Punjab CM Mann announces 3 per cent DA hike for employees and pensioners
The increase will bring the Dearness Allowance to 53 per cent, benefiting approximately 8 lakh people in the state.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a 3 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners on Wednesday. According to reports from The New Indian Express and Indian Express, the hike is intended as a Diwali gift for approximately 8 lakh beneficiaries.
The new DA rate will rise to 53 per cent. This follows an 8 per cent increase announced in September, which the Chief Minister noted brings the total increase to 11 percentage points within two months. The enhanced allowance and Dearness Relief (DR) are expected to be reflected in December salaries and pensions.
The announcement comes as the state's outstanding DA and DR arrears, payable for the period from January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2026, have reached Rs 22,818 crore. This issue is currently pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which issued a contempt notice to the chief secretary on Tuesday.
Mann stated that his government has prioritised employee welfare and has provided 71,777 government jobs on merit over the last four years and nine months. He said that employees and pensioners are the backbone of the administrative machinery and the government remains committed to their well-being.
The Chief Minister also addressed the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission liabilities, stating that the government has prepared a phased plan to clear Rs 14,191 crore in outstanding arrears. He noted that pensioner arrears were released on April 1, 2025, while serving employees' arrears began being released from April 1, 2026.