DA Hike: Central Govt Employees, Pensioners to Get Over 60% DA; Arrears from Jan 1, 2026

• Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and pensioners is set to officially cross 60%, effective January 1, 2026.
• The DA hike is confirmed by the stable Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) data for December 2025, which reached 60.35% (rounded to 60%).
• The official announcement is expected in March 2026, with arrears for January and February to be paid.
• DA is calculated using a formula under the 7th Pay Commission, based on the average of the past twelve months' CPI-IW data.
• A DA increase from 58% to 60% means an additional Rs. 1,000 per month for an employee with a Rs. 50,000 basic salary, and Rs. 600-700 for pensioners.