
The 7th Central Pay Commission's Travelling Allowance category has been revised, benefiting Central Government employees who avail of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and those who travel regularly for official purposes. The new rules have made travel allowances more accessible to employees, now including those in pay levels 5 and 6. This article will explore the updated regulations and calculations for travel allowances, covering areas such as reimbursement for transportation, accommodation, and food expenses, to ensure central government employees can understand and maximise their travel benefits.
What You'll Learn
Travel allowance for central government employees on tour
Central government employees are entitled to travel allowances when travelling for official purposes. The 7th Central Pay Commission has revised the travel allowance category, benefiting employees in pay levels 6 and above, as well as pay level 5 and below. This includes reimbursements for hotel accommodation, taxi charges, and food bills.
For central government employees on tour, the daily allowance is determined by their pay level in the pay matrix. The reimbursement rates for hotel accommodation, taxi charges, and food bills vary depending on the pay level.
For example, employees in the higher pay levels are entitled to reimbursement for hotel accommodation of up to Rs. 7,500 per day, AC taxi expenses for official travel within the city, and food bills up to Rs. 1,200 per day. On the other hand, employees in the lower pay levels may receive reimbursement for hotel accommodation of up to Rs. 450 per day, non-AC taxi expenses of up to Rs. 113 per day, and food bills up to Rs. 500 per day.
It is important to note that the reimbursement for travel expenses, hotel accommodation, and food charges may be claimed without producing vouchers for certain pay levels. However, self-certified claims must include details such as the period of travel, vehicle number, and the name of the accommodation.
Additionally, the entitlement for travel by air, rail, or road varies based on the pay level of the employee. For instance, employees in pay levels 6 and above are eligible for air travel, while those in pay level 5 and below are entitled to train travel in First Class/ AC-III/ AC chair car.
High School Study Abroad Scholarships
You may want to see also
Travel allowance for central government employees within India
Travel allowance entitlements for central government employees within India are based on their pay level in the pay matrix. This pay level determines the class of travel that employees are entitled to when travelling for official purposes.
For air travel, employees in pay levels 6 and above are eligible to travel by business or club class. Employees in pay levels 5 and below can travel by economy class.
When travelling by train, employees in pay levels 6 and above are entitled to travel by AC-I. Those in pay levels 5 and below can travel by AC-I, AC-II, or First Class/AC-III/AC chair car.
The government has also approved travel by Premium trains, Suvidha trains, or Tatkal trains for official tours or training journeys. Reimbursement will be provided for reservations on premium tatkal tickets and dynamic flexi-fare tickets in Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains.
For travel to places not connected by rail, employees entitled to AC-II Tier and above will be provided with travel by AC bus, while all other employees will travel by deluxe or ordinary bus.
Road travel between regions connected by rail is allowed by any means of public transport, as long as the total fare does not exceed the train fare by the entitled class. Mileage points earned by employees for official air travel must be used for official travel and not for private purposes.
The reimbursement rates for hotel expenses, taxi charges, and food bills vary according to the pay level of the employee. For example, employees in higher pay levels may receive reimbursement for hotel expenses of up to Rs.7,500 per day, while those in lower pay levels may receive up to Rs.450 per day. Similarly, reimbursement for food bills ranges from Rs.1,200 per day for higher pay levels to Rs.500 per day for lower pay levels.
It is important to note that the reimbursement process may not always require vouchers, and self-certified claims are accepted for certain expenses, such as travel and hotel charges, for employees of specific pay levels.
Travel Steamers: Cruise-Friendly or Not?
You may want to see also
Travel allowance for international travel
The 7th Central Pay Commission's Travelling Allowance category has been revised, benefiting Central Government employees who avail of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and those who travel regularly for official purposes. This revision includes an increase in reimbursements and expanded eligibility for allowances.
For international travel, the entitlements for Central Government employees are as follows:
Travel by Air:
Central Government employees in pay level 6 and above are now eligible for an allowance for travel by air. This is a change from the previous policy, which offered allowances for air travel only to employees in pay level 9 and above.
Travel by Sea or River Steamer:
When travelling by sea or river steamer, the entitlement varies depending on the destination.
- For places other than the Lakshadweep Group of Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Group of Islands, employees are entitled to the lower class if there are only two classes on the steamer. If there are three classes, they are entitled to the second/middle class, and if there are four classes, they are entitled to the third class.
- For travel to the Lakshadweep Group of Islands and A&N Group of Islands through ships operated by the Shipping Corporation of India Limited, the entitlement is as follows: First class or 'A' Cabin class for employees in pay levels 1 to 5, and Second class or 'B' cabin class for employees in pay levels 6 and above.
Daily Allowance:
Central Government employees are entitled to a daily allowance while on tour, which includes reimbursement for hotel expenses, taxi charges, and food bills. The reimbursement rates vary based on pay levels, with higher pay levels receiving higher reimbursement amounts.
Mileage Allowance for Journeys by Road:
For journeys by road, the mileage allowance depends on whether specific rates have been prescribed by the concerned state's Directorate of Transport.
