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DA Hike Expected Before Dussehra: Central Government Employees Await 3-4% Increase
M
Moneycontrol•01-10-2026, 21:27
DA Hike Expected Before Dussehra: Central Government Employees Await 3-4% Increase
  • •Central government employees anticipate a Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for the July 2026 cycle, likely to be announced before Dussehra.
  • •The All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) for August 2026 rose to 154.4, influencing future DA calculations.
  • •Employee unions, including the All India NPS Employees Federation and the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, are urging an early announcement.
  • •The DA is expected to increase by 3-4 percentage points, raising the current rate from 60% to 63-64%, benefiting nearly 50 lakh employees and 69 lakh pensioners.
  • •The final DA rate will depend on the government's decision regarding rounding the calculated percentage.

Key Questions Answered

The central government may announce the Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for the July 2026 cycle before Dussehra, with employee unions estimating the announcement around the festival period.

Based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) data, central government employees and pensioners are expected to receive a 3 to 4 percent DA and DR hike, which would raise the rate from 60 percent to 63 or 64 percent.

The upcoming Dearness Allowance revision will benefit nearly 50 lakh serving central government employees and about 69 lakh pensioners.