7th Pay Commission: Centre to Release 18-Month DA Arrears for Government Employees Ahead of Diwali? Check Details
In a significant boost for central government employees, the Union Government is expected to release the long-awaited 18-month Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) arrears, which were withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic, before the Diwali festival on 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
New Delhi, October 10: In a significant boost for central government employees, the Union Government is expected to release the long-awaited 18-month Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) arrears, which were withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic, before the Diwali festival on 7th Pay Commission recommendations. According to reports, over 70 lakh employees will receive the arrears, which were paused due to the financial crunch caused by the pandemic.
The arrears cover three installments—January 2020, July 2020, and January 2021—that were halted. This move comes after earlier statements from Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, during the monsoon session of Parliament, where he indicated that no decision had yet been made regarding the arrears. However, reports suggest that the Centre is now planning to release the funds by Dussehra on 7th pay commission recommendations, though no official announcement has been made yet. 7th Pay Commission: Central Government Employees Likely To Get DA Hike Ahead of Diwali 2024, Say Reports.
Along with the arrears, the Narendra Modi government is also reportedly considering a 3 to 4 percent hike in the DA on 7th pay commission recommendations, which would increase the allowance to 53% of the salary. The hike is expected to be approved in an upcoming Cabinet meeting before Diwali. Speculation suggests the hike will be applied retroactively from July 2024, providing employees with three months of additional arrears. 7th Pay Commission Update: How Much DA Hike Can Central Govt Employees Expect Ahead of Diwali? Check Details.
The DA, revised twice a year under the 7th Pay Commission, is expected to see its second hike of the year in late October or early November. This increase, combined with the release of the 18-month arrears, will bring significant financial relief to central government employees ahead of the festive season.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2024 09:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).