Travelling Allowance is not a regular allowance for all employees! Travelling Allowance is that the permission to avail reimbursement of the expenses incurred by an employee while on duty in outstation! Travelling Allowance is a package of various allowances. Travelling Allowance and Daily Allowance (TA-DA), Hotel Charges, Travelling Charges, Food Charges, Mileage Allowance, Reservation Charges, Internet and E-Ticketing Charges, Cancellation Charges, Conveyance Charges, TA on Deputation, TA on Transfer and TA on Retirement.
New Revised Rate and Entitlements of Travelling allowance as per 7th pay commission with effect from 1st July 2017: For Armed Forces Defence Personnel and Railway employees, the concerned department will issue separate orders on this subject respectively. Supersession of all orders issued earlier, particularly DoE Office Memorandum No.19030/3/2008-E.IV dated 23.9.2008, in respect of Travelling Allowance rules.
Time-limit for submission of claims for TA on Retirement is modified from 60 days to 180 days (six months), succeeding the date of completion of the journey – Finance Ministry Orders on 15th June 2021.
What is TA/DA?
TA/DA stands for Travelling Allowance and Daily Allowance (not Dearness allowance). TA means the travel expenses as per entitlement on official duty. DA means the food and accommodation charges as per the entitlement. Travelling allowance and Daily allowance are fixed amounts as per the pay matrix level after the 7th pay commission.
A reimbursement system for travelling expenses while on duty (official duty or temporary duty). And any kind of travelling expenses is permissible as per entitlements of TA/DA Rules. Other than travel expenses, accommodation, food and other related expenses are also eligible for reimbursement under Daily Allowance. The revised rates of TA and DA allowances after the 7th pay commission are given below in detail.
- 7th Pay Commission Travel Entitlement
- 7th Pay Commission Rate of Travelling Allowance
- 7th Pay Commission Orders on Travelling Allowance
This Allowance on tour comprises fares for a journey by rail/road/air/ sea or road mileage for road journeys otherwise than by bus and Daily Allowance for the period of absence from Headquarters [Para 4.2.27 6th CPC Report]
Entitlement of Daily Allowance and Travelling Allowance as per Pay Level in Pay Matrix Table
Travel Entitlement for Tour and Training (within the Country)
| Pay Matrix Level | Travel entitlement |
| 14 and above | Business or Club class by air or AC-I by train |
| 12 and 13 | Economy class by air or AC-I by train |
| 9 to 11 | Economy class by air or AC-II by train |
| 6 to 8 | Economy class by air or AC-II by train |
| 5 and below | First Class or AC-III or AC Chair car by train |
Entitlement of Premium Trains, Premium Tatkal, Suvidha, Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto Trains
| Pay Matrix Level | Travel Entitlements* |
| 12 And Above | Executive or AC 1st Class (In Case of Premium, Premium Tatkal, Suvidha, Shatabdi, Rajdhani higher class) |
| 6 To 11 | AC 2nd Class or Chair Car (In Shatabdi Trains) |
| 5 & Below | AC 3rd Class or Chair Car |
International Travel Entitlement
| Pay Matrix Level | Travel Entitlement |
| 17 And Above | First Class |
| 14 To 16 | Business or Club Class |
| 13 And Below | Economy Class |
(i) For places other than A&N Group of Islands and Lakshadweep Group of Islands:-
| Pay Level In Pay Matrix | Travel Entitlement |
| 9 And Above | Highest Class |
| 6 To 8 | Lower Class If There Be Two Classes Only On The Steamer |
| 4 And 5 | If Two Classes Only, The Lower Class, If Three Classes, The Middle Or Second Class. If There Be Four Classes, The Third Class |
| 3 And Below | Lowest Class |
For travel between the mainland and the A&N Group of Islands and Lakshadweep Group of Islands by ships operated by the Shipping Corporation of India Limited
| Pay Level In Pay Matrix | Travel Entitlement |
| 9 And Above | Deluxe Class |
| 6 To 8 | First / ’A’ Cabin Class |
| 4 And 5 | Second / ’B’ Cabin Class |
| 3 And Below | Bunk Class |
(i) At places where specific rates have been prescribed:-
| Pay Level In Pay Matrix | Entitlements |
| 14 Or Above | Actual Fare By Any Type Of Public Bus Including AC Bus OR At Prescribed Rates Of AC Taxi When The Journey is Actually Performed By AC Taxi OR At Prescribed Rates For Auto Rickshaw For Journeys By Auto Rickshaw, Own Car, Scooter, Motor Cycle, Moped, Etc. |
