Government Rules — Questions & Answers
622 common questions answered with rule citations. Can't find your answer? Search rules or ask Niti AI.
Can I book my LTC air ticket from the airline's website directly?
No. Air tickets for LTC must be booked through one of the three Authorized Travel Agencies — Balmer Lawrie (BLCL), Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), or IRCTC Ai...
Can different family members travel to different destinations under the same LTC?
Yes. Some family members can travel to Home Town while others travel anywhere in India in the same two-year sub-block, subject to available entitlements....
What is the current LTC block year?
The current block year is 2022-2025. The next block will be 2026-2029....
Can I claim LTC reimbursement for an ITDC or IRCTC package tour?
Yes, but only the transport/fare component. Accommodation, meals, and sightseeing are not reimbursable. The tour operator must separately indicate the fare...
Is the auto-rickshaw fare from my house to the railway station reimbursable under LTC?
No. LTC reimburses only the point-to-point journey between headquarters and destination. Local conveyance costs at either end are not covered....
What happens if a fresh recruit's 8-year cycle ends during the middle of a government block year?
The entitlement depends on which year of the sub-block the transition falls in. If it falls in the second year of a sub-block, the employee gets no LTC for...
Are Vande Bharat and Tejas Express trains covered under LTC?
Yes. Apart from Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto, travel by Tejas Express, Vande Bharat Express, and Humsafar Express is allowed under LTC as per the employ...
Can I claim leave encashment even if I am not personally travelling on LTC?
Yes, provided you apply for leave in advance, get it sanctioned, request leave encashment before the journey begins, and give a self-declaration that you (...
Is online booking charge for IRCTC e-tickets reimbursable?
Yes. The convenience or booking charges for online rail tickets booked through IRCTC's website are reimbursable under LTC....
Can I avail both Home Town and All India LTC in the same sub-block?
No. In any given sub-block, you can avail either Home Town LTC or All India LTC — not both. The choice is made per sub-block....
Can DoPT extend the claim submission deadline beyond 6 months?
Cases beyond 6 months (or for advance-drawn cases beyond the delegated powers) need to be referred to DoPT for relaxation, with the approval of the Secreta...
Is the Hindi version of the LTC circular equally authoritative?
Yes. Both English and Hindi versions of official government circulars have equal legal standing. In case of any interpretation discrepancy, the English ver...
Is there a penalty for not contributing to Tier-II in a year?
There is no penalty, but the account requires at least one contribution per financial year to remain active. If it becomes dormant, there may be procedural...
What happens if there is no eligible family member at the time of a subscriber's death?
If no eligible family member is available to receive benefits, the option given by the subscriber becomes infructuous. Benefits then pass to the legal heir...
What if my appointment order was dated December 2003 but I joined in February 2004 — which scheme applies?
You remain under the old CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, because your selection was finalized before 1 January 2004. The date of selection, not the date of phys...
Is the NPS corpus guaranteed?
The contributions are guaranteed, but the final corpus depends on investment returns. PFRDA regulates the investment norms to ensure a reasonable balance b...
Why is 40% of the corpus locked into an annuity?
Parliament designed this rule so that retired government servants receive a regular monthly income throughout retirement, rather than spending the entire c...
Is the option irrevocable once the employee dies?
Yes. The last option exercised before death is treated as final. The surviving family has no power to alter it....
Why was the old scheme called 'Defined Benefit'?
Because the pension amount was pre-defined — typically 50% of last drawn pay — regardless of how much was contributed or saved during service. The governme...
Who regulates NPS?
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), established in 2003, regulates and develops the pension sector. It sets investment norms, mo...