New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- Central government employees awaiting the next dearness allowance (DA) revision will have to wait longer. The Union Cabinet met on Wednesday, October 14, but did not announce an increase effective from July 1, 2026. It cleared two other proposals: a bonus for railway employees and continuation of a social assistance programme.

DA is an inflation-linked component of pay for central government employees. Dearness relief (DR), its counterpart, is paid to eligible pensioners. Both help cushion the impact of inflation.

The government generally revises DA twice a year, with changes taking effect from January 1 and July 1. The January revision is typically announced in March or April, while the July revision is usually an...