LTC FAQs: Can Govt employees claim Leave Travel Concession for wife, children, in-laws? DoPT answers

This has come after the department received several references, RTI applications, individual grievances of the employees working in different offices, etc. in respect of different issues related to Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988.

"Based on the queries received from different sources, this Department has felt the need of issuing comprehensive instructions in the form of detailed clarifications on various aspects of LTC Rules," the DoPT said on July 1, 2025.

Here's a look at 12 important FAQs clarified by the DoPT

The following relations included in the definition of family

• Spouse (husband and wife)

-Two eldest surviving unmarried children including step children and legally adopted children, and

• Divorced / abandoned / separated from husband / widowed daughter(s) wholly dependent and residing with Government employee.

Children exceeding two as a result of second child birth resulting in multiple births (in exceptional case)

• Parents and step parents, who are wholly dependent on the Government employee, irrespective of whether they are residing with the Government servant or not.

• Siblings (unmarried minor brothers and unmarried/ divorced/ abandoned/ separated/ widowed sisters) residing with and wholly dependent on the Government employee, provided that their parents are either not alive or are themselves wholly dependent on the Government employee.

The following relations are not covered under the definition of family:

• Parents-in-law.

• Children of divorced/ abandoned/separated/widowed sisters and children of divorced/ abandoned/ separated/ widowed daughters.

• Not more than one wife.

• Grand parents

• Any other not covered under the definition of Family as defined in Rule 4 of CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988

A member of family whose income from all sources, including pension, temporary increase in pension does not exceed minimum pension (presently ₹9000/- per month as per 7th CPC) and Dearness relief (DR) thereon, is deemed to be wholly dependent on the Government employee.

Condition of dependency is not applicable to spouse of the government employee.

No. Spouse (husband and wife are considered as one unit), therefore, the condition of dependency is not relevant. Parents and children should be wholly dependent.

Yes, subject to the condition that he/she is unmarried and wholly dependent on the Government employee.

No.

Yes. There is no such restriction. A Government employee and members of his family may travel separately or in different groups at different times to different destinations during a block of two or four years, as the case may be.

Yes

Yes

Yes. No such restriction in respect of spouse working in private sector.

No

No reimbursement shall be allowed in respect of the air journey performed by children, aged less than 5 years, of the Government servants who are not entitled to travel by air on LTC. However, this provision shall not be applicable for the segments where the air journey has been allowed to the non-entitled Government servants and their families under the Special Dispensation Scheme.

Government employee under suspension is not allowed to avail LTC. However, his/her family is entitled to avail LTC