LTC runs in four-year blocks of calendar years. DoPT’s LTC FAQ (July 2025) lists 2022-2025 as the then-current block and 2026-2029 as the next one, so in October 2026 central government employees are in the 2026-29 block. The exact entitlements depend on your headquarters, home town and pay level, so check the latest DoPT order.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Leave Travel Concession (LTC) lets eligible central government employees claim travel costs for themselves and their families under the Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988. Most questions come down to one idea: the block year. This guide explains it and what is, and is not, confirmed.
What is an LTC block year?
A block year is a fixed period within which you may use your LTC journeys. According to the DoPT office memorandum of 1 July 2025 (F.No. 31011/07/2025-PP.A-IV), which answers common questions on the LTC rules, a block is a period of four calendar years. The FAQ lists these blocks: 2018-21, then 2022-25, and the next block as 2026-29.
In practice this means LTC is not an annual entitlement. You do not get a fresh LTC every January. Instead, you are allowed a set number of journeys in each four-year block, and what happens to an unused journey at the end of a block is governed by the orders in force at that time.
The text of the memorandum was read on a news and employee-information site that reproduces DoPT orders. The original is published by the Department of Personnel and Training, so use the official copy for any claim you plan to make to your office.
Which block applies now, in October 2026?
Going by the four-calendar-year pattern in DoPT’s own FAQ, the 2022-25 block ended on 31 December 2025 and the 2026-29 block began on 1 January 2026. That puts employees in the 2026-29 block today.
Two cautions apply:
- DoPT has in the past extended a block by a few months through a separate order. The older 2018-21 block, for example, was extended for a period of three months through an order. Whether any such extension applies to your earlier unused LTC should be read from the specific order, not assumed.
- The DoPT FAQ says a block or sub-block can be extended automatically by one year in certain cases. Whether this affects you depends on your circumstances. Ask your establishment or accounts section.
For an unused journey from the 2022-25 block, ask your administration section whether it can still be claimed, and get the answer in writing.
How do sub-blocks and journey types work?
The DoPT FAQ describes two cases.
- Headquarters and home town are the same place. You are generally entitled to Anywhere in India LTC once in the block. Home Town LTC is not available. The FAQ also notes that in the first year of a block, two Anywhere in India journeys can be taken in some cases.
- Headquarters and home town are different. The four-year block is divided into two sub-blocks of two calendar years each. For the 2022-25 block these were 2022-23 and 2024-25. In each sub-block you choose either Home Town or Anywhere in India, within the limits in the order.
The same sub-block pattern is expected for 2026-29, which would give 2026-27 and 2028-29. Some employee-information sites publish a detailed entitlement list for this block, but the details vary between sites. Treat those as a guide and confirm against the official memorandum.
A Home Town LTC covers travel to your declared home town. Anywhere in India LTC covers travel to a destination of your choice within India.
What do the rules say about air travel on LTC?
Whether you may travel by air on LTC depends mainly on your pay level, because the class of travel on LTC is linked to your entitlement for official tours. Some pay levels are entitled to air travel, some only to train classes, and a few higher levels to a premium cabin. Check your own entitlement in the current order, as the detail by level is the part most often misquoted.
There is also a special arrangement under which employees not otherwise entitled to fly on LTC have been allowed to use air travel on LTC to specific regions: the North East, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. That scheme has been extended from time to time by DoPT, and news reports mention a recent extension. If you plan to rely on it, read the latest memorandum for the exact end date and conditions.
On the booking side, government orders have also set conditions on how LTC air tickets are bought, such as using approved channels and booking in advance. HappyFares has a separate guide on LTC air rules, so this post will not repeat it. Always follow the order that applies to your department.
Did you know? Aircraft carry a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder, popularly called the black box, though they are painted bright orange so they can be found after an accident.
What should you do before planning an LTC trip?
- Confirm the current block and any sub-block with your establishment section.
- Check whether your headquarters and home town are the same, since this changes which journey types you can take.
- Check your pay level and the class of travel you are entitled to.
- Get leave sanctioned and the advance, if you want one, in the manner your office requires.
- Keep all tickets, boarding passes and bills for the claim.
Common Questions
How long is an LTC block?
Four calendar years, according to the DoPT memorandum of 1 July 2025.
Which block is running in October 2026?
The 2026-29 block, following the four-year pattern in DoPT’s FAQ, which lists 2022-25 as the block before it. Confirm any extension orders with your office.
Can I carry forward an unused LTC?
That depends on the orders in force. DoPT has extended blocks in the past through specific orders, so ask your administration section and read the latest order.
Can every employee travel by air on LTC?
No. Air entitlement depends on pay level and the rules of the day. A special scheme for certain regions has allowed some employees to fly who otherwise could not. Read the current order.
Is web check-in free?
No. Checking in is free on Indian airlines, on the web and at the airport.
Where do I find the official orders?
On the Department of Personnel and Training website and your own ministry or department circulars. Rely on those over any summary, including this one.
Once you know your entitlement, compare flights on HappyFares with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings. You can set a price alert for your dates or ask Meera, our AI assistant, to help you search.
LTC rules and orders change; this is general information and not official advice. Verify current specifics with DoPT, the Department of Expenditure or your administration section before you travel.
