Uttarakhand Government Approves 3% DA Hike for State Employees Ahead of Diwali | Uttarakhand News Network

In a festive gift ahead of Diwali, the Uttarakhand government has approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given his approval to the proposal, raising the DA rate from 60% to 63%. The revised Dearness Allowance will be effective from July 1, 2026, bringing relief to thousands of eligible employees across the state. DA Hike in Line with Central Government Decision The decision follows the Central Government’s announcement of a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance for employees covered under the Seventh Central Pay Commission. With the latest revision, the DA rate for central government employees has also increased to 63%, effective July 1, 2026. Following the Centre’s decision, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami approved a similar increase for Uttarakhand government employees, ensuring that eligible state employees receive DA at the same rate as their central government counterparts. Who Will Benefit from the DA Increase? The benefit of the revised Dearness Allowance will extend beyond regular state government employees. Eligible employees working in the following institutions and organisations will also receive the increased DA: Uttarakhand state government departments. Local bodies. Government-aided educational institutions. State government universities. Technical educational institutions. Employees covered under UGC pay scales. The decision is expected to provide financial relief to a large number of eligible employees across different sectors. Arrears to Be Paid in Cash from July 2026 According to the approval granted by Chief Minister Dhami, eligible employees will receive the difference in Dearness Allowance for the period between July 1 and October 31, 2026, as arrears. The arrears for these four months will be paid in cash, providing additional financial benefits to employees ahead of the festive season. Employees’ Association Had Raised the Demand The DA hike proposal came after the Uttarakhand State Employees’ Joint Council raised the issue with the state government. On November 4, Arun Pandey, state president of the Uttarakhand State Employees’ Joint Council, met RK Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. During the meeting, Pandey requested the government to increase the DA rate for state employees to 63%, in line with the Central Government’s decision. The employees’ association had urged the state government to extend the same benefit to Uttarakhand employees following the Centre’s announcement. With Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami approving the proposal, state employees are set to receive the revised 63% Dearness Allowance along with cash arrears for the applicable period.