New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- Central government employees and pensioners are awaiting the announcement of the July 2026 Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) hike. The Union Cabinet meeting held on 14 October 2026 did not bring an update on the revision, leaving employees waiting for clarity on the next instalment.

DA is a cost-of-living adjustment paid to central government employees to help offset the impact of inflation. Pensioners receive a corresponding benefit known as Dearness Relief (DR). Both are calculated as a percentage of basic pay or pension.

According to a Ministry of Finance release dated 18 April 2026, the Union Cabinet approved a 2% increase in DA and DR, effective from 1 January 2026. This took the rate from 58% t...