- At places where specific rates have been prescribed, employees can claim reimbursement for actual fares by any type of public bus, including AC buses, or at prescribed rates for AC taxis, autos, or other vehicles.
- At places where no particular rates have been set, reimbursement is provided for journeys in own car/taxi or auto rickshaw, own scooter, etc.
Reimbursement of Travelling, Hotel, and Food Charges:
The reimbursement of travelling, hotel, and food charges for Central Government employees on international travel follows similar guidelines as for domestic travel.
- For levels 8 and below, claims for reimbursement may be paid without producing vouchers, but the self-certified claim must state the period of travel, vehicle number, etc.
- The reimbursement ceiling for levels 11 and below will increase by 25% whenever DA increases by 50%.
- There is no separate reimbursement for food bills; instead, a lump sum amount is payable, and no vouchers are required.
- For hotel charges, levels 8 and below may also be reimbursed without vouchers, but the self-certified claim must include the period of stay and the name of the dwelling.
- The reimbursement ceiling for hotel charges will increase by 25% whenever DA rises by 50%.
English-Only Travel: How Hard?
You may want to see also
Mileage allowance for journeys by road
Categories I and II:
Government servants in Categories I and II are entitled to the following rates for different types of vehicles:
Motor car, motor truck, motor carrier, and jeep car:
- For distances up to 500 kilometres, the rate is Rs. 1.50 per kilometre.
- For distances between 500 and 1,200 kilometres, the rate is Rs. 1.20 per kilometre.
- For distances beyond 1,200 kilometres in a month, there is no allowance.
Road journeys by petrol/diesel-driven vehicles other than those in the above category (e.g. motorcycle/scooter):
The rate is Rs. 1.00 per kilometre, with a maximum allowance of Rs. 200 per month.
Category III:
Government servants in Category III are entitled to the following rates:
- Road journeys by any means of conveyance driven by petrol/diesel:
- The rate is Re. 1.00 per kilometre, with a maximum allowance of Rs. 200 per month.
Categories I, II, and III:
Government servants in Categories I, II, and III are covered by the following rates when using certain types of vehicles:
- By any means of conveyance other than those driven by petrol/diesel:
- The rate is Re. 0.50 per kilometre, with a maximum allowance of Rs. 50 per month.
Category IV:
Government servants in Category IV are entitled to a mileage allowance for road journeys by any means of conveyance:
The rate is Re. 0.50 per kilometre, with a maximum allowance of Rs. 50 per month.
Additional Provisions:
- Road mileage allowance at the rate of Rs. 1.50 per kilometre is applicable to government servants of all categories when travelling from their residence to the bus/railway station and back.
- Mileage allowance may also be claimed for journeys on foot, with Categories I, II, and III receiving the lowest rate of Re. 0.50 per kilometre.
- Government servants travelling in hilly areas are entitled to an additional 33â…“% increase in the mileage allowance rates.
- Certain government servants, such as senior auditors and assistant auditors, receive half the standard mileage allowance rates for journeys performed on duty.
- When travelling in another state, government servants can claim the same mileage allowance rates, including the enhanced rates for hilly areas, by providing a certificate confirming the journey in those regions.
- Government servants are also entitled to reimbursement for toll tax paid during their journeys upon producing a certificate.
How to Successfully Cash a Visa Travelers Check
You may want to see also
Reimbursement of travelling, hotel, and food charges
The 7th Central Pay Commission's Travelling Allowance category has been revised, benefiting Central Government employees who avail of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and those who travel regularly for official purposes. The new rules expand travel allowances to include air travel for employees at pay level 6 and above, and reimbursement increases for food, accommodation, and local travel expenses for employees at pay level 5 and below.
For reimbursement of travelling, hotel, and food charges, the following guidelines apply:
Reimbursement of Travelling Charges
For employees at pay levels 8 and below, claims may be paid without producing vouchers. A self-certified claim must state the period of travel, vehicle number, etc. The ceiling for levels 11 and below will increase by 25% when DA increases by 50%. In the case of journeys by foot, an allowance of Rs.12 per km will be paid additionally, with this rate also increasing by 25% for every 50% rise in DA.
Reimbursement of Hotel Charges
For employees at pay levels 8 and below, the claim amount may be paid without vouchers. A self-certified claim must state the period of stay and the name of the dwelling. For stays in Class C cities, the upper limit for all employees up to level 8 is Rs.1,000 per day, but this requires relevant vouchers. The reimbursement ceiling for hotel charges will increase by 25% when DA rises by 50%.
Reimbursement of Food Charges
There is no separate reimbursement for food bills. Instead, a lump sum amount is payable, and no vouchers are required. This lump sum amount will increase by 25% when DA increases by 50%.
The daily allowance for government employees covers reimbursement for the cost of stay, food, and travel while on tour. The amount of reimbursement is based on the pay level of the employee and can include accommodation, taxi, and food expenses.
The Immigration Question: Unraveling the Entry Process to Puerto Rico
You may want to see also