Dearness Allowance (DA) Hike For Government Employees: DA hike is decided on the basis of All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI), increase in DA will increase the salary of central government employees and pensioners.
7th Pay Commission DA Hike Update: After the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), central government employees may get another good news this month. According to media reports, the central government may soon announce the increase in DA to the employees this month. Earlier reports were saying that the government would announce the increase in DA in the first week of September, but now the first week is almost over and it seems that it is not possible. But now the news is that a decision regarding the increase in DA may come in the last week of September.
The central government employees waiting for the announcement of the increase in DA are excited about this and are optimistic that they can get a great gift from the government.
Know when the announcement of DA increase is possible
However, media reports have quoted sources as saying that the government may announce the DA increase (DA Hike Announcement) close to the date of Haryana Assembly Election. Elections are to be held in Haryana on October 5. Looking at the trends of the last few years, DA hike was announced every year a week or fortnight before Diwali, but this time it may be announced a little earlier.
How much percent will DA increase this time?
The central government may announce a hike in DA for central government employees and pensioners in the last week of September. With this, more than crores of employees and pensioners can see an increase in DA up to 4%. According to sources, the central government is going to announce a DA hike of 3-4% in September. A source said that the government is expected to increase DA by 3%, but it can also be 4%. This will be a big relief for central government employees and pensioners.
In this way, central government employees and pensioners will have to wait a little longer. If the state assembly elections were not held in early October, the DA hike could have been announced in October, possibly in the second week itself.
DA and DR were increased by 4% in March 2024
The central government last increased dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) in March 2024. DA was increased by 4%, making it 50% of the basic pay. Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners was also increased by 4%.
Usually, the central government announces the DA hike around Diwali. If we talk about the January cycle, the DA hike is often announced around Holi in March.
When will DA Arrears be received?
If the DA hike is announced by the end of September, then employees and pensioners may see an increase in the salary/pension for the month of October. This means that employees can get arrears for 3 months from July to September.
DA expected to increase by at least 3%
DA is expected to increase by at least 3% for central employees for the period July-December 2024. The increase in DA is decided on the basis of All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI), the increase in DA will increase the salary of central government employees and pensioners. There has been no official announcement regarding this yet, but it is expected that the government will announce an increase in DA soon.
This is the difference between DA and DR
What is the difference between DA (Dearness Allowance) and DR (Dearness Relief)? It is very important to understand this. Dearness Allowance (DA) is given to central government employees while Dearness Relief (DR) is given to pensioners. Its purpose is to reduce the rising impact of inflation. The central government usually increases DA and DR twice a year – in January and July. The increase in DA and DR is usually announced in March and early October.
Will the DA arrears withheld during COVID-19 be received?
According to a statement by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in the recent Monsoon Session of Parliament, the government is unlikely to release the 18-month arrears of DA and Dearness Relief (DR) withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government had decided to stop three installments of DA/DR to central employees and pensioners from January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021. This decision was taken to reduce the pressure on the economic system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With this response from the government, the chances of central employees getting the DA arrears withheld during COVID-19 (COVID-19 DA Arrears) have diminished.
