Study Leave Rules for Central Government Employees

Who are all entitled to Study Leave ? – Eligibility, Maximum Study Leave, Salary during Study Leave and more under Leave Rules applicable for Central Government Employees

1. Conditions for grant of Study Leave:

(1) Subject to conditions specified in this Section, study leave may be granted to a Government servant with due regard to the exigencies of public service to enable him to undergo, in or out of India, a special course of study consisting of higher studies or specialized training in a professional or a technical subject having a direct and close connection with the sphere of his duty.

(2) Study leave may also be granted-

(i) for a course of training or study tour in which a Government servant may not attend a regular academic or semi-academic course if the course of training or the study tour is certified to be of definite advantage to Government from the point of view of public interest and is related to sphere of duties of the Government servant; and

(ii) for the purpose of studies connected with the framework or background of public administration subject to the conditions that-

(a) the particular study or study tour should be approved by the authority competent to grant leave; and

(b) the Government servant should be required to submit, on his return, a full report on the work done by him while on study leave;

(iii) for the studies which may not be closely or directly connected with the work of a Government servant, but which are capable of widening his mind in a manner likely to improve his abilities as a civil servant and to equip him better to collaborate with those employed in other branches of the public service.

Note: Application for study leave in cases falling under clause (iii) shall be considered on merits of each case in consultation with the Department of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance.

(3) Study leave shall not be granted unless-

(i) it is certified by the authority competent to grant leave that the proposed course of study or training shall be of definite advantage from the point of view of public interests;

(ii) it is for prosecution of studies in subjects other than academic or literary subject:

Provided that an officer of the Indian Economic Service or Indian Statistical Service may be granted study leave for prosecuting a course of study for obtaining Ph.D., on a research thesis, subject to the conditions that-

(a) the subject of research and the institution at which such research is to be undertaken are got approved by the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, in case the applicant is a member of the Indian Economic Service, or by the Director, Central Statistical Organization, in case the applicant is a member of the Indian Statistical Service;

(b) the applicant obtains a certificate from the said authority to the effect that such study will be valuable in the matter of increasing the efficiency of the officer in the performance of his duties as a member of the Indian Economic Service or the Indian Statistical Service, as the case may be; and

(c) in cases where the study is to be undertaken at a foreign university, the applicant obtains a further certificate that the facilities for research on the particular subject chosen for study are not available at any University or other Institution in India:

provided further that a Medical Officer may be granted study leave for prosecuting a course of postgraduate study in Medical Sciences if the Director-General of Health Services certifies to the effect that such study shall be valuable in increasing the efficiency of such Medical Officer in the performance of his duties:

provided also that a specialist or a technical person may be granted study leave, on merits of each case for prosecuting a postgraduate course of study directly related to the sphere of his duty in case the Head of the Department or the Secretary to the Department or Ministry concerned certifies that the course of study shall enable the specialist or the technical person, as the case may be, to keep barest with modern development in the field of his duty, improve his technical standards and competence and thus substantially benefit the Department or Ministry.

(iii) the Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance agrees to the release of foreign exchange involved in the grant of study leave, if such leave is outside India:

provided that in releasing foreign exchange to Government servants proceeding on study leave abroad, the Department aforesaid shall satisfy itself whether such Government servant comply with the minimum educational criteria as specified in the general orders issued by the said Department from time to time regulating release of foreign exchange to persons proceeding abroad for higher studies at their expense.

(4) Study leave out of India shall not be granted for the prosecution of studies in subjects for which adequate facilities exist in India or under any of the Schemes administered by the Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance or by the Ministry of Education.

(5) Study leave may be granted to a Government servant-

(i) who has satisfactorily completed period of probation and has rendered not less than five years’ regular continuous service including the period of probation under the Government;

(ii) who is not due to reach the age of superannuation from the Government service within three years (five years in the case of Central Health Service officer who has been granted thirty-six months’ study leave under sub-rule (2) of rule 51) from the date on which he is expected to return to duty after the expiry of the leave; and

(iii) who executes a Bond as laid down in Rule 53(4) undertaking to serve the Government for a period of three years (five years in the case of Central Health Service officer who has been granted thirty-six months’ study leave under sub¬rule (2) of rule 51) after the expiry of the leave.

(6) Study leave shall not be granted to a Government servant with such frequency as to remove him from contact with his regular work or to cause cadre difficulties owing to his absence on leave.

