Rajasthan Government Increases Dearness Allowance by 3% Ahead of Diwali

Jaipur, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajanlal Sharma, has announced a significant increase in the dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for state employees and pensioners, just in time for Diwali. The increase, set at 3%, raises the DA and DR from 60% to 63%.

This decision will benefit over 700,000 government employees and more than 500,000 pensioners across the state. The government emphasized that this move aims to provide additional financial relief to families during the festive season.

The revised DA and DR will be effective from July 1, 2026, under the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. Employees will receive the increased DA in cash with their November 2026 salaries, which will be disbursed in December. Additionally, any dues from July 1 to October 31, 2026, will be deposited into the employees’ General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts.

Pensioners will also receive the enhanced dearness relief in cash starting from July 1, 2026. This increase is expected to impose an additional financial burden of approximately ₹820 crores on the state government.

Moreover, the state government has approved an ad-hoc bonus for around 600,000 eligible employees to celebrate the festival. This bonus will cost the government an additional ₹406 crores, bringing the total financial impact of the DA increase and bonus to approximately ₹1,226 crores.

Chief Minister Sharma reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests and welfare of employees and pensioners. He acknowledged that state employees play a crucial role in the development and good governance of Rajasthan, and the government is committed to making decisions that support their welfare, especially during festive occasions like Diwali.