DA CALCULATOR
DA hike announcement: How salaries of Level 1-18 employees will rise after 2% dearness allowance hike
DA hike for central government employees: A 2% hike in DA will take it from its current rate of 58% to 60%. With this hike, dearness relief (DR) for pensioners has also been increased to 60%. The announcement is for January 2026 and central government employees and pensioners will get arrears from the back date.
8th Pay Commission salary hike: Why NC-JCM wants minimum basic pay to rise from Rs 18,000 to Rs 69,000
8th Pay Commission pay hike: Employee unions calculate the minimum pay for an employee based on the rates of a food basket for a month. The food basket includes protein sources, dairy consumption, fruits, vegetables, spices and the things of daily use. The drafting committee of NC-JCM has also recommended for five family units instead of three.
Central government workers seek wages based on five-member families
Central government employees are demanding a significant overhaul of their pay structure. They want the government to consider a family of five for pay calculations, moving away from the current three-member system. This includes support for dependent parents, aligning with legal mandates.
DA hike delay: Central government employee body to hold protest over dearness allowance delay
In a letter to the Cabinet Secretary of India, the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers (CCGEW) writes that its affiliated organisations will hold a lunch hour protest at all work places on April 16, 2026. The government last announced the DA hike in October 2025, which was for July 2025. While central government employees and pensioners have got their arrears for that hike, their wait for the January 2026 DA hike is still not over.
Gratuity may rise under New Labour Code, but your income tax bill could too
The Code on Social Security, 2020 expands the wage base for gratuity, potentially increasing payouts, but tax rules under the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Income-tax Act, 2025 still rely on basic pay plus DA. With the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 now subsumed, this mismatch could make part of the higher gratuity taxable—highlighting the need for alignment between labour and tax laws.
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DA hike delay: Will central government raise dearness allowance in first week of April?
Central government employees and pensioners are awaiting the January 2026 Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) hike announcement. Despite expectations ahead of Holi and a late March cabinet meeting, no decision has been made. Experts suggest administrative complexities related to the 8th Pay Commission and fiscal balance calibration are causing the delay, with an announcement likely in early April.

5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 32% in 1 year, according to analysts
At this point of time, there is a cocktail of headwinds impacting equity markets everywhere, but especially so in India. We are currently at the fag end of a period where liquidity has traditionally been lower in the run-up to the financial year ending on March 31. This happens every year around this time. So, the real test for the Indian markets is coming up. How much of what has been happening in the market was because of the domestic liquidity issue and how much was – and is – about the US-Israel-Iran war raging in the Gulf region?

8th Pay Commission salary hike: How 6th and 7th CPC decided fitment factor and what to expect now
Central government employees await the 8th Pay Commission's salary and pension revision, with recommendations expected within 18 months. Past commissions saw significant hikes, and potential increases for the 8th CPC are being estimated based on various fitment factors, sparking employee curiosity.

Minimum EPS pension of Rs 1,000 must be hiked: Congress’ Jairam Ramesh criticises government’s inaction despite committee’s recommendations
Jairam Ramesh, who held different ministries during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, came down heavily on the current government, saying during the Modi government’s nearly 12-year tenure, several social security schemes have gradually weakened, or have been deliberately made weakened.

DA Hike for central government employees: When will government announce dearness allowance increase?
Central government employees are eagerly awaiting the Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for January 2026. The government typically announces these increases around major festivals. Past trends suggest an announcement could be made anytime now until early April. The DA hike is calculated based on inflation and impacts employee salaries.

8th Pay Commission implementation date: Employee body AITUC wants salary, pension & other allowance revisions from this date
Central government employees and pensioners await the 8th Pay Commission's recommendations, with AITUC advocating for implementation from January 1, 2026, to ensure no loss of arrears. Past trends show governments often backdate pay revisions, and AITUC also calls for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and improved benefits for pensioners.

8th Pay Commission DA calculation: Why defence employee body wants to change the way dearness allowance is decided
The All India Defence Employers’ Federation (AIDEF) is urging the 8th Pay Commission to adopt a new dearness allowance calculation index based on actual retail market prices, moving away from the current AICPI-IW. AIDEF also advocates for dispensing with fixed-term employment like Agniveer, replacing Military Service Pay with a dynamic premium, and continuing the old pension scheme.

