New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- Nearly a month after the Labour Bureau released the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) data for June 2026, central government employees are still waiting for the Ministry of Finance to officially announce the next Dearness Allowance (DA) hike.

Based on the latest inflation readings, the DA is estimated to rise by 3%, bringing the total allowance to 63%.

The announcement is expected imminently, likely ahead of Dussehra.

According to a recent ET Wealth report, MS Vengatesan, secretary general of the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers (CCGEW), has formally urged the Finance Ministry to expedite the process.

Manjeet Singh Patel, president of the All India New Pension Scheme Employees' Federa...