Indian Railways provides its employees with several travel-related facilities, including Privilege Pass, Privilege Ticket Order (PTO), Duty Pass, School Pass, and Medical Pass. In addition to these benefits, an Optional All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) Scheme was introduced for Railway employees based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The Railway Board implemented this scheme through RBE No. 130/2018. The objective of the scheme is to enable eligible Railway employees to travel anywhere in India with their eligible family members during sanctioned leave. The scheme is governed by the provisions of the CCS (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988, making it one of the most significant welfare measures available to Railway employees.
Whether you are a Railway employee or preparing for LDCE, GDCE, or any other Railway Departmental Examination, a thorough understanding of the LTC rules is essential. This article explains eligibility, Pass Surrender, Leave Encashment, rules applicable when both husband and wife are Railway employees, claim procedures, and important Railway Board instructions.
What is Leave Travel Concession (LTC)?
Leave Travel Concession (LTC) is a travel benefit provided by the Government of India to its employees. Under this scheme, an employee is allowed to travel with eligible family members during sanctioned leave and claim reimbursement of admissible travelling expenses in accordance with the prescribed rules.
For Railway employees, this benefit is available as All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC).
It is important to note that CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 are applicable to Railway employees only for matters relating to LTC, whereas other travel facilities continue to be governed by the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules.
When was AILTC introduced for Railway Employees?
The 7th Central Pay Commission recommended extending the LTC facility to Railway employees. Based on this recommendation, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an Office Memorandum on 27 March 2018.
In compliance with these instructions, the Railway Board introduced the Optional All India Leave Travel Concession Scheme through RBE No. 130/2018 dated 10 September 2018.
The scheme became effective from the 2018–2021 four-year block, and the current applicable block is 2026–2029.
Key Features of AILTC
Railway employees are entitled only to All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC). Unlike other Central Government employees, Home Town LTC is not admissible to Railway employees because they are already entitled to the Privilege Pass facility.
AILTC is a completely optional scheme. An eligible Railway employee may choose either Privilege Pass or AILTC during the eligible period, depending on personal requirements.
The scheme is administered under the CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, and the Railway Board issues instructions and clarifications from time to time for its implementation.
Is AILTC Mandatory?
No.
AILTC is an entirely optional scheme.
If an employee does not wish to avail AILTC in a particular eligible year, he or she may continue to avail the normal Privilege Pass facility.
Similarly, if an employee opts for AILTC, the Privilege Pass admissible for that calendar year cannot be availed, as the scheme is provided in lieu of the Privilege Pass.
Current Block Period
AILTC is operated on the basis of four-year blocks.
The first block covered the period 2018–2021, followed by the second block 2022–2025. The current block is 2026–2029.
An eligible Railway employee may avail one AILTC during each four-year block, subject to the prescribed conditions.
Who is Eligible for AILTC?
AILTC is available to Railway employees who are entitled to Privilege Passes.
The facility is also available, subject to prescribed conditions, to Railway officers and employees serving on deputation, provided they continue to retain their entitlement to Railway Passes. Eligible employees of the Railway Audit Department are also covered under the scheme.
However, if an employee is undergoing a disciplinary penalty due to which the Privilege Pass has been withheld, the employee will generally not be eligible to avail the AILTC facility during the currency of that penalty.
Family and Eligible Beneficiaries
The eligibility of family members travelling under the All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) is governed by the CCS (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988, and not by the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules.
Therefore, the definition of "Family" under AILTC may differ from that applicable under the Railway Pass Rules. Before submitting an LTC claim, every employee should ensure that the family members included in the claim are eligible under the provisions of the CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988.
AILTC in lieu of Privilege Pass
AILTC has been introduced in lieu of the Privilege Pass facility. This means that an employee cannot avail both the Privilege Pass and AILTC during the same eligible calendar year.
If an employee opts for AILTC, it is mandatory to surrender the Privilege Pass admissible for that particular calendar year before claiming the benefit.
What is Privilege Pass Surrender?
To avail the benefit of AILTC, an employee is required to surrender the Privilege Pass admissible for the relevant calendar year.
Only after surrendering the Privilege Pass does the employee become eligible to submit an AILTC claim.
It should be clearly understood that Pass Surrender is not merely a procedural formality but a mandatory condition for availing AILTC. No claim under AILTC is admissible without surrendering the Privilege Pass.
Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC)
After surrendering the Privilege Pass, the employee is issued a Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC).
