Government employees in Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh have received good news ahead of Diwali, with both state governments announcing increases in Dearness Allowance (DA). Arunachal Pradesh has also revised Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners.
Several other states have already announced similar revisions. Meanwhile, the central government increased DA for its employees by 3 percentage points in the latest revision.
Karnataka DA Hike: Allowance Increased to 18%
The Karnataka government announced a 2.5 percentage point increase in Dearness Allowance on November 5. Following this revision, the DA rate for state government employees has risen to 18%.
The revised allowance will be effective retrospectively from July 1. Employees will therefore receive the benefit from the announced effective date, subject to the government’s applicable payment arrangements.
Arunachal Pradesh Raises DA and DR by 3%
The Arunachal Pradesh government has approved a 3 percentage point increase in DA and DR. With this revision, the allowance rate for state employees and pensioners has reached 63%.
The revised rates will also apply from July 1, 2026. Chief Minister Pema Khandu shared the announcement through a post on social media.
Central Government Employees Receive 3% DA Increase
The central government generally revises Dearness Allowance twice a year, with changes linked to the January and July cycles.
In January 2026, DA was increased by 2 percentage points. A further increase of 3 percentage points was announced in the July cycle, taking the total DA rate for central government employees to 63%.
Several States Have Announced DA and DR Revisions
Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh are the latest states to announce increases in DA and DR ahead of the festive season.
Tamil Nadu was among the first states to revise the allowance for its employees. Rajasthan, Haryana and Chhattisgarh have also announced increases in DA and DR for their respective employees and pensioners.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only. The DA and DR rates, effective dates and payment details are based on the information provided and may be subject to official government orders. Employees and pensioners should refer to their respective state government notifications or department announcements for confirmation.