| 6 To 13 | Same As Above With The Exception That Journeys By AC Taxi Will Not Be Permissible. |
| 4 And 5 | Actual Fare By Any Type Of Public Bus Other Than AC Bus OR At Prescribed Rates For Auto Rickshaw For Journeys By Auto Rickshaw, Own Car, Scooter, Motor Cycle, Moped, Etc. |
| 3 And Below | Actual Fare By Ordinary Public Bus Only OR At Prescribed Rates For Auto Rickshaw For Journeys By Autorickshaw, Own Scooter, Motor Cycle, Moped, Etc. |
Rate of Daily Allowance Travelling Allowance as per Pay Level in Pay Matrix Table
| Pay Level | 5 and below |
| Accommodation Charges | Rs. 450 per day |
| TA Charges | Rs. 113 per day |
| Lump-sum | Rs. 500 per day |
| Pay Level | 6 to 8 |
| Accommodation Charges | Rs. 750 per day |
| TA Charges | Rs. 225 per day |
| Lump-sum | Rs. 800 per day |
| Pay Level | 9 to 11 |
| Accommodation Charges | Rs. 2,250 per day |
| TA Charges | Rs. 338 per day |
| Lump-sum | Rs. 900 per day |
| Pay Level | 12 and 13 |
| Accommodation Charges | Rs. 4,500 per day |
| TA Charges | AC taxi charges of up to 50 km per day |
| Lump-sum | Rs. 1000 per day |
| Pay Level | 14 and above |
| Accommodation Charges | Rs. 7,500 per day |
| TA Charges | AC taxi charges as per actual expenditure |
| Lump-sum | Rs. 1,200 per day |
Note: The Rates of Accommodation Charges, Travelling Charges, and Lump sum amount will further increase by 25% whenever DA increases by 50%.
Clarification on accommodation charges for stay in Hotels as per CCS (TA) Rules – Dated: 18.6.2018
Claiming of hotel charges procedure for CG Staff and Officers with effect from 1st July 2017 as per the recommendations of the 7th pay commission.
For levels 8 and below, the amount of claim (up to the ceiling) may be paid without the production of vouchers against self-certified claims only. The self-certified claim should clearly indicate the period of stay, name of dwelling, etc. Additionally, for a stay in Class ‘X’ cities, the ceiling for all employees up to Level 8 would be Rs. 1,000 per day, but it will only be in the form of reimbursement upon production of relevant vouchers.
Reimbursement of TA for Central Government Officers and Staff from 1st July 2017.
Similar to Reimbursement of staying accommodation charges, for level 8 and below, the claim (up to the ceiling) may be paid without the production of vouchers against self-certified claim only.
The self-certified claim should clearly indicate the period of travel, vehicle number, etc. the ceiling for levels 11 and below will further rise by 25 per cent whenever DA increases by 50 per cent. For journeys on foot, an allowance of Rs.12/- per kilometre travelled on foot shall be payable additionally.
Reimbursement of food bills procedure for CG Employees after 7th pay commission.
There will be no separate reimbursement of food bills. Instead, the lump sum amount payable will be as per Table E (i) above and, depending on the length of absence from headquarters, would be regulated as per Table (v) below.
Since the concept of reimbursement has been done away with, no vouchers will be required. This methodology is in line with that followed by Indian Railways at present (with suitable enhancement of rates). i.e. Lump sum amount payable.
Absence from Head Quarter will be reckoned from midnight to midnight and will be calculated on a per-day basis.
If absence from headquarters is less than 6 hours = 30% of the Lumpsum amount
If absence from headquarters is between 6 -12 hours = 70% of the Lumpsum amount
If absence from headquarters is more than 12 hours = 100% of the Lumpsum amount
Travelling Allowance Rules – Implementation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission
Transportation of personal effects on transfer by road calculation. Transportation entitlement for Central Government employees with effect from 1.7.2017
| Level | By Train/Steamer | By Road |
| 12 And Above | 6000 Kg By Goods Train/4 Wheeler Wagon/1 Double Container |
Rs. 50 Per Km |
| 6 To 11 | 6000 Kg By Goods Train/4 Wheeler Wagon/1 Single Container | Rs. 50 Per Km |
| 5 | 3000 Kg | Rs. 25/- Per Km |
| 4 And Below | 1500 Kg | Rs. 15 Per Km |
Reimbursement for transportation of conveyance charges for CG employees effective from 1.7.2017.
