DA-DR Hike: Good news for government employees. Before 8th Pay Commission implementation, Sikkim government employees have received positive news as Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has declared a 2% rise in dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for state employees and retirees. This announcement was made on August 15th at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok during the 80th Independence Day celebrations.
Key points to note:
– The increase will be effective from January 1, 2026, with arrears to be paid before the 2026 Dashain festival.
– Previously, the allowance stood at 58%, and with this new increase, it will reach 60%.
Who benefits from this increase?
– This decision directly impacts all eligible Sikkim government employees and retirees.
– While working employees receive DA, retired employees get DR.
– The raise in salary will vary for each individual, as DA is based on the employee’s basic salary, and DR is based on the retiree’s basic pension.
Understanding Dearness Allowance (DA):
– DA is provided by the government to help employees and retirees cope with inflation.
– It is calculated as a percentage of the basic salary or pension, leading to varying amounts credited to each individual based on their salary.
Central government update:
The central government has also approved an increase in DA and DR from 58% to 60%, effective January 1, 2026, specifically for central government employees.
The central government increases employees’ DA and DR twice each year. The last increase was 2 percent for central employees, which resulted in a 58 percent increase in dearness allowance (DA) to 60 percent. It’s worth noting that central employees’ DA increases occur in January and July. The government has announced the DA for January 2026, but has not yet announced the DA for July. The government is expected to announce the July DA around Diwali. Indian Railways has also increased the DA and DR of its employees by 2 percent.
DA increased by 20% in West Bengal
The state government led by Suvendu Adhikari has increased the DA of employees by 20 percent. This has now increased the DA to 38 percent. Employees in Bengal will receive this increased DA from October. The governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have also increased their DA by 2 percent.