Daily Allowance on Temporary Duty

Overview

Daily allowance on temporary duty can cover eligible hotel accommodation, within-city travel and a food lump sum during qualifying absence from headquarters. The amount depends on Pay Matrix level, duration, actual facilities provided and required evidence. Hotel and travel components remain subject to separate ceilings and voucher rules.

What the handbook says

The source records separate components for hotel accommodation, local travel and food from 1 July 2017. Food is a lump sum rather than reimbursement of an individual meal bill, so food vouchers are not required. Hotel vouchers are mandatory for level 10 and above. It records travel vouchers as mandatory for level 12 and above, with a waiver for levels up to 11.

Free boarding, lodging, transport or rations can affect the payable components. A detention certificate is used to record accommodation and hospitality at the temporary-duty station.

What this means

Calculate each component independently. A hotel ceiling does not create a flat payment: it caps supported expenditure. The food amount is instead regulated by duration. Local travel must reflect actual official engagement and the evidence rule for the officer's pay level.

Who this applies to

• The absence must arise from authorised temporary duty.
• No mileage is payable where free conveyance was used without personal expenditure.
• Food allowance is not admissible for restricted holidays or casual leave as described by the source; half-day casual leave receives separate treatment.
• Daily allowance is not due merely because a Sunday or holiday falls within the period if the officer does not actually remain at the duty station.
• The source says full DA applies for the first 180 days of a continuous halt outside headquarters and not beyond that period.

Rates and dates

The source records these ceilings effective 1 July 2017:

• levels 14 and above: hotel up to Rs.7,500 per day, actual AC-taxi expenditure commensurate with official engagements, and food lump sum Rs.1,200 per day;
• levels 12 to 13B: hotel up to Rs.4,500 per day, AC-taxi travel up to 50 kilometres per day, and food lump sum Rs.1,000 per day;
• levels 10 to 11: hotel up to Rs.2,250 per day, non-AC-taxi travel up to Rs.338 per day, and food lump sum Rs.900 per day.

For the food lump sum, the source records 30% for absence under six hours, 70% for six to twelve hours and 100% above twelve hours, reckoned midnight to midnight. It also says the ceilings rise by 25% upon specified DA triggers.

What you may need

• movement sanction and completed temporary-duty claim;
• detention certificate recording free accommodation, messing and transport;
• hotel voucher;
• local-travel voucher for level 12 and above, or the prescribed self-certification where a waiver validly applies;
• ration or ration-allowance certificate where applicable; and
• journey and absence timings.

Authorities and source references

• Rules 61, 111 and 114, Travel Regulations
• GoI, MoD letter No. 12630/Mov C/242/D(Mov)/2017, 15 September 2017
• GoI, MoD letter No. 12650/TA/Mov C/198/D(Mov)/2018, 6 December 2018
• GoI, MoD, DMA letter No. 12630/TA/DA/7th CPC/Mov C/43/D(Mov)/21, 16 March 2021

Related guidance

• Temporary Duty Travel Entitlements
• Road Mileage on Temporary Duty
• Preparing Travelling Allowance Claims

About this guidance

This is a plain-language summary for general information. It is not an official order or an authority for a claim. Confirm the applicable order and your individual eligibility with the competent authority or PCDA(O) before acting.