Central Employees Eye 63% DA Hike from Jan 2026 as 7th Pay Commission Concludes

• The All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) for Nov 2025 was 148.2, crucial for Dearness Allowance (DA) calculation.
• Central government employees anticipate a 3-5% DA hike effective January 2026, with an official announcement expected by March-April 2026.
• Employee unions estimate DA could reach 61-63% based on the AICPI-IW for November/December 2025.
• The 7th Pay Commission officially ended on December 31, 2025, without a basic pay increase for employees.
• The 8th Pay Commission, established in Nov 2025, is expected to recommend a fitment factor in 18 months, after which DA will merge with basic pay.

Why It Matters: Central govt employees await significant DA hike from Jan 2026 as 7th Pay Commission concludes.