh recruit whose Home Town and Headquarters are same, avail LTC to Home Town?

Answer: No. A fresh recruit whose Home Town and Headquarters are same, cannot avail LTC to Home Town. He may avail LTC to any place in India on the fourth and eighth occasion only. As per Rule 8 of CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, LTC to Home Town shall be admissible irrespective of the distance between the Headquarters of the Govt. servant and his Home Town which implies that Headquarters and Home Town should be at different places.

sd/-

(B. Bandyopadhyay)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Ph. (011) 23040341

Illustration

Illustration 1:

An employee joins the Government service on 1st September, 2008. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 1st September, 2009 (i.e. after the completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India would be as under:

Year of LTC	Type of LTC	LTC Occasion
01.09.2008 – 31.08.2009	Nil	–
01.09.2009 – 31.12.2009	Home Town	1st
01.01.2010 – 31.12.2010	Home Town	2nd
01.01.2011 – 31.12.2011	Home Town	3rd
01.01.2012 – 31.12.2012	Any Place in India	4th
01.01.2013 – 31.12.2013	Home Town	5th
01.01.2014 – 31.12.2014	Home Town	6th
01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015	Home Town	7th
01.01.2016 – 31.12.2016	Any Place in India	8th
01.01.2017 – 31.12.2017	Nil	–
01.01.2018 – 31.12.2021	New LTC Block

Explanations:

1.After the completion of the first eight years, when the fresh recruit gets into the middle of the running regular block of four calendar years (ex. 2014-2017) where the new LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the second year of the running two year block (ex. 2017 of 2016-2017), he will not be eligible for LTC in that year (i.e. 2017).

2.It can be seen from above that LTC entitlement for a fresh recruit is calculated calendar year wise with effect from the date of completion of one year of regular service.

Illustration 2:

An employee joins the Government service on 1^st January, 2009. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 1^st January, 2010 (i.e. after the completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India LTC would be as under

Year of LTC	Type of LTC	LTC Occasion
01.01.2009 – 31.12.2009	Nil	–
01.01.2010 – 31.12.2010	Home Town	1st
01.01.2011 – 31.12.2011	Home Town	2nd
01.01.2012 – 31.12.2012	Home Town	3rd
01.01.2013 – 31.12.2013	Any Place in India	4th
01.01.2014 – 31.12.2014	Home Town	5th
01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015	Home Town	6th
01.01.2016 – 31.12.2016	Home Town	7th
01.01.2017 – 31.12.2017	Any Place in India	8th
01.01.2018 – 31.12.2021	New LTC Block

Explanations:

1.A the end of the eighth year of LTC, when the new LTC cycle of a fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of a regular four year block, his entitlement in the regular block will be exercised as per the usual LTC Rules.

Illustration 3:

An employee joins the Government service on 31^st December, 2011. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 31^st December, 2012 (i.e. after completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India LTC would be as under:

Year of LTC	Type of LTC	LTC Occasion
31.01.2011 – 30.12.2012	Nil	–
31.12.2012	Home Town	1st
01.01.2013 – 31.12.2013	Home Town	2nd
01.01.2014 – 31.12.2014	Home Town	3rd
01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015	Any Place in India	4th
01.01.2016 – 31.12.2016	Home Town	5th
01.01.2017 – 31.12.2017	Home Town	6th
01.01.2018 – 31.12.2018	Home Town	7th
01.01.2019 – 31.12.2019	Any Place in India	8th
01.01.2020 – 31.12.2021	Home Town	–
01.01.2022 – 31.12.2025	New LTC Block

Explanations:

i. A fresh recruit who joins on 31st December of any year, will be eligible for LTC w.e.f. 31st December of next year. Since, 31st December is the last date of that calendar year, his first occasion of LTC ends with that year. Hence, he may avail his first home town LTC on that day only (eg. 31st December, 2012). From next year onwards he will be eligible for the remaining seven LTCs.

ii. After the completion of eight years of service, when the next LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of the second two year block (eg. 2020-21) of the running four year block (2018-21), he will be eligible only for the ‘Home Town’ LTC in that block if he has availed of ‘Any Place in India’ LTC in the eighth year. In case, the fresh recruit forgoes his eighth year LTC, then he has a choice to avail either ‘Any Place in India’ or ‘Home Town’ LTC in the following two year block (i.e. in 2020-21).

