DA Hike News: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced that the dearness allowance (DA) of central government employees has been increased by 2% to 60%. This increase will be effective from January 1, 2026 ...read more

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed in a press conference that the dearness allowance ( DA Hike ) of central employees has been increased. He said that the dearness allowance of central employees has been increased to 60%. This means it has been increased by 2%. Previously, it was 58%. Before today's announcement in dearness allowance, it was last increased in October 2025.

This increase will be effective from January 1, 2026. This means that central government employees will also receive arrears from January to April. The DA increase will increase the salaries of everyone from peons to IAS officers.

A 60 percent dearness allowance means that employees will receive 60 percent of their basic salary as dearness allowance. If your basic salary is 40,000 rupees, you will receive 24,000 rupees as dearness allowance.

Cabinet approves DA/DR hike by 2 per cent for central government employees, pensioners: I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 18, 2026

The Union Cabinet has approved the increase in dearness allowance.

The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved a 2 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for central government employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners.

Dearness Allowance (DA) is announced twice a year, based on inflation data measured by the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI).

All India NPS Employees Federation welcomes the announcement of 2% #DA hike from January 2026 for about 50.5 lakh central employees and 68.30 lakh pensioners by the Government of India and again appeals to the Government of India to immediately increase the 50% dearness allowance from January 2026 

 लगभग 50.5 लाख केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों और 68.30 लाख पेंशनर्स के लिए भारत सरकार द्वारा जनवरी 2026 से 2% #DA की बढ़ोतरी के ऐलान का ऑल इंडिया एनपीएस एम्पलाइज फेडरेशन स्वागत करती है और भारत सरकार से पुनः अपील करती है कि फिलहाल #8CPC की रिपोर्ट आने से पहले जनवरी 2026 से 50% महंगाई भत्ते… pic.twitter.com/sZsZzGBan4

— Dr Manjeet Singh Patel (@ManjeetIMOPS) April 18, 2026

The announcement comes at a time when there were widespread concerns over the delay in the hike, and government employees were demanding release of the allowances and payment of three months' arrears.

The last DA hike was approved on October 1, 2025, when the Union Cabinet approved a 3% increase, raising the dearness allowance from 55% to 58% of the basic pay. Now, it has increased to 60%.

What will be the salary from peon to IAS?

This DA increase will be implemented under the 7th Pay Commission, as the 8th Pay Commission is yet to be implemented. Now, let's find out how much central government employees can expect to see in their monthly salaries after the 2% DA hike.

 PC:Jagran