By Central Pay Commission Admin
Travel Alert: LTC Block Year 2022-25 Ends! New Block 2026-29 Starts from January 1—See 5 Major Rule Changes
New Delhi | January 3, 2026
NEW DELHI: While everyone is focused on the DA Hike, a major “lifestyle” update has silently kicked in. The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) confirms that the LTC Block Year 2022-2025 has officially concluded on December 31.
Starting January 1, 2026, the new Block Year 2026-2029 is active. This is great news because even if you exhausted your travel quota last month, your account is now “refilled” with fresh leaves. However, with the upcoming 8th Pay Commission, the rules for air travel eligibility and “Leave Encashment” are set to tighten.
✈️ Missed the Old Block? The “Grace Period” Rule
Did you fail to travel between 2022-25? Don’t worry.
- Carry Forward: You can carry forward your unutilized LTC to the first year of the next block (i.e., 2026).
- Deadline: You must complete this “Carry Forward” journey before December 31, 2026.
- Condition: You must explicitly declare in your application that you are using the “LTC 2025 Carry Over” quota, not the fresh 2026 quota.
New Block 2026-29: Your Entitlement Chart
For the new 4-year block, employees are entitled to Two “Home Town” visits. However, you can convert one Home Town visit into an “All India” tour (once every 4 years). This is the best time to plan trips to Andaman, J&K, or North East, as these routes often have special air-travel relaxation even for non-entitled staff.
Warning: The rule for “Air Ticket Booking” remains strict. You MUST book only through the three authorized agents: Balmer Lawrie, Ashoka Travels, or IRCTC. Booking via MakeMyTrip or Paytm will lead to claim rejection and recovery of advance.
| Year | Entitlement | Leave Encashment? |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Home Town (or Carry Forward) | Yes (10 Days) |
| 2027 | Home Town | Yes (if pending) |
| 2028-29 | Anywhere in India (Conversion) | Yes (Max 60 in career) |