July 2026 DA: status, arrears and pay by level
Last checked
Short answer
DA is 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026, up from 60%, approved by the Union Cabinet on 28 October 2026 (Department of Expenditure order: 29 October 2026). That adds ₹540 a month at Level 1 entry pay of ₹18,000 and ₹1,683 at Level 10 entry pay of ₹56,100. Arrears run from 1 July 2026 to the month before the new rate is first paid.
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dearness Allowance now | 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026 Official source | PIB, 28 Oct 2026: Cabinet approves Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners (w.e.f. 01.07.2026) (opens in a new tab) | |
| DA from 1 July 2026 | 63% from 1 July 2026 Official source | PIB, 28 Oct 2026: Cabinet approves Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners (w.e.f. 01.07.2026) (opens in a new tab) | |
| DA history | 0% (Jan 2016) to 63% (1 July 2026), with a freeze at 17% in 2020-21 Official source | PIB releases on each DA/DR instalment, 2017 to 2026 (listed on the DA rate history page) (opens in a new tab) | |
| Minimum pension and family pension | Minimum ₹9,000; family pension 30% of basic pay Official order, read on a mirror | Government of Puducherry circular reproducing DoPPW OM of 4 Aug 2016 (opens in a new tab) |
What a 3-point DA change means at each pay level
Monthly DA on the entry pay of each 7th CPC level, at 60% today and at 63%. Entry pay comes from the pay matrix. Amounts are rounded to the rupee.
| Level | Entry basic pay | DA now (60%) | DA at new rate (63%) | Extra a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ₹18,000 | ₹10,800 | ₹11,340 | ₹540 |
| Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹11,940 | ₹12,537 | ₹597 |
| Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹13,020 | ₹13,671 | ₹651 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹15,300 | ₹16,065 | ₹765 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹17,520 | ₹18,396 | ₹876 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹21,240 | ₹22,302 | ₹1,062 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹26,940 | ₹28,287 | ₹1,347 |
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 | ₹28,560 | ₹29,988 | ₹1,428 |
| Level 9 | ₹53,100 | ₹31,860 | ₹33,453 | ₹1,593 |
| Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹33,660 | ₹35,343 | ₹1,683 |
| Level 11 | ₹67,700 | ₹40,620 | ₹42,651 | ₹2,031 |
| Level 12 | ₹78,800 | ₹47,280 | ₹49,644 | ₹2,364 |
| Level 13 | ₹1,23,100 | ₹73,860 | ₹77,553 | ₹3,693 |
| Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹86,520 | ₹90,846 | ₹4,326 |
| Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 | ₹1,09,320 | ₹1,14,786 | ₹5,466 |
| Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 | ₹1,23,240 | ₹1,29,402 | ₹6,162 |
| Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 | ₹1,35,000 | ₹1,41,750 | ₹6,750 |
| Level 18 | ₹2,50,000 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,57,500 | ₹7,500 |
Arrears from 1 July to the first payment month
Arrears are the monthly increase times the months from 1 July up to the month before the new rate is first paid. The payment months below are examples; your actual month is on your payslip.
| Level | Extra a month | Arrears if first paid with | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 20264 months (July to October) | December 20265 months (July to November) | January 20276 months (July to December) | ||
| Level 1 | ₹540 | ₹2,160 | ₹2,700 | ₹3,240 |
| Level 2 | ₹597 | ₹2,388 | ₹2,985 | ₹3,582 |
| Level 3 | ₹651 | ₹2,604 | ₹3,255 | ₹3,906 |
| Level 4 | ₹765 | ₹3,060 | ₹3,825 | ₹4,590 |
| Level 5 | ₹876 | ₹3,504 | ₹4,380 | ₹5,256 |
| Level 6 | ₹1,062 | ₹4,248 | ₹5,310 | ₹6,372 |
| Level 7 | ₹1,347 | ₹5,388 | ₹6,735 | ₹8,082 |
| Level 8 | ₹1,428 | ₹5,712 | ₹7,140 | ₹8,568 |
| Level 9 | ₹1,593 | ₹6,372 | ₹7,965 | ₹9,558 |
| Level 10 | ₹1,683 | ₹6,732 | ₹8,415 | ₹10,098 |
| Level 11 | ₹2,031 | ₹8,124 | ₹10,155 | ₹12,186 |
| Level 12 | ₹2,364 | ₹9,456 | ₹11,820 | ₹14,184 |
| Level 13 | ₹3,693 | ₹14,772 | ₹18,465 | ₹22,158 |
| Level 14 | ₹4,326 | ₹17,304 | ₹21,630 | ₹25,956 |
| Level 15 | ₹5,466 | ₹21,864 | ₹27,330 | ₹32,796 |
| Level 16 | ₹6,162 | ₹24,648 | ₹30,810 | ₹36,972 |
| Level 17 | ₹6,750 | ₹27,000 | ₹33,750 | ₹40,500 |
| Level 18 | ₹7,500 | ₹30,000 | ₹37,500 | ₹45,000 |
What pensioners get as Dearness Relief
Dearness Relief (DR) on pension is revised with DA, by the same percentage points. A 3-point change on a basic pension would add the amounts below. Pension examples are round figures, with ₹9,000 the minimum pension under the 2016 order.
| Basic pension | DR now (60%) | DR at new rate (63%) | Extra a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹9,000 | ₹5,400 | ₹5,670 | ₹270 |
| ₹20,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹12,600 | ₹600 |
| ₹30,000 | ₹18,000 | ₹18,900 | ₹900 |
| ₹50,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹31,500 | ₹1,500 |
Cabinet meetings and the DA decision
Dates on which the Cabinet met in October 2026 without announcing the July 2026 DA/DR revision. Entries marked reported rest on press coverage; the Cabinet's own decisions are published by PIB.
