Will the central government announce a dearness allowance increase today, October 28th? Find out what might happen in today's meeting, what the expected DA increase from 60% to 63% is, and what impact it will have on salaries.

DA Hike Today 2026: Dearness Allowance announced today

Central government employees and pensioners have been waiting for a long-awaited increase in their dearness allowance (DA). All eyes are now on the meeting scheduled for today, October 28th. The Union Cabinet is meeting today, where a decision on the DA increase is expected. However, the government has not yet officially confirmed the announcement.

In such a situation, the question arises: will employees receive the good news of a dearness allowance increase today, or will they have to wait longer? Let's understand what updates have emerged regarding DA so far.

Will a decision on DA be announced today?
The central government typically revises dearness allowance (DA) twice a year. The first revision comes into effect in January and the second in July. This time, the DA increase, which will take effect in July 2026, is yet to be announced.

Employees had hoped a decision would be reached during the last cabinet meeting in October, but that didn't happen. Now, all eyes are on today's potential meeting. However, a cabinet meeting doesn't necessarily mean a decision on DA will be made today. The government has not yet announced a firm date.

How much could the DA increase?
According to media reports, this time the DA could increase by 3 percent. If the government approves this proposal, employees' dearness allowance could increase from the current 60% to 63%. However, this is just an estimate. The exact increase in DA will only be clear after the government approves the new rate.

How much will the benefit be on a basic salary of 18,000?
If DA increases from 60% to 63%, employees will receive additional money based on their basic salary. For example, if an employee's basic salary is 18,000 rupees, then at 60% DA, they currently receive 10,800 rupees in dearness allowance. If DA increases to 63%, this amount will become 11,340 rupees. This means they will receive 540 rupees more each month.

Will arrears be paid if implemented from July?
If the DA increase is implemented from July 1, 2026, employees may receive the difference between the new rate and the old rate as arrears. However, the exact date and manner of disbursement of arrears will only be clarified by an official government order. Changes in dearness allowance (DA) for pensioners are also expected.