Port Blair/ Delhi: Planning a getaway on the government’s dime? You had better set your calendar reminders now—because booking your air tickets at the eleventh hour is no longer flyable! In a stern reminder aimed at curbing mounting expenditure on official travel, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has directed all central government officers and employees to strictly adhere to advance booking timelines for Leave Travel Concession (LTC) air travel.
According to a circular (F.No. G-14019/02/2026-Cash) issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on July 16, 2026, routine scrutiny of recent LTC claims revealed a concerning trend: a large number of officials were booking their flight tickets just a few days before their trip, or even during the exact same week of travel. Such last-minute bookings lead to inflated airfares, directly violating the core intent of government travel guidelines and placing an unnecessary financial burden on the public exchequer.
To enforce fiscal discipline, the DoPT has reiterated two key mandatory rules under O.M. No. 31011/12/2022-Estt.A.IV. First, central government employees entitled to air travel must book their tickets at least 21 days prior to their intended travel date in order to secure the most competitive fares. Second, employees intending to draw an LTC advance must submit their application at least 30 days before the journey, accompanied by a webpage printout from an authorized travel agency displaying the proposed flight schedule and fare details.
The circular, signed by Under Secretary Vinay Pratap Bahadur Singh, emphasizes that these directives are for strict compliance across all departments. With official scrutiny ramping up on reimbursement claims, government staff planning their next vacation must plan well in advance to avoid claim rejections or delayed advance approvals.
