DA Hike: Central government employees aren’t likely to see any changes in their salaries for April. Actually, it was anticipated that the government would reveal a rise in dearness allowance (DA) in the early days of April. But, a decision regarding the DA hasn’t been made yet. If it had, the April salaries for central government employees would have reflected the DA increase, along with three months’ worth of arrears. Let’s dive into the details.
Three months’ worth of arrears
Typically, the DA decision, which is made every year around Holi in March, applies to the January-June half of the year. As a result, the salary that central government employees receive on March 30th or 31st would include arrears for January and February. These arrears come from the DA hike. However, this time, there was no DA increase for the first 16 days of April. Hence, it’s believed that any DA hike will cover arrears for three months, specifically for January, February, and March.
What can we expect for the DA increase?
According to the formula set by the 7th Pay Commission, DA increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-IW). Based on current projections, employees might see an increase of about 2 percentage points, raising their pay to around 60% of their basic salary, up from the current 58%.
On the other hand, some employees are hoping for a 3 percent DA increase. If this happens, it would push the DA up to 61%. It’s important to remember that the central government adjusts DA and DR twice a year—in January and July—to help counteract inflation. While these changes take effect in those months, they are usually announced later.
Writing to the government?
In a letter dated April 13, 2026, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary of the National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), reached out to the Cabinet Secretary, bringing attention to the issue and asking for prompt action. In the letter, Mishra pointed out that the DA increase is generally announced in the last week of March each year. The letter stated that the government has not yet announced the DA due from 1/1/2026 this year.
This has caused resentment and concern among central government employees and pensioners. They also urged the government to expedite the process, stating, “We request you to intervene in this matter and arrange for the announcement of the DA installment due from 1/1/2026 without further delay.”
