Central government employees are likely to get a hike in their Dearness Allowance (DA) shortly before Diwali this year. Citing sources, it is reported that the dearness allowance may be increased by 3 percent. This means that over one million central government employees as well as pensioners will receive the salary for the month of October along with the DA increase and three months’ DA arrears. Currently, DA is 50 percent of salary and with the expected increase, it could be 53 percent. The dearness allowance may be announced at a press conference at 3:00 p.m.
The central government increases the DA twice a year, in January and July, with an announcement in March around Holi and in September around Diwali, after which arrears of the increase are paid. Notably, the DA hike for July, which was expected to be announced before the Haryana elections on October 5, was significantly delayed this year. Its announcement is now expected before the Maharashtra elections. According to cited sources, the DA received approval from the Cabinet.
