A government transfer is not only about reporting to a new office. For many employees, it also means moving their family, furniture, household appliances, personal vehicle and other belongings to a new station.
Under the 7th Central Pay Commission framework, eligible Central Government employees can receive Travelling Allowance on transfer covering several different expenses. However, one of the most common mistakes employees make is treating the entire transfer entitlement as a single “moving allowance”.
It is not.
Under the Department of Expenditure’s Travelling Allowance rules, TA on transfer has four separate components: travel entitlement for the employee and eligible family members, Composite Transfer and Packing Grant or CTG, transportation of personal effects, and transportation of conveyance.
This guide explains the 7th Pay Commission transfer rules in 2026, including CTG calculations, household-goods limits, road transportation rates, spouse transfers, vehicle transportation, claim deadlines and the documents you should preserve during relocation.
Important: Exact admissibility depends on your service conditions, nature of transfer and the latest orders adopted by your department. Central Government civilian rules should not automatically be assumed to apply unchanged to State Government departments, Railways, Armed Forces, PSUs or banks.
Quick Summary: What Can Be Claimed on a Government Transfer?
| Transfer component | What it generally covers |
|---|---|
| Travel entitlement | Journey of the employee and eligible family members |
| Composite Transfer Grant (CTG) | Lump-sum transfer/packing-related grant |
| Personal effects | Transportation of eligible household goods |
| Conveyance | Transportation of an eligible car/two-wheeler etc. |
The four-part structure comes directly from the Department of Expenditure’s 7th CPC TA order.
Employees preparing for relocation should also keep a dedicated file containing their transfer order, travel tickets and mover-related paperwork. Our separate guide to government transfer documents explains the paperwork side in more detail.
Who Do These 7th CPC Transfer Rules Apply To?
The principal Ministry of Finance order covers civilian employees of the Central Government governed by the relevant Central Government TA rules. The original order also states that separate orders are issued by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways for Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees.
That distinction matters.
A BHEL employee, Southern Railway employee, bank officer, Tamil Nadu Government employee and Central Government ministry employee should not assume that every entitlement is identical simply because all of them are undergoing an official transfer.
For organisation-specific information, see our guides on BHEL employee transfers, Southern Railway transfers in Trichy, PSU transfer relocation and defence personnel relocation.
Always compare these with the latest circular issued or adopted by your own department.
1. Travel Entitlement for Employee and Family
For a journey performed on transfer, the 7th CPC order generally applies the domestic travel entitlement prescribed for official tours, subject to the applicable transfer conditions.
The principal entitlement table is:
| Pay Level in Pay Matrix | General domestic travel entitlement |
|---|---|
| Level 14 and above | Business/Club Class by air or AC First Class by train |
| Levels 12–13 | Economy Class by air or AC First Class by train |
| Levels 6–11 | Economy Class by air or AC 2-Tier by train |
| Level 5 and below | First Class/AC 3-Tier/AC Chair Car by train |
These entitlements are contained in the Department of Expenditure’s 7th CPC TA order.
There are also rules covering travel to places not connected by rail and travel by public transport between locations connected by rail. Employees should therefore confirm the permitted mode and booking procedure with their administration before purchasing expensive tickets.
Travel entitlement and Transport Allowance shown on a monthly salary slip are not the same thing. Transfer TA concerns an official relocation; monthly Transport Allowance relates to regular commuting.
2. Composite Transfer Grant — CTG Rules Under the 7th Pay Commission
Composite Transfer Grant is usually the best-known part of transfer TA.
For a serving Central Government employee transferred between stations 20 km or more apart, the 7th CPC order provides CTG at:
80% of the employee’s last month’s basic pay.
For this calculation, allowances such as DA are not simply added to Basic Pay. The 2017 order specifically defines the relevant pay concept and excludes additional forms of pay such as NPA/MSP for the purpose stated in the order.
CTG Example
Suppose the employee’s last month’s Basic Pay is ₹50,000.