2. Maximum amount of Study Leave:

The maximum amount of study leave, which may be granted to a Government servant other than Central Health Service (CHS) Officers, shall be –

(a) ordinarily twelve months at any one time, and

(b) during his entire service, twenty-four months in all (inclusive of similar kind of leave for study or training granted under any other rules).

(2) In respect of CHS officers, study leave may be granted for thirty-six months for acquiring Post-Graduation qualification subject to the condition that a CHS officer who has been granted such leave shall execute a bond under sub rule (4) of rule 53 to serve the Government for a period of five year after completion of study leave.

Note: The study leave can be availed in more than one spell subject to the condition that such leave availed of in different spells does not exceed twenty four months.

Govt. of India Decisions:

(1) Ministries/Departments can sanction study leave more than 12 months upto the maximum of 24 months in a stretch.

The Ministries/Departments are competent to sanction study leave in exercise of the powers delegated to them under the First schedule of the CCS(Leave) Rules, 1972 for a period exceeding 12 months upto the maximum limit of 24 months at a stretch also, provided all other conditions precedent to grant of study leave are fulfilled.

[DOPT OM No. 13023/25/84-Estt. (L), dated 23-08-1985]

(2) Grant of study leave to Central Health Service Officers for prosecuting post-graduation course.

The undersigned is directed to say that as per rule 51 of CCS(Leave) Rules, 1972, Central Government employees can be granted study leave for a period of 24 months during his entire service inclusive of similar kind of leave for study or training granted under any other rules. The question of increasing this limit of 24 months in respect of Central Health Service (CHS) Officers for prosecuting post-graduation courses was under consideration in the context of demand for enhancing the period of study leave up to 36 months against the ceiling of 24 months especially because post-graduation courses in health sciences is of a three year duration which has to be done on campus with clinical work involved. The post graduate qualification is a prerequisite for career advancement for the CHS officers. The matter was considered in all its aspects and in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, it has been decided to increase the limit of study leave from 24 months to 36 months in respect of Central Health Service Officers for prosecuting post -graduation courses with the stipulation that they would have to give a bond to serve for five years in Government after completing their post-graduation, provided the study as well as the University/ institution are approved by the controlling authority and subject to fulfillment of various conditions regarding grant of study leave. These orders will be effective from the date of issue.

[DOPT OM No. 13023/3/98-Estt.(L)(VoI.II), dated 26-10-2007]

(3) Study Leave for Fellowships offered by reputed Institutes.

The feasibility of bringing more Fellowships under the purview of Study Leave, on the same terms and conditions as the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fellowships (JNMF) has been under consideration of this Department for some time. On the basis of the inputs from various Departments/Ministries regarding fellowships offered by reputed institutions and in consultation with Department of Expenditure, it has been decided to include the Fellowships offered by (i) K.K. Birla Foundation, (ii) Indian Institutes of Management, (iii) Management Development Institute, Gurgaon and (iv) Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science on the same terms as that of the fellowship offered by JNMF at present. The following terms will be offered to Central Government employees who are awarded the said fellowship in relaxation of Rule 51, 57 and 59 of Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 :-

i) They will be granted study leave for the entire period of the Fellowship;

ii) They will be entitled to the benefits admissible to them in accordance with the
Fellowship and in addition, entitled to draw leave salary only (without allowance) equal to the pay that they drew while on duty with the Government immediately before proceeding on such leave. However, they will be entitled to Dearness Allowance at the Central Government rates on the leave salary admissible to them;

iii) Where considered necessary, the official may be allowed during the period of the Fellowship, the continued use of the facility of the residential telephone officially allotted to him, subject to payment by him of the bills for the rental and call charges of the telephone. This order takes effect from the date of issue.

[DOPT OM No.13023/2/2008-Estt(L), dated 1-09-2011]

3. Applications for Study Leave:

(l) (a) Every application for study leave shall be submitted through proper channel to the authority competent to grant leave.

(b) The course or courses of study contemplated by the Government servant and any examination which he proposes to undergo shall be clearly specified in such application.

(2) Where it is not possible for the Government servant to give full details in his application, or if, after leaving India, he is to make any change in the programme which has been approved in India, he shall submit the particulars as soon as possible to the Head of the Mission or the authority competent to grant leave, as the case may be, and shall not, unless prepared to do so at his own risk, commence the course of study or incur any expenses in connection therewith until he receives the approval of the authority competent to grant the study leave for the course.

