Central Government Employees Anticipate DA Hike Before Dussehra

Central government employees and pensioners are expecting a 3-4% Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for the July 2026 cycle, with a formal announcement anticipated before the Dussehra festival. This adjustment would raise the current 60% rate to 63-64%, benefiting approximately 50 lakh employees and 69 lakh pensioners.

The expectation follows a rise in the All-India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) to 154.4 in August 2026. While the revision is effective retroactively from July 1, the government has yet to release the final figures. Employee unions have urged the Department of Expenditure to expedite the process to include the arrears in October's salary.

Editor's note: Thoroughly covers the DA hike expectations, numbers, and background data from the text.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: Livemint Money