Quick answer: DoPT has extended the LTC Special Dispensation Scheme for two more years, from 26 September 2026 to 25 September 2028 (OM No. 31011/15/2022-Estt-A-IV dated 9 September 2026). Central employees can still convert one Home Town LTC in a four-year block to fly to the North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh or Andaman & Nicobar.
What the extension covers
- Validity: 26 September 2026 to 25 September 2028. It follows the earlier extension in DoPT OM of 17.09.2024.
- Regions: North Eastern Region, J&K, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Air travel is allowed whether you claim against Anywhere in India LTC or in place of a Home Town LTC (para 2(vii)).
Who can use it
- Employees entitled to Home Town LTC can convert one Home Town LTC in the four-year block (para 2(i)).
- If your Home Town and headquarters are the same place, you are not eligible for Home Town LTC, so there is nothing to convert (para 2(ii)).
- If your Home Town is in one of these four regions, you can use the conversion for any one of the other three, not your own (para 2(iii)).
- Fresh recruits can convert one of their three Home Town LTCs, plus one extra conversion for J&K or Ladakh, in a four-year block (para 2(iv)).
Air travel rules
- Air-entitled employees fly from headquarters in their entitled class by any airline, on the terms of DoPT OM 31011/12/2022-Estt.A-IV dated 29.08.2022 read with OM 31011/11/2023-Pers.Policy A-IV dated 20.10.2023 (para 2(v)).
- Employees not entitled to air travel may fly Economy between Kolkata/Guwahati and any place in NER, Kolkata/Chennai/Visakhapatnam and Port Blair, and Delhi/Amritsar and any place in J&K/Ladakh. They travel up to those cities as per their normal entitlement (para 2(vi)).
- Non-entitled employees may also fly Economy directly from headquarters to these regions, but reimbursement is subject to the conditions of the 29.08.2022 OM (para 2(viii)).
Booking and advance
- The booking rules of the 29.08.2022 OM read with the 20.10.2023 OM also apply to this scheme: authorised travel agents, best available fare, booking time, advances and reimbursement (para 2(ix)).
- Under the 29.08.2022 OM, tickets go through Balmer Lawrie, Ashok Travels & Tours or IRCTC, and staff are asked to book at least 21 days ahead as far as possible. See our LTC air ticket booking rules.
- DoPT warns that misuse will be viewed seriously, and departments are told to randomly verify some air tickets with the airlines (para 3).
Read next: LTC rules and FAQ 2026, the LTC advance application form and the LTC final claim bill guide.
Sources
- DoPT OM No. 31011/15/2022-Estt-A-IV dated 09.09.2026, copy circulated by CSIR (PDF, csir.res.in).
- DoPT OM No. 31011/12/2022-Estt.A-IV dated 29.08.2022 and OM No. 31011/11/2023-Pers.Policy A-IV dated 20.10.2023, cited in paras 2(v), (vi), (viii) and (ix) of the 2026 OM.