4. Sanction of Study Leave:

(1) A report regarding the admissibility of the study leave shall be obtained from the Audit Officer:

provided that the study leave, if any, already availed of by the Government servant shall be included in the report.

(2) Where a Government servant borne permanently on the cadre of one department or establishment is serving temporarily in another department or establishment, the grant of study leave to him shall be subject to the condition that the concurrence of the department or the establishment to which he is permanently attached is obtained before the leave is granted.

(3) Where the study leave is granted for prosecution of studies abroad, the Head of the Mission concerned shall be informed of the fact by the authority granting the leave, provided that where such leave has been granted by an Administrator, the intimation shall be sent through the Ministry concerned.

Note: The Head of the Mission shall be contacted by the Government servant for issue of any letters of introduction or for other similar facilities that may be required.

(4)(a)Every Government servant in permanent employ who has been granted study leave or extension of such study leave shall be required to execute a Bond in Form 7 or Form 8, as the case may be, before the study leave or extension of such study leave granted to him commences.

(b) Every Government servant not in permanent employ who has been granted study leave or extension of such study leave shall be required to execute a bond in Form 9 or Form 10 as the case may be, before the study leave or extension of such study leave granted to him commences.

(c) The Authority competent to grant leave shall send to the Audit Officer a certificate to the effect that the Government servant referred to in Clause (a) or Clause (b) has executed the requisite bond.

5(a) On completion of the course of study, the Government servant shall submit to the authority which granted him the study leave, the certificates of examinations passed or special courses of study undertaken, indicating the date of commencement and termination of the course with the remarks, if any, of the authority in charge of the course of study.

(b) If the study is undertaken in a country outside India where there is an Indian Mission, the certificates shall be submitted through the Head of the Mission concerned.

5. Accounting of Study Leave and combination with leave of other kinds:

(1) Study leave shall not be debited against the leave account of the Government servant.

(2) Study leave may be combined with other kinds of leave, but in no case shall be grant of this leave in combination with leave, other than extraordinary leave involve a total absence of more than twenty eight months generally and thirty-six months for the courses leading to PhD degree from the regular duties of the Government servant.

Explanation: The limit of twenty-eight months/thirty six months of absence prescribed in this sub-rule includes the period of vacation.

(3) A Government servant granted study leave in combination with any other kind of leave may, if he so desires, undertake or commence a course of study during any other kind of leave “[and subject to the other conditions laid down in Rule 57 being satisfied, draw study allowance in respect thereof]

provided that the period of such leave coinciding with the course of study shall not count as study leave.

*[ ]- omitted vide Central Civil Services (Leave) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 w.e.f. 01 January 2018.

[DOPT G.S.R. 08( E), dated 1-01-2018]

6. Regulation of Study Leave extending beyond course of study:

When the course of study fall short of study leave granted to a Government servant, he shall resume duty on the conclusion of the course of study, unless the previous sanction of the authority competent to grant leave has been obtained to treat the period of shortfall as ordinary leave.

7. Leave Salary during Study Leave:

(1) Except as provided in sub-rule (6), during study leave availed of outside India, a Government servant shall draw leave salary equal to the pay that the Government servant drew while on duty with Government immediately before proceeding on such leave and in addition the dearness allowance, house rent allowance and study allowance as admissible in accordance with the provisions of rules 57 to 60.

[DOPT G.S.R. 08( E), dated 1-01-2018]

(2) Except as provided in sub-rule (6), during study leave availed of in India, a Government servant shall draw leave salary equal to the pay that the Government servant drew while on duty with Government immediately before proceeding on such leave and in addition the dearness allowance and house rent allowance as admissible in accordance with the provisions of Rule 60.

(3) Payment of leave salary at full rate under sub-rule (2) shall be subject to furnishing of a certificate by the Government servant to the effect that he is not in receipt of any scholarship, stipend or remuneration in respect of any part-time employment.

(4) The amount, if any, received by a Government servant during the period of study leave as scholarship or stipend or remuneration in respect of any part-time employment *[as envisaged in sub-rule (2) of rule 57], shall be adjusted against the leave salary payable under this sub-rule subject to the condition that the leave salary shall not be reduced to an amount less than that payable as leave salary during half-pay leave.

