Dearness Allowance
Current DA rate: 60% from 2026-01-01
Current Dearness Allowance for central government employees is 60%, effective 2026-01-01, per Department of Expenditure No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026, Department of Expenditure. Full DA history and what DA does to in-hand pay.
Last verified
Official order
“enhanced from 58% to 60% of the Basic Pay with effect from 1st January, 2026”
No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026, Department of Expenditure ↗DA history
| Effective from | DA rate | Office Memorandum |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | 60% | No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026 |
| 2025-07-01 | 58% | No. 1/4(i)/2025-E.II(B) dated 6 October 2025 (referenced in the 22 April 2026 OM) |
| 2025-01-01 | 55% | DoE OM effective 01.01.2025 |
| 2024-07-01 | 53% | Referenced as the prior rate in the OM effective 01.01.2025 ('enhanced from 53% to 55%') |
What DA does to in-hand pay: a worked example
For a Level 6 employee on ₹35,400 basic pay in a Class X city, the last DA increase alone moved illustrative monthly in-hand from ₹63,803 to ₹64,476 — a difference of ₹673, before any other change in their pay.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current DA rate?
- 60% of basic pay, effective from 2026-01-01. enhanced from 58% to 60% of the Basic Pay with effect from 1st January, 2026
- Will DA rise again before the 8th CPC?
- DA is revised twice a year (January and July) based on the All-India Consumer Price Index. It will keep rising under the 7th CPC formula until the 8th CPC's basic pay takes effect, at which point it restarts from a new base — see the calculator's 8th CPC scenario panel.
- Is DA paid on Transport Allowance too?
- Yes. The DA office memoranda state DA is also payable on Transport Allowance, at the same current rate.