CTG:
₹50,000 × 80% = ₹40,000
The ₹40,000 CTG is separate from eligible travel fare and eligible reimbursement for movement of household effects or conveyance.
For a detailed explanation and more examples, see our complete Composite Transfer Grant (CTG) guide.
3. What If the Transfer Is Less Than 20 km or Within the Same City?
Serving employees need to pay particular attention here.
For a transfer to another station less than 20 km from the old station, or a transfer within the same city, the order provides one-third of the Composite Transfer Grant, provided an actual change of residence is involved.
Using the earlier ₹50,000 Basic Pay example:
Normal CTG = ₹40,000.
One-third CTG would therefore be approximately ₹13,333.
The important condition is the actual change of residence.
A simple change in office location should not automatically be treated as entitlement to one-third CTG when the employee continues to live at the same residence.
4. CTG for Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep
The principal 7th CPC order provides a higher CTG rate for transfers to and from the Island territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
Instead of 80%, CTG is provided at:
100% of the last month’s Basic Pay.
Employees transferred to specialised or remote areas should nevertheless check subsequent departmental orders because additional procedural clarifications can apply to the movement of personal effects.
5. Husband and Wife Both Government Employees: CTG Rules
The spouse-transfer provision is often missed in shorter guides.
Where both husband and wife are transferred, the entitlement of the spouse transferred later depends partly on the interval between their transfer orders.
Under the 7th CPC TA order, when the second spouse’s transfer takes place after 60 days but within six months of the first spouse’s transfer, 50% of the transfer grant may be allowed to the spouse transferred later.
Where both transfers are ordered within 60 days, transfer grant is not admissible to the spouse transferred later under this provision.
For transfers separated by six months or more, the existing normal provisions continue to apply.
This is one reason couples employed by Government organisations should avoid calculating both transfer claims independently without first checking the transfer dates.
6. Own-Request Transfer vs Transfer in Public Interest
Another important limitation is the nature of the transfer itself.
The Department of Expenditure order explicitly preserves existing rules that may preclude transfer grant in cases of transfer at the employee’s own request or transfer otherwise than in public interest.
Therefore, being transferred from one city to another does not by itself guarantee every component of Transfer TA.
Before arranging a move, check whether your order describes the transfer as administrative/public-interest transfer, request transfer or another category.
This distinction can make a major difference to the eventual claim.
7. Transportation of Household Goods / Personal Effects
Household-goods transportation is a separate reimbursement component from CTG.
Under the 7th CPC transfer rules, the entitlement for movement of personal effects by train/steamer is linked to Pay Level.
| Pay Level | Personal-effects entitlement |
|---|---|
| Level 12 and above | Up to 6,000 kg; specified goods-train/wagon/container entitlement |
| Levels 6–11 | Up to 6,000 kg; specified goods-train/wagon/container entitlement |
| Level 5 | Up to 3,000 kg |
| Level 4 and below | Up to 1,500 kg |
The official order also states that road transportation is calculated on a per-kilometre basis, rather than through the earlier classification of cities/towns. Actual receipts/vouchers are relevant to reimbursement under the prescribed rules.
This is especially important for employees using a professional moving company rather than sending household goods directly through railway freight.
8. Current Road Rates for Personal Effects in 2026
The original 7th CPC table prescribed the following road rates:
| Pay Level | Original 2017 road rate |
|---|---|
| Level 12 and above | ₹50/km |
| Levels 6–11 | ₹50/km |
| Level 5 | ₹25/km |
| Level 4 and below | ₹15/km |
However, stopping at those figures can now be misleading.
The same Government order states that the applicable rates increase by 25% whenever Dearness Allowance increases by 50%.
Central Government DA has been increased to 60% of Basic Pay with effect from 1 January 2026.
