The West Bengal government has officially notified a revised dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) structure for state government employees and pensioners, paving the way for the enhanced benefits to take effect from October 1. The move comes ahead of the Durga Puja festivities and follows the state government’s recent announcement on increasing DA to narrow the gap with central government employees.
According to the notification issued by the Finance Department, eligible employees covered under the Sixth Pay Commission (6th CPC) will receive DA at 38 per cent of their revised basic pay. Pensioners and family pensioners covered under the revised pay structure will also receive DR at the updated rate.
The revised allowance will benefit a wide range of beneficiaries across the state government ecosystem. These include:
- State government employees
- State government pensioners and family pensioners
- Employees of statutory bodies
- Employees of government undertakings
- Employees of panchayats
- Employees of municipalities
- Employees of municipal corporations and other local bodies
- Teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions
The revised rates will come into force from October 1, enabling eligible employees and retirees to receive the enhanced benefits before the festive season.
Higher DA For Employees Under The 5th Pay Commission
The notification also provides relief to employees and pensioners who continue to receive benefits under the Fifth Pay Commission (5th CPC).
Employees still drawing salaries under the older pay structure will receive DA at 223 per cent, compared with the existing 171 per cent, with effect from October 1.
Similarly, pensioners and family pensioners whose pensions have not yet been revised under the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) 2009 rules will receive DR at 223 per cent until their pension revision is completed.
The Finance Department clarified that DA will be calculated on revised basic pay along with the non-practising allowance (NPA), wherever applicable. Other allowances will not be considered while calculating the revised DA.
In addition, daily-rated workers whose wages are not governed by statutory provisions such as the Minimum Wages Act will receive an ad hoc increase of Rs 110 per day from October 1, 2026.
Government Targets Timely Implementation
A senior bureaucrat at the state secretariat told PTI that the notification gives effect to the government’s decision to release the revised DA and DR before Durga Puja.
“Administrative departments have been empowered to issue the necessary orders so that the revised DA and DR are released from October 1 without any procedural delay. The objective is to ensure uniform implementation across all government departments and aided institutions while adhering to the state’s financial commitments,” the official added.
The notification also authorises administrative departments to sanction the enhanced DA and DR for employees and pensioners under their jurisdiction without seeking any further approval from the Finance Department, ensuring quicker implementation.
Government Reiterates Commitment To Narrowing DA Gap
Earlier, while addressing a programme at Bhavani Bhavan in Kolkata on July 28, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated that the government remains committed to reducing the DA gap between state and central government employees.
Referring to the budget announcement, he said the revised DA would take effect from October.
“There is a 42 per cent DA gap between the Centre and the state. We cannot bridge that gap overnight; it will take time,” he added.
The Chief Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the newly constituted Seventh State Pay Commission. The panel, formally notified last week, has been tasked with reviewing salaries, allowances and service conditions of state government employees and pensioners, with the government aiming to implement its recommendations during FY27.