Illustration 4:

An employee joins the Government service on 10^th May, 2006. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 10^th May, 2007 (i.e. after the completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India LTC would be as under:

Year of LTC	Type of LTC	LTC Occasion
10.05.2006 – 09.05.2007	Nil	–
10.05.2007 – 31.12.2007	Home Town/ Any Place in India	1st
01.01.2008 – 31.12.2008	Home Town	2nd
01.01.2009 – 31.12.2009	Home Town	3rd
01.01.2010 – 31.12.2010	Any Place in India	4th
01.01.2011 – 31.12.2011	Home Town	5th
01.01.2012 – 31.12.2012	Home Town	6th
01.01.2013 – 31.12.2013	Home Town	7th
01.01.2014 – 31.12.2014	Any Place in India	8th
01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015	Nil	–
01.01.2016 – 31.12.2017	Home Town

Explanations: 

A fresh recruit who has joined the Government service before 01.09.2008 (i.e. before the introduction of this scheme) and has not completed his first eight years of service as on 01.09.2008 will be eligible for this concession for the remaining time-period till the completion of first eight years of his/ her service.

Relaxation to travel by air on LTC to visit NER and A&N.

No. 31011/3/2014-Estt.(A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

 

North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: 26th September, 2014

 

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

 

Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 – Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER and A&N.

 

The undersigned is directed to say that in relaxation to CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, it has been decided by the Government to permit Government servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Jammu and Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) as per the following scheme

 

i. All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in NER/ A&N against the conversion of one block of their Home Town LTC. Fresh Recruits are also eligible for this benefit against conversion of one of the three Home Towns in a block of four years applicable to them.

ii. Government servants entitled to travel by air can avail this LTC from their Headquarters in Economy class.

iii. Government servants not entitled to travel by air may be permitted to travel by air in Economy class in the following sectors:

Between Kolkata/ Guwahati and any place in NER
Between Kolkata/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar and Port Blair
Between Delhi / Amritsar and any place in J&K

Journey for these non-entitled employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar / Delhi / Amritsar will have to be undertaken as per their entitlement.

iv. Air travel is to be performed by Air India in Economy Class only and at LTC-80 fare or less.

v. Air travel by non-entitled officers on the sectors mentioned in item (iii) above may be permitted while availing LTC to any place in India (4 year Block) also

vi. Air Tickets to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘IRCTC’ (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted.

 

2. These orders shall be in operation for a period of two years from the date of issue of this O.M

 

3. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring it to the notice of all their employees that any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/ Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the Airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-à-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

 

4. In their application to the staff serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

sd/-

(B. Bandyopadhyay)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Ph. (011) 23040341

Procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC- Clarification

 

No. 31011/ 5/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training

 

 

North Block, Delhi-110 001
Dated: 24th September, 2014

 

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

 

                        Subject:- Procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC- Clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to the conditions laid down by this Department’s O.M. No. 31011/4/2014-Estt.(A.IV) dated 19th June, 2014, as per which the Government employees are required to book the air tickets directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘1RCTC’ (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT O.M. No. 31011/6/2002- Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s).

 

2. The matter has further been reviewed and it is clarified that the web-portal of authorized travel agents, namely M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd., M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and 1RCTC will also be treated as an acceptable mode for purchase of air tickets on LTC. However, booking of air tickets through web-portals of these authorized agents would also be governed by the provisions of Department of Expenditure’s O.M. No. 19024/112012-E-IV dated 5th September, 2014 which are as under:

 

(i) No fee/ service charges (by whatever nomenclature), which are not included in the ‘tariff’ charged by Air-India/airlines, are required to be paid to the aforementioned authorised travel agents.

 

(ii) As far as possible, air tickets on Government account may be obtained directly from the Air India/ Airlines (booking counters/ offices/ websites) and if obtaining tickets directly from Air India/Airlines is not possible, should the services of authorised travel agents be availed of.

