New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- The All-India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) rose 1.2 points to 154.4 in August, 2026, the Labour Bureau under Ministry of Labour & Employment has reported. The inflation data is used to calculate the Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and offers an indication of how the DA could move in the January 2027 cycle.

Meanwhile, central government employees are awaiting the formal announcement of DA hike for the July 2026 cycle. Although the revised DA is effective from July 1, 2026, the government is yet to announce the next instalment, with employee bodies expecting the decision ahead of the festive season, according to a news report by Moneycontrol.

"The central government w...