Service Rules Assistant Open the Assistant

Articles / Pay and Allowances

DA Rate for Central Government Employees: Current and History

Central Government civilian employees in the 7th CPC revised pay structure. Pensioners get Dearness Relief (DR). Railway and Armed Forces employees are covered by separate orders.Checked against official documents on 4 Oct 2026

Short answerDearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees in the 7th CPC pay structure is 60% of basic pay with effect from 1 January 2026. The Department of Expenditure raised it from 58% by OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026. Railway and Armed Forces employees get separate orders.

Current DA Rate

Your DA is 60% of basic pay with effect from 1 January 2026 (DoE OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22.04.2026). The previous rate was 58% (DoE OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22.04.2026).

This order covers central government employees under the 7th CPC revised pay structure. Separate orders apply to Armed Forces and Railway employees (DoE OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22.04.2026).

Pensioners and family pensioners get Dearness Relief (DR) instead of DA. DR is also 60% of basic pension or family pension from 1 January 2026 (DoPPW OM No. 42/02/2024-P&PW(D)/E-9475 dated 24.04.2026).

This is the latest DA order we found when this page was checked on 4 October 2026. Any later revision comes through a fresh Department of Expenditure OM, so check the date of the newest order.

DA Rate History Since January 2024

Effective from DA rate Order
1 January 2024 50% (up from 46%) (DoE OM No. 1/1/2024-E-II(B) dated 12.03.2024)
1 July 2024 53% (DoE OM No. 1/5/2024-E.II(B) dated 21.10.2024)
1 January 2025 55% (DoE OM No. 1/1(1)/2025-E.II(B) dated 02.04.2025)
1 July 2025 58% (DoE OM No. 1/4(i)/2025-E.II(B) dated 06.10.2025)
1 January 2026 60% (DoE OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22.04.2026)

Each revision takes effect from 1 January or 1 July. As the dates show, the OM itself is issued some months after the effective date.

How DA Is Worked Out

DA is a percentage of your basic pay (DoE OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22.04.2026). For example, if your basic pay is Rs 50,000, DA at 60% is Rs 30,000 a month.

If you are under suspension, DA is regulated on the subsistence allowance, not on full pay (KVS Audit FAQ, Q.8).

What Changed When DA Reached 50%

DA reached 50% from 1 January 2024 (DoE OM No. 1/1/2024-E-II(B) dated 12.03.2024). At that point several DA-linked allowances rose by 25% over their existing rates (DoP letter PP-08/2/2021-PAP-DOP dated 05.06.2024).

The Department of Posts recorded the Department of Expenditure's position that no separate fresh order was needed for this increase (DoP letter PP-08/2/2021-PAP-DOP dated 05.06.2024). Its list includes House Rent Allowance, Children Education Allowance, Dress Allowance, Conveyance Allowance and Deputation (Duty) Allowance, among others (DoP letter PP-08/2/2021-PAP-DOP dated 05.06.2024).

HRA moved to 30%, 20% and 10% of basic pay for X, Y and Z cities from the same date (DoE OM No. 2/5/2017-E.II(B) read with OM No. 1/1/2024-E-II(B)). Check the underlying order for each allowance before applying the increase to your own case (DoP letter PP-08/2/2021-PAP-DOP dated 05.06.2024).

Where to Check

The governing document is the Department of Expenditure OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026 (DoE OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22.04.2026). Pensioners should read DoPPW OM No. 42/02/2024-P&PW(D)/E-9475 dated 24 April 2026 (DoPPW OM No. 42/02/2024-P&PW(D)/E-9475 dated 24.04.2026).

Railway and Armed Forces staff should check the order issued by their own Ministry. Autonomous bodies such as KVS and NVS, and organisations such as Delhi Police, may issue their own circular to implement the rate, so check your employer's circular for the date of payment.

Related Questions

What is the DA rate from 1 January 2026?

It is 60% of basic pay, raised from 58% by Department of Expenditure OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026.

What was the DA rate from July to December 2025?

It was 58% of basic pay from 1 July 2025, under OM No. 1/4(i)/2025-E.II(B) dated 6 October 2025.

What was the DA rate in January 2024?

DA rose from 46% to 50% of basic pay from 1 January 2024, under OM No. 1/1/2024-E-II(B) dated 12 March 2024.

Is DA paid during suspension?

Yes. The KVS audit FAQ states that DA is regulated on the subsistence allowance during suspension.

What is the Dearness Relief rate for pensioners?

Dearness Relief is 60% of basic pension or family pension from 1 January 2026, under DoPPW OM No. 42/02/2024-P&PW(D)/E-9475 dated 24 April 2026.

Official Sources

Have a question about your own case?

Ask the Assistant

More in Pay and Allowances

How the 7th CPC Pay Matrix Works: Levels, Cells and IncrementsAnnual Increment Date: 1 January or 1 July? CCS (RP) Rule 10Children Education Allowance (CEA): Amount and ConditionsHRA Rates for Central Government Employees: X, Y and Z CitiesMACP Scheme Under 7th CPC: Upgradations at 10, 20, 30 Years

This article explains the official rules as published; it is not legal advice. Check the cited document, and your own department's orders, before acting.