Jaipur: Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma Friday approved a 3% hike in dearness allowance (DA) for employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners, raising the rates from 60% to 63%, as a Diwali gift. The decision will benefit more than 7 lakh employees and over 5 lakh pensioners, while around 6 lakh eligible employees will also receive an ad hoc bonus.The DA and DR hike for employees and pensioners covered under the 7th pay scale will be effective from July 1, 2026. The state govt will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 820 crore on the revision.Employees will receive the increased DA with their Nov salary, payable in Dec. The arrears for the four-month period from July to Oct 2026 will be deposited in their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts. Pensioners, however, will receive the increased DR in cash with effect from July 1, 2026.Govt has also approved an ad hoc bonus for around 6 lakh eligible employees, entailing an additional financial burden of Rs 406 crore on the state exchequer.The CM said the state govt was committed to safeguarding the interests and welfare of employees and pensioners. “Employees were an important link to the state’s development and good governance, and the govt would continue to take decisions in their interest,” he said.
