Government employees and pensioners in several states are set to receive a salary and pension boost after fresh Dearness Allowance (DA) hikes announced this week. Bihar, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have revised DA rates for employees, teachers and pensioners under different pay commission structures, with the new rates effective from January 1, 2026.
The latest decisions are expected to benefit lakhs of employees and retirees, while more states may announce similar revisions in the coming weeks.
Here is a state-wise look at the latest DA hikes, revised rates and key details.
Bihar DA hike: Revised allowance rates announced for employees, pensioners
The Bihar government has approved a Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) hike for state government employees and pensioners, giving a salary and pension boost to lakhs of beneficiaries.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in Patna.
New DA rates in Bihar
- 7th Pay Commission employees: DA raised from 58 per cent to 60 per cent
- 6th Pay Commission employees and pensioners: DA/DR increased from 257 per cent to 262 per cent
- 5th Pay Commission employees and pensioners: DA/DR increased from 474 per cent to 483 per cent
The revised rates will come into effect from January 1, 2026. The DA revision is among the first major financial decisions taken by the new Bihar government after assuming office in April.
Odisha DA hike: Govt raises allowance by 2%
The Odisha government has also announced a 2 percentage point increase in Dearness Allowance for state government employees and pensioners.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the DA has been revised from 58 per cent to 60 per cent.
Key details of Odisha DA hike
- Revised DA: 60 per cent
- Earlier DA: 58 per cent
- Effective from: January 1, 2026
- Beneficiaries: Around 8.5 lakh employees and pensioners
The revised DA will be paid with the May salary, while pensioners will receive the increased temporary increase (TI) along with their May pension.
Tamil Nadu DA hike: Employees, teachers to get higher DA from January 1
The Tamil Nadu government has increased Dearness Allowance for government employees and teachers by 2 percentage points, providing another round of relief amid rising inflation.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced that the DA has been raised from 58 per cent to 60 per cent with effect from January 1, 2026.
Revised DA rates in Tamil Nadu
- New DA rate: 60 per cent
- Previous DA rate: 58 per cent
- Effective date: January 1, 2026
- Beneficiaries: Around 16 lakh employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners
The Tamil Nadu government said the DA revision will lead to an additional annual expenditure of Rs 1,230 crore.
West Bengal DA hike: Govt to discuss DA, 7th Pay Commission
The West Bengal government is expected to discuss Dearness Allowance and implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission during a cabinet meeting scheduled for May 18.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said several important issues related to employees and pensioners will be discussed during the meeting. West Bengal government employees currently receive 22 per cent DA after a recent 4 percentage point increase announced in the interim Budget earlier this year.
However, employees have continued to demand DA at par with central government staff. The gap remains because West Bengal employees are still covered under the 6th Pay Commission structure, while central government employees are under the 7th Pay Commission.
What is Dearness Allowance?
Dearness Allowance is a cost-of-living adjustment paid to government employees and pensioners to offset the impact of inflation. It is revised periodically by the Centre and state governments based on inflation trends and pay commission recommendations.
