Tamil Nadu CM Vijay announces 3 per cent DA hike for employees
The increase will benefit approximately 16 lakh government employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners with retrospective effect from July 1, 2026.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a 3 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners on Saturday. According to The New Indian Express, the hike will have retrospective effect from July 1, 2026.
The decision follows the Union government's move to raise the DA for its employees from 60 per cent to 63 per cent from July 1, 2026. The state government will raise the DA rate on par with the Union government.
The revision is expected to benefit approximately 16 lakh employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners. An official release stated that the move will entail an additional annual expenditure of Rs 1,858 crore for the state government.
The government said the decision was taken in recognition of the role played by employees and teachers in formulating and implementing welfare schemes. The release added that the increase is intended to help them celebrate the forthcoming Deepavali festival with greater happiness.