Central government employees and pensioners are still waiting for the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) hike due from January 1, 2026. The delay has now become a matter of concern, with employee representatives urging the government to act quickly.
Shiva Gopal Mishra, Secretary of the has written a letter to the Cabinet Secretary highlighting the issue. In his letter dated April 13, 2026, he pointed out that the DA/DR instalment is usually announced in the last week of March every year.
However, this year, there has been no official announcement so far, which has raised questions among employees and pensioners.
The letter mentions that the delay has led to growing unease and disappointment. Employees and pensioners are worried as they were , as per past practice.
DA and DR are important components of income, especially during times of rising prices. Any delay directly affects monthly budgets and financial planning.
Mishra has requested the Cabinet Secretary to intervene and ensure that the DA/DR instalment due from January 1, 2026, is declared without further delay.
The staff side has stressed that a timely announcement will help restore confidence and ease concerns among lakhs of central government employees and pensioners.
Meanwhile, there has been no official response from the government yet. Employees are now hoping that the issue will be addressed soon and that the pending DA/DR hike will be announced in the coming days.