Odisha Government Increases Dearness Allowance for Employees and Pensioners
Bhubaneswar: In a significant move, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced a 2% increase in the dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees. The DA has been raised from 58% to 60%, providing much-needed relief to the state's workforce.
Key Details of the DA Hike
The increased DA will be applied retroactively from January 1, 2026, and will be disbursed along with the salary for the current month of May. This decision aligns with the central government's recent announcement of a similar 2% DA hike for its employees, effective from the same date.
Benefits for Pensioners
In addition to the DA increase, the state government has also announced a 2% hike in dearness relief, referred to as temporary increase (TI), for pensioners. Pensioners will receive the enhanced TI with their May pension, as stated in a press release from the Chief Minister's Office.
Impact on Employees and Pensioners
This move is expected to benefit approximately 8.5 lakh government employees and pensioners across the state. The decision comes as a welcome relief, especially in light of rising inflation and living costs.
It is worth noting that the central government had previously announced a 2% DA increase for its employees, effective from January 1, 2026. The Odisha government's decision mirrors this step, ensuring that state employees receive similar benefits.
