Diwali Gift for Haryana Employees and Pensioners: Government Hikes DA and DR by 3%

In a major festive relief for government employees and pensioners, the Haryana government has announced a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) after Diwali.

Following similar decisions by Punjab, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, the Haryana government has increased DA and DR from 60% to 63%. The revised rates will come into effect retrospectively from July 1, 2026.

According to the official order issued by Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, the decision will directly benefit approximately 5.38 lakh serving government employees and pensioners across the state.

The revised rates will apply to Haryana government employees, pensioners and family pensioners receiving salaries and pensions under the Seventh Pay Commission.

DA and DR Increased from 60% to 63%

Under the revised decision, both Dearness Allowance for serving employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners have been increased by 3 percentage points.

The revised rates will provide additional financial support to beneficiaries amid rising living costs.

Here are the key details of the announcement:

• DA/DR Hike: Increased from 60% to 63%.
• Effective Date: The revised rates will be applicable from July 1, 2026.
• Salary Payment: Serving employees will receive the increased DA with their November 2026 salary.
• Pension Payment: Pensioners will receive the increased DR along with their December 2026 pension.
• Four Months’ Arrears: Pending dues for July, August, September and October 2026 will be paid in a lump sum in January 2027.

What Is the Difference Between DA and DR?

Although Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) are often considered similar, they serve different categories of beneficiaries.

Dearness Allowance is paid to serving government employees as a percentage of their basic salary to compensate for the impact of inflation and rising living costs.

On the other hand, Dearness Relief is provided to retired government employees, including pensioners and family pensioners, based on their basic pension.

With this 3% increase, both serving employees and pensioners in Haryana will receive additional financial benefits. The decision is expected to provide significant relief to nearly 5.38 lakh beneficiaries across the state.