Breaking: Govt approves 2 % DA raise for Central government employees
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, April 18, 2026: The Central government has approved a 2 percent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees, bringing some relief amid rising inflation. The revised allowance will be effective from January 1.
With this hike, the DA will rise from the existing 58 percent of basic salary, leading to a modest increase in take-home pay for lakhs of government employees and pensioners.
Typically, the government revises DA twice a year—in January and July—though official announcements are often made later, around major festivals. This year, the delay in the notification had sparked concern among employees, who were awaiting clarity on revised benefits.
While the latest hike offers short-term relief, attention is now shifting toward broader salary reforms under the proposed 8th Pay Commission. Employee unions have intensified their demands for a significant revision in pay structures.
The National Council–Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has submitted a memorandum urging the government to raise the minimum basic salary to ₹69,000, along with a fitment factor of 3.83. If implemented, this would mark a major jump from the current minimum pay of ₹18,000.
Additional demands include a 6 percent annual increment, a minimum 30 percent slab for House Rent Allowance (HRA), and restoration of the old pension scheme.
The latest DA revision, though incremental, comes at a time when expectations are building around a comprehensive overhaul of government pay and benefits.