Reported by reputable sources
Cabinet met and took three decisions; none on DA.
Upstox: no DA hike decision in Union Cabinet meeting today (6 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Reported by reputable sources
Cabinet approved the railway productivity-linked bonus (PIB); the press reported no DA decision.
Reported by reputable sources
Cabinet meeting passed without a DA/DR revision for July 2026.
Karmactive: July 2026 DA hike is still pending in October (24 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Official source
Union Cabinet approved DA/DR at 63% from 1 July 2026.
Official source
Department of Expenditure issued OM No. 1/2(i)/2026-E.II(B) revising DA from 1 July 2026.
Department of Expenditure: orders and circulars, Dearness Allowance (opens in a new tab)
When earlier July instalments were announced
DA due from 1 July has usually been announced between late September and mid-October. This is a record, not a forecast of this year's date.
| Effective from | DA | Announced | Days after 1 July |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2025 | 58% | 1 October 2025 (opens in a new tab) | 92 |
| 1 July 2024 | 53% | 16 October 2024 (opens in a new tab) | 107 |
| 1 July 2023 | 46% | 18 October 2023 (opens in a new tab) | 109 |
| 1 July 2022 | 38% | 28 September 2022 (opens in a new tab) | 89 |
| 1 July 2021 | 31% | 21 October 2021 (opens in a new tab) | 112 |
Related
Frequently asked questions
Has the July 2026 DA hike been announced?
Yes. The Union Cabinet approved 63% (up from 60%) on 28 October 2026, effective 1 July 2026, and the Department of Expenditure issued its order on 29 October 2026.
What will DA be after July 2026 2026?
63% of basic pay, up 3 points from 60%.
How much more will I get a month from a 3-point DA rise?
3% of your basic pay: ₹540 on ₹18,000 (Level 1 entry pay) and ₹1,683 on ₹56,100 (Level 10 entry pay).
How are DA arrears worked out?
Monthly increase × the number of months from 1 July 2026 up to the month before the new rate is first paid. If it is first paid with November 2026 salary, that is 4 months (July to October); the order does not fix the payment month in the sources we read, so these months are scenarios: check your payslip for the actual month.
Do pensioners get the same rise?
Dearness Relief on pension is revised alongside DA, by the same percentage points in each instalment announced by the Government. A 3-point rise would add ₹900 a month on a basic pension of ₹30,000.
Sources and status
Each figure on this page comes from the fact register. What the badges mean.
- Official sourcechecked 2026-11-10
DA is 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026 (up from 60%). PIB, 28 Oct 2026 approval dated 28 October 2026; Department of Expenditure OM No. 1/2(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 29 October 2026. About 48.54 lakh Central Government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners benefit; the cost is Rs 10,016.10 crore a year
- Official sourcechecked 2026-11-10
The July 2026 DA instalment is 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026. Order dated 28 October 2026
- Official sourcechecked 2026-11-10
Central Government DA on 7th CPC pay: 0% from 1 Jan 2016, then 2% (1 Jul 2016), 4%, 5%, 7%, 9%, 12%, 17% (1 Jul 2019), frozen at 17% from 1 Jan 2020 to 30 Jun 2021, 31% (1 Jul 2021), 34%, 38%, 42%, 46%, 50% (1 Jan 2024), 53%, 55%, 58% (1 Jul 2025), 60% (1 Jan 2026) and 63% (1 Jul 2026). Each step is checked against a PIB release that states the increase over the existing rate
PIB releases on each DA/DR instalment, 2017 to 2026 (listed on the DA rate history page)
- Official order, read on a mirrorchecked 2026-10-22
DoPPW OM F.No.38/37/2016-P&PW(A)(i), 4 Aug 2016 (for those retiring or dying in service on or after 1 Jan 2016 under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972): pension is subject to a minimum of Rs 9,000 a month and a maximum of 50% of the highest pay in Government (Rs 2,50,000, so Rs 1,25,000); family pension is 30% of basic pay in the revised pay structure, minimum Rs 9,000 and maximum 30% of the highest pay; enhanced family pension is 50% of basic pay, minimum Rs 9,000 and maximum 50% of the highest pay; pension and family pension qualify for dearness relief. Rule 49 of the Pension Rules is otherwise unchanged. The OM applies to employees under the old pension rules, not to those on NPS or UPS
Government of Puducherry circular reproducing DoPPW OM of 4 Aug 2016
Independent and not affiliated with any government body. Estimates for information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Disclaimer.