*[ ]- omitted vide Central Civil Services (Leave) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 w.e.f. 01 January 2018.

[DOPT G.S.R. 08( E), dated 1-01-2018]

(5) No study allowance shall be paid during study leave for courses of study in India.

(6) During the currency of study leave within or outside India on or after the 1st day of January, 1996, a Central Government servant shall draw benefits of revised pay from the date such revision took place.

[DOPT G.S.R. 186, dated 16-01-2004]

8. Conditions for grant of Study Allowance:

1) A study allowance shall be granted to a Government servant who has been granted study leave for studies outside India for the period spent in prosecuting a definite course of study at a recognized institution or in any definite tour of inspection of any pedal class of work, as well as for the period covered by any examination at the end f the course of study.

(2) Where a Government servant has been permitted to receive and retain, in addition to his leave salary, any scholarship or stipend that may be awarded to him from a government or non-Government sources, or any other remuneration in respect o any part-time employment-

(a) no study allowance shall be admissible in case the net amount of such scholarship or stipend or remuneration (arrived at by deducting the cost of fees, if any, paid by the Government servant from the value of the scholarship o stipend or remuneration) exceeds the amount of study allowance otherwise admissible:

In case the net amount of scholarship or stipend or remuneration is less than the study allowance otherwise admissible, the difference between the value o the net scholarship or stipend or any other remuneration in respect of any part time employment and the study allowance may be granted by the authority competent to grant leave.

(3) Study allowance shall not be granted for any period during which a Government servant interrupts his course of study to suit his own convenience:

Provided that the authority competent to grant leave or the Head of Mission may authorize the grant of Study Allowance for a period not exceeding 14 days at a time during such interruption if it was due to sickness.

(4) Study Allowance shall also be allowed for the entire period of vacation during the course of study subject to the conditions that –

(a) The Government servant attends during vacation any special course of study or practical training under the direction of the Government or the authority competent to grant leave, as the case may be;

(b) In the absence of any such direction, he produces satisfactory evidence before the Head of the Mission or the authority competent to grant leave, as the case may be, that he has continued his studies during the vacation:

Provided that in respect of vacation falling at the end of the course of study, it shall be allowed for a maximum period of 14 days

(5) The period for which Study Allowance may be granted shall not exceed 24 months in all.

9. Rates of Study Allowance:

1) The rates of Study Allowance shall be as follows:-

Name of the Country Study allowance per diem

Australia £ 1.00 (Sterling)

Continent of Europe £ 1.65 (Sterling)

New Zealand £ 1.20 (Sterling)

United Kingdom £ 2.00 (Sterling)

United States of America £ 2.75(Sterling)

(2) The rates of Study Allowance prescribed in sub-rule (!) may be revised by the Central Government from time to time.

3) The rates of Study Allowance to be granted to a Government servant who takes study leave in any country other than the one specified in sub-rule (1) shall be such as may be specially determined by the President in each case.

10. Procedure for payment of Study Allowance:

(1) Payment of study allowance shall be subject to the furnishing of a certificate by the Government servant to the effect that he is not in receipt of any scholarship, stipend or any other remuneration in respect of any part-time employment.

Study Allowance shall be paid at the end of every month provisionally subject to an undertaking in writing being obtained from the Government servant that he would refund to the Government any over payment consequent on his failure to produce the required certificate of attendance or on his failure to satisfy the authority competent to grant leave about the proper utilization of the time spent for which Study Allowance is claimed.

(2)(a) In the case of a definite course of study at a recognized institution, the Study Allowance shall be payable by the authority competent to grant leave, if the study leave availed of is in a country where there is no Indian Mission, and by the Head of the Mission in other cases, on claims submitted by the Government servant from time to time, supported by proper certificates of attendance.

(b) The certificate of attendance required to be submitted in support of the claims for Study Allowance shall be forwarded at the end of the terms, if the Government servant is undergoing study in an educational institution, or at intervals not exceeding three months if he is undergoing study at any other institution.

(3)(a) When the programme of study approved does not include, or does not consist entirely of, such a course of study, the Government servant shall submit to the Authority competent to grant leave direct or through the Head of the Mission a diary showing how his time has been spent and a report indicating fully the nature of the methods and operations which have been studied and including suggestions as to the possibility of adapting such methods or operations to conditions obtaining in India.