8th Pay Commission proposals: CGHS facility, parent care leave for 1 year; what union territory, central autonomous body employees want from 8th CPC
The All India NPS Employees Federation is set to present key demands to the 8th Pay Commission, including extending CGHS services to UT and CAB employees and introducing one year of parental care leave. The federation also seeks uniform implementation of central government orders for these employees and increased leave entitlements for teachers in Union Territories.

8th Pay Commission demands: Commuted pension after 11 years, fitment factor of 3, revised DA calculation; what AITUC wants from 8th CPC
The All India Trade Union Congress has presented 12 significant demands to the 8th Pay Commission chairperson. Key proposals include a 3.0 fitment factor, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and a 6% annual increment. Other demands focus on increased leave encashment, revised DA calculations, and higher compensation for specific employee groups.

Rs 20 LPA salary? Save up to Rs 1.25 lakh under old tax regime as per new draft income tax rules 2026
Proposed 2026 Income Tax Rules could significantly benefit salaried individuals under the old tax regime. Key changes include expanded HRA exemptions for cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, potentially lowering tax liabilities. For a Rs 20 lakh salary, these revisions might offer substantial savings compared to the new tax regime, making the old system more attractive for many.

Madhya Pradesh DA hike explained: When employees will get higher salary, arrears and how much pay will increase
MP DA Hike News: Madhya Pradesh government employees will soon see their dearness allowance (DA) jump to 58%, matching the central government's rate. This significant hike, effective April 2026, will also include the payment of pending arrears in installments. Pensioners will also benefit from increased dearness relief. This move aims to combat inflation and boost employee purchasing power.

DA hike: These state govt employees to get 58% dearness allowance from April 2026; arrears applicable from July 2025
Madhya Pradesh government employees will receive a 58% dearness allowance starting April 2026. This matches the central government's rate. Arrears from July 2025 to March 2026 will be paid in installments from May 2026. Pensioners will also see a dearness relief increase. Meanwhile, Kerala government recently approved a 10% DA hike.

8th Pay Commission: Will a 5-family unit formula push fitment factor above 3.0? See the math
Central government employee unions are advocating for an increase in the family unit definition from three to five members for the 8th Pay Commission. This change, they argue, could significantly boost the fitment factor, potentially exceeding 3.0 by incorporating parental care responsibilities and modern family structures.

8th Pay Commission latest update: Merge 50% DA with basic pay, postal employee body writes to 8th CPC chairman
The Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) has urged the 8th Pay Commission to merge 50% dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay and grant interim relief to central employees and pensioners from January 1, 2026.

Higher EPS Pension reinstated by EPFO: Who will benefit and who will not
EPFO has reinstated the option for employees to link their pension scheme contributions to their full basic salary. This move offers relief to a limited group who previously opted for higher contributions, restoring a provision discontinued in 2014. The decision aims to address long-standing confusion regarding pensionable salary caps.

DA hike before Holi 2026? How soon can central government employees expect a rise in their salaries?
Central government employees are anticipating a 2% Dearness Allowance (DA) hike, pushing it to 60% from 58%. This increase, based on the December 2025 AICPI-IW reading, is expected to be announced soon, potentially before Holi. DA adjustments, occurring twice yearly, aim to offset inflation and impact basic salaries, which remain fixed under pay commissions.

Earning Rs 15–25 lakh? Draft Income Tax Rules 2026 could make the old tax regime more rewarding—here’s how to cut your income tax bill
Draft Income-tax Rules 2026 propose increased allowance limits, potentially allowing taxpayers under the old regime to pay significantly less tax. Calculations suggest substantial savings for salaries of Rs 15 lakh, Rs 20 lakh, and Rs 25 lakh compared to the new tax regime, if these changes are approved.

India hosts AI summit as safety concerns grow
"Child safety and digital harms are also moving up the agenda, particularly as generative AI lowers the barrier to harmful content," AI Asia Pacific Institute director Kelly Forbes told AFP. "There is real scope for change" although it might not happen fast enough, said Forbes, whose organisation is researching how Australia and other countries are requiring platforms to confront the issue.

Supreme Court directs West Bengal govt to pay dearness allowance to its employees from 2008-2019
The Supreme Court has ordered the West Bengal government to pay dearness allowance (DA) to nearly 20 lakh employees for the 2008-2019 period, deeming it a legally enforceable right. A committee has been formed to determine the total outstanding amount and payment schedule, with the first installment due by March 31.
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