Therefore, applying the automatic 25% escalation clause to the original road rates gives:
| Pay Level | 2017 base | Rate after first 25% escalation* |
|---|---|---|
| Level 12 and above | ₹50/km | ₹62.50/km |
| Levels 6–11 | ₹50/km | ₹62.50/km |
| Level 5 | ₹25/km | ₹31.25/km |
| Level 4 and below | ₹15/km | ₹18.75/km |
*These figures are calculated by applying the 25% escalation mechanism stated in the 7th CPC TA order after DA crossed the 50% threshold. Employees should still have the applicable rate confirmed by their DDO/administrative/accounts section before preparing a claim, particularly where an organisation has issued its own implementation instructions.
Important: Entitlement Is Not Automatically the Mover’s Bill Amount
Suppose a moving company charges ₹70,000.
That does not automatically mean ₹70,000 is reimbursable.
The Government claim is regulated according to the applicable entitlement, distance, prescribed limits, actual admissible expenditure and supporting records.
Similarly, a reimbursement ceiling is not a licence to create an inflated mover’s invoice.
Employees should obtain a genuine quotation and preserve genuine payment and transportation records.
Before booking, see our guide to government moving quotations and bills.
9. What Household Items Can Be Included?
The Government rule refers broadly to transportation of personal effects within the employee’s entitled limit.
For a normal household relocation this commonly involves legitimate household belongings being shifted from the old residence to the new residence, subject to applicable service/accounting requirements.
From a practical packing perspective, furniture, appliances, kitchen items, books, clothing, boxes and other household possessions need to be properly inventoried.
For planning the physical move, use our government transfer packing list.
Do not confuse the permissible weight ceiling with a guaranteed lump-sum payment. Transportation of personal effects is a reimbursement component governed by entitlement and documentation.
10. Why GST Invoice, LR and Packing List Matter
When household goods are moved professionally, documentation can become as important as packing quality.
Employees should preserve paperwork according to whatever their department requires. Depending on the move and departmental procedure, relevant records may include transporter invoices, payment evidence, goods description/packing list, LR or consignment documentation and other supporting records.
Our detailed guide explains GST invoice, LR and packing-list documentation for government transfers.
Never ask a transporter to create a false bill, alter the actual moving cost, show goods that were never transported or fabricate documentation only to reach an entitlement ceiling.
Government reimbursement is a claim against public funds and should reflect a genuine transaction.
11. Transportation of Car, Motorcycle or Scooter
Vehicle transportation is the fourth component of Transfer TA.
The principal entitlement table provides:
| Pay Level | Conveyance entitlement |
|---|---|
| Level 6 and above | One motor car or one motorcycle/scooter |
| Level 5 and below | One motorcycle/scooter/moped/bicycle |
The general conditions governing admissibility of TA on transfer continue to apply.
This means household-goods transportation and vehicle transportation should not automatically be treated as one undifferentiated relocation charge.
Where a car or bike is being transported separately, preserve the vehicle-related documentation required by your department.
For employees shifting from Trichy, our car and bike transport guide explains the practical side of transporting a vehicle safely.
12. Special Rule for Transfers to/from NER, A&N, Lakshadweep and Ladakh
A useful 2022 clarification applies to transfers to or from the North-Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Ladakh.
The Department of Expenditure clarified that where the employee’s family does not accompany the employee, the employee may carry personal effects up to one-third of the entitlement and production of a receipt/voucher is not mandatory for claiming that one-third entitlement under the specified provision.
Where the family does accompany the employee, the employee can claim admissible transportation of personal effects according to entitlement, but receipts/vouchers are mandatory.
Employees dealing with such transfers should rely on the applicable 2022 order rather than only reading the original 2017 wording.
13. How Long Do You Have to Submit a Transfer TA Claim?
This is one of the most important practical rules in the entire article.
For TA claims relating to tour, transfer and training, the Department of Expenditure states that the time limit remains 60 days.
The General Financial Rules also provide that a travelling allowance claim becomes due after completion of the journey and is ordinarily to be submitted within 60 days, failing which it can stand forfeited, subject to the provisions dealing with time-barred claims and exceptional circumstances.
Therefore, employees should not finish the move and leave the documentation unattended for several months.
