DA Hike: Major announcement by the Rajasthan government ahead of Diwali; employees to receive the benefit of a bonus..

Ahead of Diwali, the Rajasthan government has provided significant relief to its lakhs of government employees and pensioners. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has approved a 3 percent increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR). Following this decision, state employees and pensioners will now receive a DA and DR of 63 percent, up from the previous 60 percent. This government decision will benefit over 7 lakh government employees and more than 5 lakh pensioners.

Increased DA to be effective from July 1, 2026

This hike in DA and DR, under the 7th Pay Commission, will be effective from July 1, 2026. Government employees will receive the increased DA in cash along with their salary for November 2026, with the payment scheduled for December.

Additionally, the arrears for the four-month period from July 1 to October 31, 2026, will be credited to the employees' General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts.

Pensioners to also benefit from the increased Dearness Relief

Pensioners in the state will also benefit from this decision by the Rajasthan government. They will receive the increased Dearness Relief (DR) in cash, effective from July 1, 2026. This 3 percent increase in DA and DR will impose an additional financial burden of approximately Rs 820 crore on the state government.

6 lakh employees to receive an ad-hoc bonus

Along with the increase in DA, the Rajasthan government has made another major announcement for employees ahead of Diwali. The government has approved an ad-hoc bonus for approximately 6 lakh eligible employees. The state government is expected to spend around Rs 406 crore on this bonus. Consequently, the combined impact of the DA/DR hike and the bonus will place an additional burden of approximately Rs 1,226 crore on the state exchequer.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that the state government is committed to protecting the interests and ensuring the welfare of its employees and pensioners. He emphasized that employees are a vital link in the state's development and good governance. Taking their contributions into account, the government is consistently making decisions in their interest.

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