Government Employees to Receive Dearness Allowance Hikes in 2026 Across Central and State Levels

Central and state government employees and pensioners are set to receive dearness allowance (DA) hikes in 2026. The central government is expected to announce a 2 percentage point increase to 60% DA under the 7th Pay Commission soon, with changes from the 8th Pay Commission pending its report. Madhya Pradesh will provide a 58% DA from April 2026, with arrears paid in installments from May. Kerala recently approved a 10% DA hike, raising allowances from 25% to 35%. These adjustments aim to offset inflation impacts on salaries and pensions.