Cabinet clears 3% DA hike for 1.17 crore staff, pensioners

The Union Cabinet on October 28 approved a 3% increase in dearness allowance and dearness relief for central government employees and pensioners, effective from July 1, 2026. Announced by minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ahead of Diwali, the decision benefits 48.54 lakh employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners, taking the total number of beneficiaries to over 1.17 crore.