New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- Central government employees and pensioners are still waiting for the Centre to announce the next Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) hike, due with effect from July 1, 2026.

The Union Cabinet meeting held on October 14 did not bring an announcement, leaving employees looking to previous years for clues about when the decision might come.

With Dussehra falling on October 20 and Diwali on November 8, expectations are building around a possible announcement during the festive season.

However, while past revisions have often been announced between late September and October, the government has not confirmed a date for the 2026 hike.

The Centre generally revises DA and DR twice a year, with the increases...