7th Pay Commission , DA Hike 2024 : After a long wait, the central government employees got good news of a salary hike. In the Union Cabinet meeting today (16 October 2024), a 3% increase in DA of central employees was approved. Modi government announced a 3% increase in dearness allowance (DA) before Diwali. This increase will be considered effective from 1 July 2024. At present DA is 50%, after a 3% increase in it, it has become 53%. This increase in dearness allowance means that more than 1 crore central government employees and pensioners are expected to get the salary for the month of October along with the increased DA as well as three months arrears.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Union Cabinet has approved a 3% hike in DA for central government employees and dearness relief for pensioners. A total of Rs 9448 crore will be added annually to the salary of central government employees.

Similarly, the announcement of the DA hike in July goes till Diwali. After the three percent DA hike, the basic salary of an entry-level government employee is expected to increase by Rs 540 every month. This decision of the government will provide relief to about one crore central employees and pensioners. Employees are also expected to get arrears in July, August, and September. The DA hike was expected after the Union Cabinet meeting on October 9. However, central employees and pensioners had to wait a little longer for this amendment.

The Centre hikes dearness allowance (DA) twice a year which comes into effect from January and July. However, the announcements are usually made around March and September. The DA hike in January is usually announced around Holi, which falls in March. The hike in July is announced around Diwali, which usually falls in October or November every year.

The hike in dearness allowance in July this year has been delayed a lot. It was earlier expected that it would be announced before the Haryana elections which took place on October 5. However, that did not happen, and the hike was announced a few days before Diwali, which will be celebrated on October 31 this year. Dearness allowance is an important part of the salary of government employees, which is aimed at reducing the impact of inflation. It is determined based on the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI), which monitors retail price changes.

Apart from this, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai on Wednesday announced that the dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees will be increased by 4% ahead of Diwali and the festive season. This will make it 50% of the basic salary. This increase will be effective from October 1.