This certificate serves as the official documentary evidence that the employee has surrendered the Privilege Pass for the concerned calendar year and is therefore eligible to avail the AILTC benefit.
The PPSC is an essential document while submitting the AILTC claim and should be preserved carefully. In case it is lost, a duplicate certificate may be issued only with the approval of the competent authority, subject to the applicable rules.
When Both Husband and Wife are Railway Employees
This is one of the most important provisions of the AILTC Scheme and is frequently asked in Railway Departmental Examinations.
If both husband and wife are Railway employees and each is independently entitled to a Privilege Pass, both of them are required to surrender their respective Privilege Passes admissible for that calendar year in order to avail the AILTC benefit.
In other words, even if the AILTC claim is submitted only by the husband, the wife must also surrender her own Privilege Pass for that year if she is independently eligible for the Pass facility. The same rule applies vice versa.
What if the Privilege Pass has already been used?
If an employee has already utilised the Privilege Pass admissible for a particular calendar year, the employee cannot opt for AILTC for that same year.
Therefore, employees are advised to decide at the beginning of the year whether they intend to avail the Privilege Pass or AILTC, as both facilities cannot be availed simultaneously for the same entitlement period.
Railway Employees on Deputation
Railway employees serving on deputation in another Ministry, Government Department, Railway PSU, or any other organisation, while continuing to retain their entitlement to Railway Passes, are also eligible to avail AILTC subject to the prescribed conditions.
In such cases, the claim shall be processed and sanctioned by the competent authority in accordance with the applicable Railway Board instructions.
Leave Encashment Facility
In addition to the AILTC benefit, eligible Railway employees are also entitled to Leave Encashment of up to 10 days of Leave on Average Pay (LAP).
This facility was introduced through Railway Board's RBE No. 157/2018.
Leave Encashment is admissible only to eligible employees and is subject to the prescribed terms and conditions. If an employee has already exhausted the permissible limit of Leave Encashment under the relevant rules, any further claim shall be regulated in accordance with the applicable provisions.
Important Points to Remember
Before availing the AILTC facility, every Railway employee should keep the following important points in mind:
- Ensure that the Privilege Pass for the concerned calendar year has not already been utilised.
- Obtain and preserve the Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) after surrendering the Pass.
- Include only eligible family members in the LTC claim.
- Perform the journey by the approved route and admissible class as prescribed under the rules.
- Preserve all tickets, boarding passes, receipts, and supporting documents carefully.
- Submit the LTC claim within the prescribed time limit.
- Verify the latest Railway Board instructions before submitting the claim, as the rules may be amended from time to time.
How to Submit an AILTC Claim?
To avail the benefit of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC), a Railway employee must follow the prescribed procedure.
The process begins with obtaining sanctioned leave from the competent authority. Before commencing the journey, the employee should intimate the Controlling Officer regarding the proposed place of visit and complete the formalities for surrendering the Privilege Pass for the relevant calendar year. After surrendering the Pass, a Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) is issued.
Upon completion of the journey, the employee is required to submit the prescribed AILTC Claim Form along with all supporting documents. The Controlling Officer verifies the claim, after which it is processed through the Bill Section and Accounts Department for reimbursement as per the applicable rules.
Documents Required for an AILTC Claim
While submitting an AILTC claim, the employee is generally required to enclose the following documents:
- Prescribed AILTC Claim Form.
- Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC).
- Original journey tickets or e-tickets.
- Boarding Pass (where air travel has been undertaken).
- Leave Sanction Order, wherever applicable.
- Self-declaration or other prescribed certificates, if required.
- Any additional supporting documents as demanded by the competent authority.
The competent authority may ask for additional documents if considered necessary for verification of the claim.
Time Limit for Submission of AILTC Claims
AILTC claims should always be submitted within the prescribed time limit.
If no LTC advance has been drawn, the claim must be submitted within three months from the date of completion of the return journey.
If LTC advance has been drawn, the claim must be submitted within one month from the date of completion of the return journey.
Claims submitted beyond the prescribed time limit are treated as late claims and are processed only in accordance with the applicable Government and Railway Board instructions.
Air Travel under AILTC
Air travel under AILTC is admissible only to those Railway employees who are eligible under the applicable Government rules.
For eligible employees, air tickets should be booked only through authorised channels, such as:
- The official website or booking office of the airline (where permitted).
- IRCTC Air
- Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd.