(b) The authority competent to grant leave shall decide whether the diary and report show that the time of the Government servant was properly utilized and shall determine accordingly for what periods Study Allowance may be granted.]

*[]-Rule 57, 58 ands] omitted vide Central Civil Services (Leave) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 w.e.f. 01 January 2018.

[DOPT G.S.R. 08( E), dated 1-01-2018]

11. Admissibility of allowances in addition to Study Allowance:

(1) For the first 180 days of the Study Leave, House Rent Allowance shall be paid at the rates admissible to the Government servant from time to time at the station from where he proceeded on study leave. The continuance of payment of House Rent Allowance beyond 180 days shall be subject to the production of a certificate as prescribed in Para 8(d) of Ministry of Finance, O.M. No.2 (37)-E.II (B)/64, dated 27 November 1965, as amended from time to time.

(2) Except for house rent allowance as admissible under sub-rule (1) and the Dearness Allowance *[ and the Study Allowance], where admissible, no other allowance shall be paid to a Government servant in respect of the period of study leave granted to him.

*[]-omitted vide Central Civil Services (Leave) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 w.e.f. 01 January 2018.

[DOPT G.S.R. 08( E), dated 1-01-2018]

12. Travelling Allowance during Study Leave:

A Government servant to whom study leave has been granted shall not ordinarily be paid Travelling Allowance but the President may in exceptional circumstances sanction the payment of such allowance.

Note- Where a Government servant serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department is on study leave in India, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India may, in exceptional circumstances, sanction the grant of Travelling Allowance.

13. Cost of Fees for Study:

A Government servant to whom study leave has been granted shall ordinarily be required to meet the cost of fees paid for the study but in exceptional cases, the President may sanction the grant of such fees:

provided that in no case shall the cost of fees be paid to a Government servant who is in receipt of scholarship or stipend from whatever source or who is permitted to receive or retain, in addition to his leave salary, any remuneration in respect of part-time employment.

Note: Where a Government servant serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department is on study leave in India, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India may, in exceptional circumstances, sanction the grant of the cost of fees paid for the study.

14. Resignation or retirement after Study Leave or non-completion of the course of study:

(1) If a Government servant resigns or retires from service or otherwise quits service without returning to duty after a period of study leave or within a period of three years[five years in the case of Central Health Service officer who has been granted thirty-six month leave under sub-rule (2) rule 51] after such return to duty or fails to complete the course of study and is thus unable to furnish the certificates as required under sub-rule (5) of Rule 53, he shall be required to refund-

(i) the actual amount of leave salary, *[Study Allowance], cost of fees, travelling and other expenses, if any, incurred by the Government of India; and

*[]-omitted vide Central Civil Services (Leave) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 w.e.f. 01 January 2018.

[DOPT G.S.R. 08(£), dated 1-01-2018]

(ii) the actual amount, if any, of the cost incurred by other agencies such as foreign Government, Foundations and Trusts in connection with the course of study, together with interest thereon at rates for the time being in force on Government loans from the date of demand, before his resignation is accepted or permission to retire is granted or his quitting service otherwise:

provided that except in the case of employees who fail to complete the course of study nothing in this rule shall apply-

(a) to a Government servant who, after return to duty from study leave, is permitted to retire from service on medical grounds; or

(b) to a Government servant who, after return to duty from study leave, is deputed to serve in any Statutory or Autonomous Body or Institution under the control of the Government and is subsequently permitted to resign from service under the Government with a view to his permanent absorption in the said Statutory or Autonomous body or Institution in the public interest.

(2)(a) The study leave availed of by such Government servant shall be converted into regular leave standing at his credit on the date on which the study leave ” commenced, any regular leave taken in continuation of study leave being suitably adjusted for the purpose and the balance of the period of study leave, if any, which cannot be so converted, treated as extraordinary leave.

(b) In addition to the amount to be refunded by the Government servant under sub-rule (1 ), he shall be required to refund any excess of leave salary actually drawn over the leave salary admissible on conversion of the study leave.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, the President may, if it is necessary or expedient to do so, either in public interest or having regard to the peculiar circumstances of the case or class of cases, by order, waive or reduce the amount required to be refunded under sub-rule (1) by the Government servant concerned or class of Government servant.