DA hike 2026: How much salary will rise for Level 1–18 employees after 2% increase
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2% DA hike approved for central government employees
The Union Cabinet has approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) on April 18, 2026. With this revision, DA rises from 58% to 60%. Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners has also been increased to 60%.
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Salary increase for Level 1 to Level 6 employees
The table above shows the monthly salary increase for employees in Level 1 to Level 6 after the 2% DA hike.
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Salary increase for Level 7 to Level 12 employees
The table above highlights the revised monthly salary gains for employees in Level 7 to Level 12 due to the DA hike.
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Salary increase for Level 13 to Level 18 employees
The table above shows the salary increase across senior pay levels (Level 13 to Level 18) following the DA revision.
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How DA is calculated under 7th Pay Commission
This increase is implemented under the 7th Pay Commission framework, as the 8th Pay Commission recommendations are yet to be rolled out.
Dearness Allowance is calculated based on the 12-month average of the AICPI-IW (All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers). For the January 2026 hike, data from January 2025 to December 2025 has been considered.
Dearness Allowance is calculated based on the 12-month average of the AICPI-IW (All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers). For the January 2026 hike, data from January 2025 to December 2025 has been considered.
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DA hike effective date and arrears
The revised DA is applicable from January 2026, and employees and pensioners will receive arrears for the previous months.