In a major relief for government employees, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has approved a 2% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state employees and pensioners. This decision follows the recent DA increment announced by the central government for its workforce.
The move will benefit approximately 8 lakh employees and 4.40 lakh pensioners across the state. The increased allowance will be applicable from January 1, 2025, and employees will receive the revised amount along with their April 2025 salary, which will be credited in May 2025.
With this increase, the DA for Rajasthan government employees and pensioners will rise to 55% from the previous 53%. Employees of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads will also be eligible for this increment. As per the government’s notification, arrears from January 1 to March 31, 2025, will be credited to employees' General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts.
Last week, the central government raised the DA and Dearness Relief (DR) for its employees and pensioners by 2%. This increase, effective from January 1, 2025, will benefit over 1 crore central government employees and pensioners. The DA hike was introduced as a measure to counter inflation and ensure financial stability for government personnel.
The central and state governments revise the DA twice annually to compensate for inflation. The allowance is adjusted based on the cost of living index, ensuring that employees' salaries are not adversely affected by rising prices.
Employees in Rajasthan can expect the increased DA to be reflected in their April 2025 salary, which will be disbursed in May 2025. Additionally, the arrears for the first three months of the year will be deposited into their respective provident fund accounts.
This latest increase in DA is a welcome move for government employees and pensioners, providing much-needed financial relief amid rising living costs. The state government continues to prioritize employee welfare by ensuring periodic revisions in allowances to keep pace with inflation.
