New Delhi: Central government employees and pensioners receive a big Diwali cheer as the the cabinet meeting today headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to increase the Dearness Allowance by 5% to 17%.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar informed media that the decision will benefit fifty lakh central government workers and sixty five lakh pensioners. This will be effective from July. Union Minister also said that this decision will cost around 16000 crore to the government.
“This will bring cheer to the working class ahead of Diwali, the central government has been announcing steps for many sectors. This is the highest ever 5 percentage points increase in DA in one go by the central government,” Prakash Javadekar said.
The decision to raise DA is based on the recommendation by seventh pay commission.