Official Travel Entitlements Overview

Overview

Travelling allowance applies to an authorised journey in the interest of public service. The ordering authority classifies a move as temporary or permanent, normally by the expected stay, and entitlement is then regulated by the authorised route, mode, class, pay level and family conditions in the Travel Regulations.

What the handbook says

The source defines official duty as a journey authorised under the regulations for public service, rather than personal convenience. It classifies publicly funded moves as temporary duty or permanent duty. A stay expected to exceed 180 days is generally classified as permanent; a temporary classification is revisited if the continuous halt actually exceeds 180 days.

Reimbursement after using a different mode or class is limited to the actual fare paid or the cost of the authorised option, whichever is applicable under the cited rules. Mileage is ordinarily calculated by the shortest practicable or equally short cheapest route.

What this means

An entitlement is not determined by rank alone. First establish that the move was authorised, then confirm its classification, route and applicable pay level. Family travel additionally depends on the regulatory definition of family and dependency; this page does not determine an individual family member's eligibility.

Who this applies to

• The journey must be for authorised official duty.
• A move at personal request is not automatically treated as being in the public interest.
• A longer route requires the source-supported approval and recorded reasons.
• Personal use of mileage points earned on Government-funded official tickets is excluded by the source.
• Family entitlement is subject to relationship, dependency and other conditions in Rule 2(p) TR.

Rates and dates

From 1 July 2017, the source links travel and daily-allowance entitlements to basic pay in the relevant Seventh CPC Pay Matrix level. It expressly excludes NPA, MSP and other special pay from "pay in the level" for this purpose.

The source says specified daily-allowance and transfer-transport ceilings rise by 25% when Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure rises by 50%. Later triggered amounts must be independently verified before use.

What you may need

• competent-authority sanction and movement or posting order;
• the move's temporary or permanent classification and nature of duty;
• route, mode, class, tickets and actual expenditure; and
• relationship and dependency evidence when family entitlement is claimed.

Authorities and source references

• Rules 2, 14, 16, 24, 35, 39, 40(A), 44, 56 and 91, Travel Regulations
• GoI, MoD letter No. 12630/Mov C/242/D(Mov)/2017, 15 September 2017
• CGDA letter No. AT/IV/4513/XIV, 24 December 2003

Related guidance

• Temporary Duty Travel Entitlements
• Permanent Duty Move Entitlements
• Air Journey Booking Rules for Official Travel
• 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.