West Bengal DA Hiked to 38% from October 1, 2026, as Government Issues Official Notification

The West Bengal government has officially notified a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), raising both to 38% with effect from October 1. The move formalises an earlier announcement made by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and is expected to increase the take-home pay of eligible employees and pensioners. With Durga Puja approaching, the state has also decided to release October salaries ahead of schedule, allowing beneficiaries to receive the revised pay before the festive season.

DA Revised to 38% from October 1

According to the notification, the overall DA and DR will increase to 38% from October 1, following the additional 20 percentage point hike announced in the state Budget. Since dearness allowance is calculated as a percentage of an employee's basic pay, the actual increase in salary will differ depending on the individual's pay scale.

The revision will benefit state government employees, pensioners, family pensioners, and teaching as well as non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions. Employees of statutory bodies, government undertakings, panchayats, municipalities, municipal corporations, and other local bodies are also covered under the notification.

October Salary to Be Paid Before Durga Puja

To provide financial relief ahead of the festive season, the West Bengal government has instructed the Finance Department to disburse October salaries before Durga Puja instead of on the usual last working day of the month. As a result, eligible employees will receive the benefit of the enhanced DA along with their October salary.

Dearness Allowance is provided to government employees and pensioners to help offset the impact of inflation. It is revised periodically based on changes in the cost of living.

7th Pay Commission Implementation Remains on Track

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has also reiterated the state's commitment to implementing the recommendations of the newly constituted 7th Pay Commission. The commission is expected to submit its report in the coming months, after which the revised pay structure for state government employees is likely to be implemented.

The Chief Minister has acknowledged that West Bengal's DA remains lower than that of Central government employees but said the gap will be narrowed gradually over time.

Conclusion

The official notification provides clarity on the revised DA and DR rates while ensuring that eligible employees and pensioners receive the benefit before Durga Puja. With the state also moving ahead on the 7th Pay Commission, government employees can expect further updates on salary revisions in the months ahead.

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