Rajasthan govt approves 2 pc DA hike; 12.46 lakh to benefit
Jaipur, April 23
Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the State government has approved a 2 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for state employees and pensioners.
With this revision, the Dearness Allowance under the 7th Pay Commission has been increased from 58 per cent to 60 per cent, effective from January 1, 2026.
The decision is expected to benefit approximately 7.02 lakh employees and 5.44 lakh pensioners across the state.
Employees of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads will also be covered under this enhancement.
As per the order, state employees will receive the revised Dearness Allowance in cash along with their May 2026 salary, payable in June 2026.
In addition, arrears for the period from January 1 to April 30, 2026, will be credited to the employees' General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts.
Pensioners, on the other hand, will receive the enhanced Dearness Relief in cash, effective from January 1, 2026, ensuring immediate financial benefit.
The decision reflects the State government's continued commitment to safeguarding the financial interests and welfare of its employees and pensioners, especially in the context of rising living costs.
By revising the Dearness Allowance, the government aims to provide relief against inflation and support household expenditures. This increase will place an additional annual financial burden of approximately Rs 1,156 crore on the State exchequer.
Despite the fiscal implications, the government has prioritised employee welfare and timely financial support.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet approved a 2 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, raising it from 58 per cent to 60 per cent. The revision will take effect from January 1, bringing arrears for employees and pensioners.
The move is expected to benefit over 1.17 crore people and cost the government Rs 6,791 crore annually. This hike will benefit around 49.19 lakh central government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners.
Since the revised rate will be effective from January 1 this year, both groups will receive arrears for the past months.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some relief for pensioners! My father is a retired teacher and he's been struggling with rising costs 😊 Arrears going to GPF is interesting, at least savings are happening.
Interesting that Rajasthan is following central government pattern. 1156 crore burden on state finances is significant though. Hope other states also announce similar hikes for their employees.
As a government employee in Rajasthan, this is welcome news! But Rs 1156 crore additional burden - where will this money come from? Hope they maintain development projects too. 🧐
Good to see they're including Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad employees too. Usually these grassroots workers are forgotten. But 2% seems low compared to actual cost of living.
Central government covering 1.17 crore people is massive! 6,791 crore annual cost shows the scale of employee benefits in India. Always interesting to compare state vs central policies.
My mother is a pensioner and this news made her day! But why only 2% when prices of everything have gone up by at least 15-20%? Still, every rupee counts. Thankful for small mercies 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.