Thu Oct 17 08:50:16 UTC 2024: ## Central Government Announces 3% DA Hike for Employees and Pensioners, Effective July 2024
**New Delhi:** In a festive cheer ahead of Diwali, the central government has announced a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for its over 1 crore employees and pensioners. The hike, effective from July 1, 2024, will boost the salaries and pensions of government officials by 3% and take the total DA to 53%.
The decision, which will cost the government an additional ₹9,448.35 crore annually, was approved by the Union Cabinet on October 16, 2024. This means that government employees will receive arrears for the months of July, August, and September, along with their October salary.
The DA hike aims to alleviate the financial burden of inflation on government employees and pensioners. The increase is calculated based on the current basic salary or pension and will be disbursed accordingly. For instance, an employee with a basic salary of ₹50,000 will receive an additional ₹1,500 per month, totaling ₹6,000 for October, including the three-month arrears.
The DA is a significant component of an employee’s salary and is adjusted periodically by the government to reflect changes in inflation and living expenses. This increase will benefit a total of 49.18 lakh central government employees and 64.89 lakh pensioners, bringing much-needed relief during the festive season.
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