Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) benefits for central government employees and pensioners have been increased from 17% to 28% with effect from July 1, 2021, Union minister Anurag Thakur announced on Wednesday. At least three additional instalments of DA to central government employees and DR to pensioners were due from January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021. "In view of the unprecedented situation, which arose due to the Covid-19 pandemic, three additional instalments of Dearness Allowance to the central government employees and Dearness Relief to the pensioners... were due," Thakur said. The decision will impact around 48,34,000 central government employees and 65,26,000 pensioners, the minister said. The rate of DA and DR for the period January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, will remain unchanged at 17%.

Source: Hindustan Times July 14, 2021 10:24 UTC