The West Bengal state government has notified its 38% dearness allowance and dearness relief hike for employees and pensioners, with effect from 1 October 2026. According to reports from Mint, this notification was issued by the state Finance Department and comes ahead of Durga Puja festivities. The hike applies to current employees who will receive DA at 38% of their revised basic pay under the sixth pay commission (6th CPC), while pension for eligible retirees will also be calculated at the revised rate. This includes the additional 20% point increase in DA announced in the Budget, making it a comprehensive DA enhancement for state employees. The move comes right ahead of Durga Puja, making festival preparation a little easier for many beneficiaries.
The DA and DR hikes will benefit multiple categories of state employees and pensioners. As reported by Mint, the beneficiaries include state government employees, state government pensioners and family pensioners, employees of statutory bodies, government undertakings, panchayats, municipalities, municipal corporations and other local bodies, and teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions. For those employees still drawing salaries under the 5th CPC, they will receive DA at 223%, up from the existing 171%, from 1 October. The comprehensive coverage ensures that all eligible state employees, including local body workers, will receive the enhanced DA benefits, with the hike covering both teaching and non-teaching staff at government-aided schools.
Pensioners and family pensioners whose pensions are yet to be revised under Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) 2009 rules will receive DR at 223% until their revised pensions are implemented. According to the notification, DA would be calculated on revised basic pay and non-practising allowance (NPA), wherever applicable, and would exclude all other allowances. For daily-rated workers whose remuneration is not covered under statutory provisions such as the Minimum Wages Act, the government has announced an ad hoc increase of ₹110 in daily wages, with effect from 1 October 2026. To ensure timely implementation, October salaries will be paid out early to ensure everyone receives their boosted pay in time for the festivities.
A senior bureaucrat at the West Bengal state secretariat told Mint that the notification operationalises Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's announcement that the government would release DA and DR hikes before Durga Puja festivities. The notification authorises administrative departments to sanction the enhanced DA and DR for employees and pensioners under their control without seeking any further approval from the Finance Department. The objective is to ensure uniform implementation across all government departments and aided institutions while adhering to the state's financial commitments.
Addressing a programme at Bhavani Bhavan on 28 July, CM Adhikari had reiterated that the state is committed to reducing DA gap between its employees and those under the Centre. According to Mint, he said the 20% DA hike would come into effect from October, noting there is a 42% DA gap between the Centre and the state. The government is also committed to implementing the 7th state pay commission's recommendations, with the panel set up this month. West Bengal last week officially constituted its 7th pay commission after Adhikari said the government would implement recommendations within the financial year (FY27). CM Adhikari also confirmed he's working on bringing West Bengal's DA closer to central government levels with upcoming pay reforms, though he admits it'll take some time.