Prepare the claim as soon as the journey and relocation documentation are complete.
14. Documents to Keep for a 7th CPC Transfer Claim
The exact checklist can vary by ministry, department, service and type of claim, but it is sensible to maintain one transfer file containing:
- transfer/posting order; relieving and joining-related documents where required; travel tickets and permitted travel proof; mover’s quotation; final invoice and payment proof; LR/consignment record where applicable; packing or inventory list; household-goods transportation receipts; vehicle-transport records where claimed; proof/declaration of change of residence when relevant; CTG/Transfer TA claim forms prescribed by the department; and any departmental sanction, certificate or declaration required by the DDO/PAO.
For a more comprehensive document-by-document explanation, see our Government Transfer Documents Guide.
15. Common Reasons Government Transfer Claims Face Problems
Many claim problems are not caused by the transfer entitlement itself. They arise because the transaction and the paperwork do not match.
Typical problem areas include a missing original or acceptable invoice, inconsistent origin/destination details, a claimed amount exceeding admissible entitlement, household goods and vehicle transport being inadequately documented, delayed submission, unsupported payment, a transfer that was actually at the employee’s own request, or a same-city CTG claim where no genuine change of residence occurred.
The best time to prevent these problems is before the truck leaves, not after the Accounts Section raises an objection.
See our complete guide on government transfer claim rejection if you want to understand common documentation and eligibility issues in more detail.
16. Example: Level 7 Employee Transferred From Trichy to Chennai
Consider a Central Government employee in Pay Level 7 who is officially transferred from Trichy to Chennai.
Assume the employee’s last month’s Basic Pay is ₹50,000.
Because this is a change of station well beyond 20 km, CTG under the normal serving-employee rule would be 80% of Basic Pay, or ₹40,000, subject to all applicable conditions.
Level 7 falls within Levels 6–11. The principal 7th CPC order gives this category an entitlement of up to 6,000 kg of personal effects under the specified transport structure. Its 2017 road rate was ₹50/km; after applying the order’s 25% escalation mechanism following DA crossing 50%, that works out to ₹62.50/km at the first escalation stage. Travel and eligible conveyance transport are separate components.
The employee should not simply multiply distance by a rate and assume the result will be paid automatically. Actual admissibility, expenditure, documentary proof and departmental scrutiny still matter.
For the physical route itself, see our Trichy to Chennai movers guide.
17. CTG on Retirement Is Now Different From the Old 2017 Rule
Readers should be careful when comparing older websites and PDFs.
The original 2017 order gave full retirement CTG subject to a 20 km condition and one-third CTG for certain shorter-distance situations. However, a Department of Expenditure order dated 6 January 2022 removed the 20 km condition for CTG on retirement where an actual change of residence takes place.
Accordingly, an eligible retiring Central Government employee who settles at the last station of duty or elsewhere can receive full CTG at 80% of the last month’s Basic Pay, subject to actual change of residence and the applicable conditions.
This amendment concerns retirement CTG. It should not be incorrectly applied to the less-than-20-km rule for an ordinary serving employee’s transfer.
The TA-claim submission limit for retirement was also changed to 180 days after completion of the journey, while transfer/tour/training claims remain subject to the 60-day limit described above.
18. Is CTG the Same as Packers and Movers Reimbursement?
No.
This distinction is critical.
CTG is one component. Transportation of personal effects is another component.
CTG is calculated according to Basic Pay and the nature/distance of the transfer. Household-goods transportation is regulated under separate entitlement and reimbursement rules. Travel of the employee/family and eligible vehicle transportation are also separate components.
Therefore, a statement such as “the Government gives only 80% of salary for the entire move” is an oversimplification.
19. Practical Government Transfer Checklist Before Booking Movers
First verify whether your transfer is in public interest and whether Transfer TA is admissible. Next, confirm your Pay Level, Basic Pay, family entitlement and household-goods limit with your administration. Obtain the mover’s written quotation before booking and ask your office which documents must accompany the claim. Ensure the invoice accurately identifies the real move, preserve tickets and payment records, and submit the claim within the applicable deadline.
