Shimla, October 23
In a move offering financial relief to serving employees and pensioners, the Himachal Pradesh government has enhanced Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees from 45 per cent to 50 per cent and approved a corresponding increase in Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners and family pensioners. The government has also ordered the payment of ₹10,000 in cash to regular Group-D employees in November as part of their pending arrears arising from the revision of pay scales.
CCF_000017 DA Dearness Relief enhancement @5% Order dated 23.10.2016
According to three orders issued by the Finance Department on October 23, the 5 per cent DA enhancement will apply to employees governed by the Himachal Pradesh Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2022. The benefit will also extend to officers of the All India Services and state government employees covered under UGC pay scales. The additional DA will be paid with the October 2026 salary, payable in November.
The increase has been calculated in two stages: a 1 per cent hike with effect from July 1, 2023, and a further 4 per cent from January 1, 2024. The government has raised the DA rate from 45 per cent to 46 per cent for the first period and from 46 per cent to 50 per cent for the second. However, arrears accumulated up to September 30, 2026, will be paid according to a separate order.
Pensioners and family pensioners, including those belonging to the All India Services, will receive a similar increase in Dearness Relief. Their DR has been raised from 45 per cent to 46 per cent with effect from July 1, 2023, and to 50 per cent from January 1, 2024. The enhanced amount will be paid along with the October pension or family pension in November. The government has stated that a separate decision on the payment of DR arrears for the period from July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2026, will be taken in due course.
In a separate order concerning Group-D employees, the Finance Department has approved the payment of ₹10,000 in cash in November 2026 towards arrears arising from the revision of pay scales under the 2022 revised pay rules. The order covers regular Group-D employees of the state government and continues the terms and conditions laid down in earlier instructions.
The three orders, issued by the Finance (Regulations), Finance (Pension) and Finance (Pay Revision) departments, set out separate arrangements for serving employees, pensioners and Group-D staff. While the enhanced DA and DR will be reflected in November payments, the release of the accumulated arrears for employees and pensioners remains subject to the respective orders and further instructions issued by the government.
