Central government employees are still waiting for the announcement of Dearness Allowance (DA) for the second half of 2026.
While the Centre has not yet made any announcement, some state governments have already started providing DA hikes to their employees.
In a recent move, the Himachal Pradesh government approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance for employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation (HPSFDCL).
The revised DA will be effective from April 1, 2025. Apart from this, the government has also approved a bonus for 175 employees whose monthly salary is up to Rs 21,000.
Himachal Government Approves Multiple Benefits
The decision was taken during the 216th meeting of the Board of Directors chaired by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.
The board also approved the regularization of daily wage workers who have completed at least 240 working days in each of the last four years.
This decision follows the Himachal Pradesh government’s notification issued on April 1, 2026.
In addition, eligible contract employees will also be regularized according to the state government’s policy.
The board further approved an increase in minimum wages for different categories of workers. The daily wage rate has been increased from Rs 425 to Rs 450, effective from April 1, 2026.
When Will Central Government Employees Get DA Hike?
Meanwhile, central government employees and pensioners are waiting for the Dearness Allowance revision for the July-December 2026 period.
Based on previous trends, the government is expected to announce the revised DA around September or October this year.
Earlier in April 2026, the Finance Ministry approved a 2% DA hike, increasing the allowance from 58% to 60% of basic pay with effect from January 1, 2026.
The previous increase benefited around 50 lakh central government employees and nearly 65 lakh pensioners, including retired defence and railway personnel.
How Much DA Increase Is Expected This Time?
The final decision on the next DA hike will depend on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) data for June 2026, which is yet to be released.
According to available data, the AICPI-IW stood at 149.1 in March 2026, increased to 149.9 in April, and further rose to 150.8 in May.
Experts estimate that the June 2026 index could reach around 151.7. Based on current trends and calculations, central government employees may expect a DA increase of around 3% to 4%.
However, the final hike will depend on the official June AICPI-IW figures and approval from the central government.
