DA hike news: Has the government announced 3% DA hike for central government employees today?

The central government has announced a 3% dearness allowance (DA) hike for July 2026. After missing several expected announcements in October, employees finally get the DA hike today.
With a 3-percentage-point DA hike, a Level 1 employee who was receiving approximately Rs 10,800 as DA at 60% will now receive Rs 11,340, an increase of Rs 540.

The revised DA rate of 63% will apply for July–December 2026. Employees are likely to receive DA arrears for July to October along with their salary at the end of November, as the salary calculation cycle runs from the 15th of one month to the 15th of the next.

The government has announced a 3 percentage-point hike in DA, taking the rate from 60% to 63%. The calculation is based on average retail inflation from July 2025 to June 2026.

DA is calculated as a percentage of basic pay, so an increase raises an employee’s salary. Transport allowance (TPTA), another salary component linked to DA, also increases. With the government announcing a hike from 60% to 63%, here’s how a Level 5 central government employee with a basic pay of Rs 29,200 could benefit.

For an employee with a basic pay of Rs 29,200:

• Monthly increase in DA: Rs 876
• Additional transport allowance in a higher TPTA city: Approximately Rs 108

The calculation assumes the announced 3-percentage-point DA hike, from 60% to 63%. The actual increase in transport allowance depends on the applicable TPTA category and rules.