West Bengal to Begin Paying Pending DA Arrears to Employees from March 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government will begin disbursing pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears from the 2009 Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) to employees and pensioners starting March 2026. This includes staff from government departments, educational institutions, and grant-in-aid bodies. The payments follow a Supreme Court directive to release 25% of arrears by March 31, 2026, with modalities outlined by the Finance Department. The announcement coincided with the Election Commission's poll schedule declaration.