Good news: Govt to up DA to 107%

Government is likely to approve a hike in dearness allowance (DA) to 107 per cent from the existing 100 per cent, benefiting around 30 lakh Centre’s employees and its 50 lakh pensioners including dependents. ‘The average rate of retail inflation for industrial workers from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 works out to be 7.25 per cent. Thus the Central government will hike dearness allowance for its employees by 7 per cent,’ an official said.

He said the finance ministry will now put a Cabinet proposal for approval of 7 per cent DA hike from July 1 this year as the revised Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers data for June was released by labour ministry on Saturday. 

With increase in DA, the pensioners will also gain as the benefit provided to them as dearness relief will be hiked to 107 per cent of basic pay. The previous UPA government had increased DA to 100 per cent from 90 per cent with effect from 1 January 2014 on 28 February on the basis of agreed formula for revision of the allowance.