 

3. All Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring these guidelines to the notice of all their employees.

 

(B. Bandyopadhyay)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Ph. (011) 23040341

EXPECTED DA WEF JAN 2015 WILL BE MINIMUM 113 %

Jul-14   252   108.48 %
Aug-14 253    109.63 %
Sep- 14 253    110.71 %
Oct - 14 253   111.57 %
Nov - 14 253   112.29
Dec - 14 253   113.30 %

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – December, 2014

The All-India CPI-IW for December, 2014 remained stationary at 253 (two hundred and fifty three). On 1-month percentage change, it remained static between November, 2014 and December, 2014 when compared with the decrease of (-) 1.65 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

The All-India CPI-IW for Oct, 2014

      The All-India CPI-IW for October, 2014 remained stationary at 253 (two hundred and fifty three). On 1-month percentage change, it remained static between September, 2014 and October, 2014                               


                                       

Month-	Aicpin	Total of 12 Months	12 Months Average	% Increase over 115.763	App. DA
July-14	252	2896	241.33	125.57	108.47
Aug-14	253	2912	242.67	126.9	109.62
Sep-14	254*	2928	244	128.24	110.77
Oct-14	255*	2942	245.17	129.4	111.78
Nov-14	256*	2955	246.25	130.49	112.72
Dec-14	257*	2973	247.75	131.99	114.01

The All-India CPI-IW for September, 2014

 Remained stationary at 253 (two hundred and fifty three). On 1-month percentage change, it remained static between August, 2014 and September, 2014 when compared with the rise of 0.42 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

Speculation of DA/DR from Jan, 2015 on the basis of AICPIN of Jul, 2014 is not possible. 
 The 6 point increase in Jul, 2014 AICPIN is unexpected variation, this type of increase/decrease in future AICPIN will make much tough to speculate future DA/

The All-India CPI-IW for August, 2014 increased by I point and pegged at 253 (two hundred and fifty three). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 0.40 per cent between July, 2014 and August, 2014 when compared with the rise of 0.85 per cent between the same two months a year ago.DR.  


EXPECTED DA JAN 2015 – AICPIN FOR JULY 2014 – 6 POINTS HIKED AND STANDS AT 252

No. 5/1/2014-CPI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
LABOUR BUREAU

`CLEREMONT’, SHIMLA-171004
DATED: the 29th August, 2014

PRESS RELEASE

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – July, 2014
The All-India CPI-IW for July, 2014 increased by 6 points and pegged at 252 (two hundred and fifty two). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 2.44 per cent between June, 2014 and July, 2014 when compared with the rise of 1.73 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

Extension of benefit of broad banding of percentage of disability/ war injury.

 

 

No 12(16)/2009/D(Pen/Policy)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

 

New Delhi, the 15th September, 2014

To,
The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff


Subject:Rationalization of casualty Pensionary Awards for the Armed Forces Officers and Personnel below Officer Rank (PBOR) invalided out from service prior to 1.1.1996: Extension of benefit of broad banding of percentage of disability/ war injury.

Sir,
The undersigned is directed to refer to the provisions stipulated in Para 7.2 of this Ministry’s letter No 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.1.2001 through which the concept of broad banding of percentage of disability/ war injury was introduced in respect of those Armed Forces Officers and Personnel below Officer Rank who were invalided out of service on or after 1.1.1996 on account of disability / war injury accepted as attributable to or aggravated by Military Service. The said provision for determining extent of disability / war injury was also extended to pre – 1.1.1996 invalided out cases from 1.7.2009 vide this Ministry’s letter No 10 (01)/D(Pen/Policy)2009/Vol II dated 19.1.2010 provided that the Armed Forces personnel were in receipt of disability element/ war injury element for disability more than 20% as on 1.7.2009.

 

2. Consequent upon receipt of reference from various Pensioners’ Associations for extending the provisions regarding broad banding of percentage of disability to such pre – 1.1.1996 Armed Forces pensioners from 1.1.1996 itself, the matter has been suitably examined in this Ministry. In partial modification of this Ministry’s above said letter dated 19th January 2010, the President is now pleased to decide that with effect from 1.1.1996, the benefit of broad banding of percentage of disability / war injury shall be allowed to Armed Forces Officers and PBOR pensioners who were invalided out of service prior to 1.1.1996 and were in receipt of disability element/ war injury element as on 1.1.1996. In such cases where the pensioner was not in receipt of disability element as on 1.1.1996 but became entitled at a later stage due to reassessment of disability more than 20%, this benefit shall be allowed from the same date. Similarly, in those cases where the pensioners were in receipt of disability element/ war injury element as on 1.1.1996 but the same was discontinued at a later stage due to reassessment of disability as less than 20%, the disability element/ war injury element shall be discontinued from the later date as hithertofore. However, in those pre-1.1.1996 cases where the disability element / war injury element was not allowed for disability being accepted as less than 20% at initial stage or subsequent stage on reassessment of disability, the same will continue to be disallowed and such cases will not be re-opened.

