Bihar DA Hike for Employees has brought financial relief to state government staff and pensioners ahead of the Chhath festival.
The Bihar government has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) for employees covered under the 7th Pay Commission from 60% to 63%.
The decision was approved at a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on November 10, 2026.
The revised rates will be effective from July 1, 2026, allowing eligible employees and pensioners to receive the benefit for the previous months as well.
The announcement covers employees and pensioners under the 5th, 6th and 7th Pay Commission structures. Family pensioners will also benefit from the revised Dearness Relief (DR) rates.
Bihar DA Hike for Employees: New Rates Under 5th, 6th and 7th Pay Commissions
The Cabinet has approved different increases depending on the pay commission applicable to employees and pensioners. The revised rates are as follows:
Under the 7th Pay Commission, Dearness Allowance has increased from 60% to 63%, representing a rise of three percentage points.
For employees covered under the 6th Pay Commission, the DA rate has been increased from 262% to 269%, an increase of seven percentage points.
Meanwhile, employees and pensioners under the 5th Pay Commission will receive Dearness Allowance or Dearness Relief at 497%, compared with the earlier rate of 483%. This represents an increase of 14 percentage points.
These revised rates will apply to eligible state government employees, pensioners and family pensioners covered under the respective pay structures.
From When Will Employees Receive the Increased DA?
The revised Dearness Allowance rates will come into effect from July 1, 2026, even though the Cabinet approved the proposal in November.
This means eligible employees will also be entitled to the difference between the earlier and revised DA rates for the period covered by the retrospective implementation.
For government employees, the increase will be reflected in their eligible salary calculations. Pensioners and family pensioners will receive the corresponding benefit through revised Dearness Relief.
The decision comes just ahead of Chhath Puja, one of Bihar’s major festivals, when many families face additional household and travel expenses.
Other Important Decisions Approved by Bihar Cabinet
Apart from the DA revision, the Bihar Cabinet approved several other proposals covering government employees, education, infrastructure and technology.
One important decision concerns the implementation of the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme for regular employees of urban local bodies.
The scheme is intended to provide financial career progression to eligible employees who have spent several years working in the same position without regular promotion opportunities.
The Cabinet also approved the Bihar Ki Beti Startup Challenge Scheme to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among female students studying in higher educational institutions.
The initiative is designed to help students develop innovative ideas into practical business ventures.
The approved proposal provides for a maximum of 2,100 female beneficiaries, with an allocation of Rs 88.20 crore for four financial years from 2026-27 to 2029-30.
Another important proposal involves the Bihar Artificial Intelligence Mission, which aims to strengthen the state’s artificial intelligence ecosystem and encourage technology-related development.
The Cabinet also approved the Mukhyamantri Balika PhD Fellowship Scheme to encourage female students to pursue higher education and research.
Why the DA Increase Matters for Bihar Employees
Dearness Allowance is an important component of government employees’ salaries. It is revised periodically to help employees manage the impact of inflation and rising living costs.
For retired government employees, Dearness Relief serves a similar purpose by providing additional financial support through their pension payments.
The latest revision means eligible employees under the 7th Pay Commission will receive DA at 63% instead of 60%.
Those covered under older pay commission structures will also receive the benefit according to their respective revised rates.
The Bihar DA hike for employees and pensioners is therefore an important financial development, particularly because the revised rates apply retrospectively from July 1, 2026.
