The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state employees, raising it from 60% to 63% of basic pay. The revised rate will be effective from July 1, 2026, according to a government order issued on Saturday.
The decision is expected to benefit lakhs of government employees across Uttar Pradesh and provide additional financial support during the Diwali festive season, PTI reported.
UP DA Hike 2026: Who Will Receive the Benefit?
The latest DA revision will cover several categories of employees working under the Uttar Pradesh government.
Eligible beneficiaries include state government employees, staff working in aided educational and technical institutions, regular and full-time employees of urban local bodies, and work-charged employees.
Employees working under University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales will also be covered by the revised DA rates, according to the report.
When Will Employees Receive the Increased DA and Arrears?
As reported by PTI, employees will receive the revised DA for October along with their regular November 2026 salary.
Meanwhile, an ANI report stated that arrears for the period from July to September 2026 will be transferred separately to employees’ provident fund (PF) accounts.
Since the revised DA is effective from July 1, eligible employees will receive the applicable arrears for the earlier months as per the government’s payment arrangements.
UP Police Recruitment: 4,543 Sub-Inspectors and Platoon Commanders Get Appointment Letters
In another development, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath distributed appointment letters to 4,543 newly selected Sub-Inspectors and Platoon Commanders in Lucknow.
Sharing the announcement on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Chief Minister said the appointments were made through a fair and transparent recruitment process under the state’s ‘Mission Rozgar’ initiative.
The appointment letters were handed over to the newly selected candidates at an event in Lucknow, ANI reported.
DA Hike Announcements by Central and State Governments Before Diwali 2026
Dearness Allowance is calculated as a percentage of an employee’s basic salary. It is intended to help government employees manage the impact of inflation and rising living expenses.
Under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) framework, the central government generally revises DA twice a year. These revisions are based on changes in the All-India Consumer Price Index (AICPI).
The announcements are usually made around March and October, with revised rates taking effect from January and July, respectively.
Before Diwali 2026, the Centre announced a 2% DA increase in April, raising the rate from 58% to 60% with effect from January 1, 2026. The increase benefited more than one crore central government employees and pensioners, including approximately 48.54 lakh employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners.
Several state governments also announced DA increases ahead of Diwali. These included:
- Himachal Pradesh: 5% increase.
- Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat: 3% increase each.
- Karnataka: 2.5% increase.
- Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala: 2% increase each.
The Uttar Pradesh government’s latest decision adds another state to the list of governments announcing DA relief for employees during the festive period.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information reported by PTI and ANI and is intended for general informational purposes. DA eligibility, revised payment dates and arrears arrangements are subject to official government orders. Employees should refer to the Uttar Pradesh government’s notifications for confirmation of applicable benefits.