Cabinet clears 3% DA hike from 1 July 2026; dearness allowance rises to 61%
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a three percentage point increase in Dearness Allowance for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners, effective 1 July 2026. The revision takes DA from 58% to 61% of basic pay.
The increase follows the twelve-month average of the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers ending June 2026, which crossed the threshold set by the accepted 7th Central Pay Commission formula. The decision covers approximately 48.7 lakh serving employees and 68.2 lakh pensioners.
Monthly gain at 3% DA increase
| Pay Level | Basic Pay (Rs) | Old DA @58% | New DA @61% | Monthly Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 18,000 | 10,440 | 10,980 | 540 |
| Level 4 | 25,500 | 14,790 | 15,555 | 765 |
| Level 6 | 35,400 | 20,532 | 21,594 | 1,062 |
| Level 7 | 44,900 | 26,042 | 27,389 | 1,347 |
| Level 10 | 56,100 | 32,538 | 34,221 | 1,683 |
| Level 13 | 1,23,100 | 71,398 | 75,091 | 3,693 |
An employee at Level 6 with a basic pay of Rs 35,400 will receive an additional Rs 1,062 a month. Because DA is a component in the calculation of HRA slabs, transport allowance and overtime, the effective gain for most employees will be marginally higher than the headline figure.
The Department of Expenditure is expected to issue the formal Office Memorandum within a week. Pay and Accounts Offices have been advised to prepare arrear bills so that the two months of dues can be released along with the September salary.
केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडल ने 1 जुलाई 2026 से महंगाई भत्ते में 3 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि को मंजूरी दे दी है। इससे डीए 58 प्रतिशत से बढ़कर 61 प्रतिशत हो गया है। इसका लाभ लगभग 48.7 लाख कर्मचारियों और 68.2 लाख पेंशनभोगियों को मिलेगा। वित्त मंत्रालय के अनुसार जुलाई और अगस्त का एरियर सितंबर के वेतन के साथ जारी किया जाएगा।