| Level | Reimbursement |
| 6 And Above | 1 Motor Car Etc. Or 1 Motor Cycle/Scooter |
| 5 And Below | 1 Motorcycle/Scooter/Moped/Bicycle |
Rate of transportation of conveyance on transfer
| 7th CPC Travelling Allowance |
| Pay Level in Pay Matrix |
| Level-14 (GP Rs. 10000) and above |
| Level-12 (GP Rs. 7600) and Level-13 (GP Rs. 8700) |
| Level-9 (GP Rs. 5400) to Level-11 (GP Rs. 6600) |
| Level-6 (GP Rs. 4200) to Level-8 (GP Rs. 4800) |
| Level-4 (GP Rs. 2400) and Level-5 (GP Rs. 2800) |
| Level 3 (GP Rs. 2000) and below |
SR 116 of TA Rules PDF
The travelling allowance referred to will be admissible in respect of the journey of the Government servant and members of his family from the last station of his duty to his home town or to the place where he and his family is to settle down permanently even if it is other than his declared home town and in respect of the transportation of his personal effects between the same places.
S.R. 147 the expenditure on transportation of conveyance by government servants on their retirement shall be reimbursed without insisting on the requirement that the possession of the conveyance by them while in service at their last place of duty should have been in the public interest. Finance Ministry issued an important clarification order on Travelling Allowances rules and rates as per 7th Pay Commission on 13.7.2017.
TA on Retirement includes 4 components:-
- Travel entitlement for self and family
- Composite Transfer and packing grant (CTG)
- Reimbursement of charges on transportation of personal effects
- Reimbursement of charges on transportation of conveyance.
(i) Travel Entitlements
Travel entitlements as prescribed for tour/transfer in Para 2 above, except for International Travel, will be applicable in case of journeys on retirement. The general conditions of admissibility prescribed in S.R. 147 will, however, continue to be applicable.
(ii) Composite Transfer Grant (CTG)
(a) The Composite Transfer Grant shall be paid at the rate of 80% of the last month’s basic pay in case of those employees, who on retirement, settled down at places other than the last station(s) of their duty located at a distance of or more than 20 km.
However, in case of settlement to and from the Island territories of Andaman, Nicobar & Lakshadweep, CTG shall be paid at the rate of 100% of last month’s basic pay.
Further, NPA and MSP shall not be included as part of basic pay while determining entitlement for CTG.
The transfer incidentals and road mileage for journeys between the residence and the railway station/bus stand, etc., at the old and new station, are already subsumed in the composite transfer grant and will not be separately admissible.
(b) As in the case of serving employees, Government servants who, on retirement, settle at the last station of duty itself or within a distance of less than 20 km may be paid one-third of the CTG subject to the condition that a change of residence is actually involved.
(iii) Transportation of Personal Effects:- Same as Para 3(iii) above.
(iv) Transportation of Conveyance:- Same as Para 3(iv) above.
The general conditions of admissibility of TA on Retirement as prescribed in S.R. 147 will, however, continue to be applicable.
7th CPC Travel Entitlements
Travelling Allowance Bill For Transfer
- Part-A (To be filled by the Government Servant)
Particulars of an employee
Part-B (To be filled in the Bills Section)
- Expenditure Details
Note: This bill should be prepared in duplicate-one for payment and the other as an office copy
Time limit for submission of claims for Travelling Allowance (TA) on retirement regarding
The time limit for submission of TA claim in all other cases i.e. on tour, transfer and training etc. will remain 60 days.
| Title of Subject | Travelling Allowance Rules |
| Beneficiaries | Central Government Employees |
| TA/DA | Travelling Allowance & Daily Allowance |
| Eligibility | Official Duty or Temporary Duty |
| Rules Based on | 7th Central Pay Commission |
| Travel on | Air, Train, Road and Sea |
| Level 5 & below | First Class/AC-III/AC Chair Car in Train |
| Levels 6 to 8 | AC-II in Train |
| Levels 9 to 11 | Economy Class in Air or AC-II in Train |
| Levels 12 & 13 | Economy Class in Air or AC-I in Train |
| Level 14 & above | Business/Club Class in Air or AC-I in Train |
Travelling Allowance on transfer to/from the North-Eastern Region, Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep Island and Ladakh
If the family of the Railway employee does not accompany him. transfer to from these areas, the employee is entitled to carry personal effects up to 1/3rd of his entitlement and production of receipt/voucher is not mandatory to claim 1/3rd of his entitlement of transportation of personal effects.
If the family of the Railway employee accompanies him on transfer to/from these areas, the employee is entitled to the admissible cost of transportation of personal effects and production of receipt/voucher is mandatory to claim the admissible amount as per his entitlement for transportation of personal effects.