PATNA, Nov. 8 -- The state government is all set to enhance the dearness allowance of state employees by 3% from 60% to 63% with the approval likely to come in the cabinet meeting next week, which would enable around 1 million employees to get an enhanced salary by end of this month. Officials aware of the matter said that the proposal for enhancing the dearness allowance (DA) has already been sent to the cabinet department from the finance department and it is likely to be placed for approval in the next cabinet meeting. The retired personnel would also be benefitted with the enhanced DA as the pension would be also increased from this month. The hike in DA is expected to cost the state exchequer around Rs.100 crore every month with the government likely to spend around Rs.800 crore for the enhanced DA from July to February 2027. The proposed enhancement of DA will be effective from July this year and employees would be getting arrears for the month of July, August, September and October, officials said. At present, the salary and pension bill of the state government stands around Rs.10,000 crore every month, including those of the regular government employees, contractual staff and those getting salaries in various institutions through grants, officials said. Meanwhile, the state government has received advance instalment of Rs.10,845 crore this month as part of another instalment of central devolutions promised to the state government. Chief minister Samrat Choudhary has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the disbursement of the advance instalment of Rs.10,845 crore in the festive month ahead of Diwali and Chhath, stating that the disbursement was a major gift for the state in the festive month and expressed how the amount would help the state's financial needs and development works. He said the amount would help in expansion of infrastructure, the running of public welfare schemes and the development projects underway in the state. Officials said the state government has so far received Rs.1 lakh crore as central devolutions as against promised Rs.1.51 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2026-27, which would give a boost to the government to fast track development works in the coming months after the rainy season when earth related works usually are suspended. "There are chances the amount of devolutions may increase in February and March after the review of the total collections from taxes by the union government in January 2027 before the union budget. It is likely there would be hike in the devolutions , which would be benefit the state," said an official in the state government. Meanwhile, the state government has also decided to launch a statewide Chhath puja awareness drive from November 10 to 16, with traditional folk songs, publicity jingles and welcome gates planned across the state to mark the grand festival of faith....