Punjab government employees and pensioners have received a Diwali gift from the Bhagwant Mann-led government. The state has announced a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA), benefiting around 8 lakh employees and pensioners.
With this latest revision, the DA rate in Punjab has increased to 53%. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made the announcement ahead of Diwali, adding that the government remains committed to addressing the concerns of its employees.
Punjab Government Raises DA to 53%
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recalled that when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government took office in 2022, Punjab government employees were receiving DA at a rate of 28%.
The latest 3% increase follows an earlier 8% revision announced by the state government. Together, these changes represent an 11-percentage-point increase over the past two months.
The announcement is expected to provide financial relief to a large number of state government employees and pensioners.
Government Says 71,777 Jobs Have Been Provided
Speaking about employment opportunities, Mann said the Punjab government has provided 71,777 government jobs to young people. He stated that recruitment has been carried out transparently and on the basis of merit.
The Chief Minister also assured employees that the government is open to hearing their concerns and demands. He encouraged them to approach the administration whenever they need to discuss workplace-related issues.
DA Hikes Announced by Other State Governments
Several state governments have also revised Dearness Allowance rates ahead of Diwali 2026. These include Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have announced 3% DA increases, while Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have approved increases of 2% each.
These revisions are aimed at providing additional financial support to eligible state government employees and pensioners.
Central Government Employees Now Get 63% DA
The Central Government has also approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance for its employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners. Following the revision, the rate has increased from 60% to 63% of basic pay or pension, effective from July 1, 2026.
The decision was approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the government, the increase will benefit around 48.54 lakh central government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners.
The Cabinet also approved development and welfare initiatives worth ₹29,267 crore on Wednesday.