Arunachal Pradesh raises DA and DR to 63% for employees and pensioners

Itanagar, Nov 6 (PTI) – The Arunachal Pradesh government announced a three-percentage-point rise in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for state government employees, pensioners and family pensioners, moving the rate from 60 per cent to 63 per cent. The increase is described as a Diwali bonanza and will be applied retroactively from 1 July 2026. Chief Minister Pema Khandu communicated the decision in a post on X on Friday, and the Nagaland Post reported the announcement.

Increase in dearness allowance and relief

In his social-media post, the chief minister wrote, “I am pleased to announce that the government of Arunachal Pradesh has approved a 3 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners and family pensioners, increasing the rate from 60 per cent to 63 per cent, with effect from 1st July 2026.” The statement also confirmed that the enhanced DA and DR will extend to All India Services (AIS) officers serving under the state government as well as central government employees on deputation to Arunachal Pradesh. The uniform application across these categories ensures that regular staff and deputed officers receive the same percentage increase.

Implementation and payment schedule

According to Khandu, arrears for the four-month period from July to October will be paid in cash and credited directly to the salary accounts of serving employees and the pension accounts of pensioners and family pensioners. The revised DA and DR will be disbursed together with the salary and pension for the month of November, meaning the higher allowance will appear in the next pay slip. The cash arrears will be processed through the existing payroll system, minimizing administrative delays. By applying the hike retroactively, the government aims to compensate beneficiaries for the period before the announcement.

Expected impact on beneficiaries

The chief minister added that the decision is expected to benefit a large number of serving government employees and pensioners in the state, providing them additional financial support ahead of the festive season. He emphasized that the measure aims to offer timely relief to families facing higher expenses during Diwali. By covering both state staff and deputed central personnel, the policy seeks to address cost-of-living pressures for a broad segment of the public-service workforce. Nagaland Post reported that the move aligns with the government’s effort to deliver financial assistance during a period of heightened consumer spending.