Employees managing children, spouse relocation, utilities and joining formalities at the same time may also find our government transfer family checklist useful.
For urgent postings, see short-notice government transfer planning.
20. Government Employee Relocation in Trichy
Government and PSU transfers often involve more documentation than an ordinary household shift.
If you are relocating from or to Trichy, choosing a mover should not be based only on the lowest quotation. Check the scope of packing, pickup and delivery terms, household-goods handling, vehicle movement where required and the documentation you will receive after the move.
You can read our guide to choosing packers and movers in Trichy or explore Mahalaxmi Packers & Movers for relocation services.
For shifting enquiries, call 9894694320.
Before finalising the booking, tell the mover if the relocation is connected with a government or PSU transfer and separately confirm with your Accounts/DDO section which documents they expect for reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions About 7th Pay Commission Transfer Rules
How much CTG is allowed under the 7th Pay Commission?
For a normal serving Central Government employee’s transfer involving stations 20 km or more apart, CTG is generally 80% of the last month’s Basic Pay, subject to the applicable transfer rules.
Is DA included when calculating CTG?
CTG is based on the prescribed Basic Pay concept; DA is not simply added to Basic Pay for calculating the 80% CTG amount.
What is the CTG rule for a transfer below 20 km?
For a serving employee transferred within the same city or to a station less than 20 km away, one-third of normal CTG is admissible where an actual change of residence is involved.
What is the maximum household-goods weight under the 7th CPC?
The principal limits are 6,000 kg for Level 12 and above and Levels 6–11, 3,000 kg for Level 5, and 1,500 kg for Level 4 and below.
What are the 2026 road rates for moving personal effects?
The 2017 base rates were ₹50, ₹50, ₹25 and ₹15 per km for the respective Pay-Level categories. Since the order provides a 25% increase whenever DA rises by 50%, and Central Government DA is 60% from 1 January 2026, the first escalated figures calculate to ₹62.50, ₹62.50, ₹31.25 and ₹18.75 per km, respectively. Confirm the amount applicable to your individual claim with your department.
Can Level 6 and above employees claim car transportation?
The principal entitlement provides for transportation of one motor car or one motorcycle/scooter for Level 6 and above, subject to the applicable TA conditions.
Can I receive full CTG for a same-city transfer?
For a normal serving employee, the same-city/under-20-km rule generally allows one-third CTG where there is an actual change of residence. Do not confuse this with the separate 2022 relaxation applicable to CTG on retirement.
How many days do I have to file Transfer TA?
The current Department of Expenditure clarification states that TA claims relating to transfer, tour and training remain subject to a 60-day submission period.
Do I need bills for household-goods transportation?
Supporting receipts/vouchers are relevant to reimbursement of personal-effects transportation under the general rule. A specific 2022 relaxation exists for certain transfers to/from NER, A&N, Lakshadweep and Ladakh where the family does not accompany the employee and only one-third entitlement is claimed.
Do these rules automatically apply to BHEL, Railways, banks or Tamil Nadu Government employees?
No. Different organisations and governments may have separate service rules or may adopt Central Government provisions through their own orders. Always verify your employer’s applicable transfer policy.
Final Takeaway
The 7th Pay Commission transfer rules are much broader than a simple packing allowance.
For eligible Central Government employees, Transfer TA can involve employee/family travel, Composite Transfer Grant, household-goods transportation and eligible vehicle transportation. CTG is generally 80% of last month’s Basic Pay for a qualifying normal transfer, while household-goods entitlement depends on Pay Level and separate reimbursement rules. The Department of Expenditure also sets important provisions for spouse transfers, short-distance transfers, special regions and claim deadlines.
The safest approach is to verify entitlement before moving, preserve genuine bills and transportation records, and submit the claim promptly after the transfer journey.
For government-employee household shifting in Trichy, contact Mahalaxmi Packers & Movers — 9894694320.