- Ashok Travels & Tours
Employees should retain the air ticket, invoice, and boarding pass for reimbursement purposes. Tickets purchased through unauthorised private booking portals may not be admissible for reimbursement under the LTC rules.
Circumstances in Which AILTC is Not Admissible
An AILTC claim is generally not admissible under the following circumstances:
- The Privilege Pass for the relevant calendar year has already been utilised.
- The Privilege Pass has not been surrendered.
- The employee or the family members included in the claim are not eligible under the CCS (LTC) Rules.
- The journey has not been performed in accordance with the prescribed rules.
- The claim is submitted after the prescribed time limit without proper approval.
- Required supporting documents are not enclosed.
- The employee is not entitled to the Pass facility due to disciplinary action or any other applicable restriction.
Important Points for Railway Departmental Examinations
The following points are frequently asked in LDCE, GDCE, and other Railway Departmental Examinations:
- LTC stands for Leave Travel Concession.
- Railway employees are entitled only to All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC).
- Home Town LTC is not admissible to Railway employees.
- AILTC is an Optional Scheme.
- Privilege Pass Surrender is mandatory for availing AILTC.
- If both husband and wife are Railway employees and each is entitled to a Privilege Pass, both must surrender their respective Privilege Passes to avail AILTC.
- Eligible Railway employees may also avail encashment of up to 10 days of Leave on Average Pay (LAP) along with AILTC.
- The eligibility of family members is governed by the CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, and not by the Railway Pass Rules.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the full form of LTC?
LTC stands for Leave Travel Concession.
2. Which LTC scheme is applicable to Railway employees?
Railway employees are covered only under the All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) Scheme.
3. Are Railway employees entitled to Home Town LTC?
No. Home Town LTC is not admissible to Railway employees because they are already entitled to the Privilege Pass facility under the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules.
4. Is AILTC compulsory?
No. AILTC is a completely optional scheme. An eligible employee may choose either the Privilege Pass or AILTC, subject to the prescribed conditions.
5. What is mandatory for availing AILTC?
To avail AILTC, the employee must:
- Surrender the Privilege Pass for the relevant calendar year.
- Obtain the Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC).
- Perform the journey in accordance with the applicable rules.
- Submit the claim within the prescribed time limit.
6. What is the rule if both husband and wife are Railway employees?
If both husband and wife are Railway employees and each is independently entitled to a Privilege Pass, both must surrender their respective Privilege Passes for the same calendar year before AILTC can be availed.
7. Can an employee avail AILTC after using the Privilege Pass for the same year?
No. Once the Privilege Pass for a particular calendar year has been utilised, the employee is not eligible to opt for AILTC for that year.
8. How much Leave Encashment is admissible with AILTC?
Eligible Railway employees may avail encashment of up to 10 days of Leave on Average Pay (LAP) along with AILTC, subject to the applicable Railway Board rules and prescribed conditions.
9. Which rules determine the eligibility of family members under AILTC?
The eligibility of family members is determined under the CCS (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988, and not under the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules.
10. Within what time should an AILTC claim be submitted?
- Within three months from the date of completion of the return journey, if no LTC advance has been drawn.
- Within one month from the date of completion of the return journey, if LTC advance has been drawn.
Conclusion
All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) is an important welfare measure introduced for Railway employees, enabling them to travel across India with their eligible family members during sanctioned leave. Since the scheme is provided in lieu of the Privilege Pass, employees must clearly understand the applicable rules, eligibility conditions, and procedural requirements before opting for AILTC.
To avail the benefit successfully, employees must comply with the provisions relating to Privilege Pass Surrender, Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC), eligibility of family members, cases where both husband and wife are Railway employees, Leave Encashment, claim submission timelines, and other applicable instructions issued by the Railway Board from time to time.
From the perspective of LDCE, GDCE, and other Railway Departmental Examinations, AILTC is an important topic. Therefore, every Railway employee and departmental examination candidate should study the relevant Railway Board instructions and the CCS (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 to ensure proper utilization of the scheme and to answer examination questions confidently.
Authentic References
- Railway Board RBE No. 130/2018 – Introduction of Optional All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) Scheme for Railway Employees.
- Railway Board RBE No. 157/2018 – Grant of Leave Encashment along with All India Leave Travel Concession.
- CCS (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988, as amended from time to time.
- Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) Office Memorandum dated 27 March 2018 regarding Leave Travel Concession.
- Relevant clarifications and instructions issued by the Railway Board from time to time regarding AILTC, Pass Surrender, and Leave Encashment.