 

3. The disability element/ war injury element of pension in all such cases shall be recomputed accordingly under these orders by the Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) concerned for regulating payment under this Ministry’s letters No. PC 1{2}/97/D(Pen-C) dated 16.5.2001, No 16(6)/2008(1)/D(Pen/Policy) dated 4.5.2009 and letter No. 17(4)/2008(1)/ D(Pen/Policy)/Vol-V dated 15.2.2011. For this purpose, each affected Armed Forces pensioner who were invalided out of service prior to 1.1.1996 and were in receipt of disability element/ war injury element on 1.1.1996 or thereafter, shall submit an application in the format enclosed as Annexure to this letter to the PSAs concerned through their Pension Disbursing Agencies and Record Offices in the case of PBOR and through Pension Disbursing Agencies in the case of Commissioned Officers to PSAs concerned for revision of disability element/ war injury element. PSAs may, however, also identify the affected cases from the corrigendum PPOs issued by them based on the application received in terms of this Ministry’s above said letter dated 19.1.2010, and for issue of corrigendum PPO.

 

4. If a pensioner, to whom benefit accrues under the provisions of this letter, had already died on or after 1.1.1996 but before date of issue of this letter, the application for revision shall be submitted by the family pensioners or by his heir, as the case may be. Payment of LTA shall, however, be regulated as per the extant Government orders on the subject matter.

 

5. All other terms and conditions for grant / revision of disability element/ war injury element of pension in respect of Armed Force pensioners invalided out of service prior to 1.1.1996, which are not affected by the provisions of this letter, will remain unchanged.

 

6. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their ID No PC to 10(22)/2009/Fin/Pen dated 19/08/2014

Reduction of Defence – Tatkal – Female and Senior Citizens quotas in trains

Reduced Railway Quotas in Trains – Defence / Tatkal / Female and Senior Citizens quotas are not reduced in the total number of berths/seats earmarked…

While answering to a question in Lok Sabha on 14th August 2014, Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha said that there has been no reduction in total number of berths/seats earmarked on Indian Railways under Tatkal, Ladies and Senior Citizens quotas. However, based on poor utilisation, there has been marginal reduction in number of berths/seats earmarked under Defence Department Quota.

Train-wise, class-wise distribution of all types of reservation quotas except Defence Department Quota is done by the Zonal Railways on the basis of demand pattern and availability of accommodation. Reservation Quotas so earmarked including Defence Department, Tatkal, Ladies, Senior Citizens are reviewed on periodical basis and adjustments made, wherever required, based on utilisation. This is a continuous process.

There has been no reduction in the total number of berths/seats earmarked under Tatkal, Defence Department, Ladies and Senior Citizens quotas in trains originating from Delhi area and terminating/passing through Bangalore, Hubli and Kankanandi (Mangalore) as indicated below:

Type of Quota Number of berths/seats earmarked in the year

Quota                           2013       2014

Tatkal                           2438       3008

Defence Department         53           55

Ladies                               78           92

Senior Citizen                  307         398

Although, there is marginal reduction in the Defence Department quota on all India basis, there is no reduction in the accommodation earmarked under Tatkal, Defence Department, Ladies and Senior Citizens quotas in trains originating from Delhi area and terminating/passing through Bangalore, Hubli and Kankanandi (Mangalore). Since the reduction of Defence Department Quota was on account of poor utilisation, there is no proposal to restore this quota to the earlier level.

7% DA from July 2014 to CG Employees and Pensioners

Release of additional installment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners due from 01.07.2014

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the release of an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.07.2014. This is an increase of seven percent over the existing rate of 100 percent of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be of the order of approximately Rs. 7691 crore per Release of additional installment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners due from 01.07.2014