If the DA hike is approved, it will be a major relief for over 50 lakh central government employees and 61 lakh pensioners who have been eagerly waiting for an increase in their salaries. The DA is a cost-of-living adjustment allowance paid to employees to help them cope with inflation.
The government had frozen the DA hike for central government employees and pensioners in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the situation improving, there has been pressure from employee unions to reinstate the DA hike.
The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a DA hike of 4% in January 2020, which was later increased to 3% in June 2020. If the government approves the DA hike today, it will be effective from January 1, 2022, and employees will receive the arrears for the months of January, February, and March.
The DA hike will also have an impact on the state government employees who receive DA as per the central government's recommendation. It is expected to boost consumer demand and help revive the economy, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
Central government employees have been eagerly waiting for the announcement, and it is expected to bring some relief to their financial woes. The decision will be closely watched by employee unions and pensioners' associations, who have been demanding the restoration of the DA hike for several months.
Overall, the announcement of the DA hike will be a welcome relief for central government employees and pensioners who have been struggling with rising inflation and the economic impact of the pandemic.
