New Delhi: Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a 3 percent increase in dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for Central government employees and pensioners.
The latest hike raises the DA or DR from 50 percent to 53 percent. The increase will come into effect from 1 July. This decision is a major relief for Central government employees ahead of Diwali.
The biannual revision of DA and DR, which impacts approximately one crore Central government employees and pensioners, aims to mitigate the effects of inflation.
What is Dearness Allowance (DA) ?
DA is given to the Central government employees which is calculated based on the average of the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW), which is published monthly by the Labour Bureau, making it a crucial component in determining government salaries and pensions. In March, the government raised the dearness allowance by 4 per cent, effective from January 2024, bringing the total dearness allowance to 50 per cent of basic pay from 46 percent.