DA news: Sikkim govt hikes dearness allowance for employees, dearness relief for pensioners — Check details

Sikkim has this month announced increase in dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for state government employees and pensioners under pre-revised and revised pay structures, according to a PTI report citing an official circular.

Earlier this week, on Thursday, 1 October, the Sikkim government announced hikes for its employees and pensioners under the 6th and 7th central pay commissions (CPC), with effect from 1 January 2026, the report added.

The Sikkim state government has around 50,000 employees and pensioners.

Sikkim govt hikes DA, DR: What we know

As per the report, the Sikkim government increased DA and DR as follows:

• For state government employees and pensioners drawing pay under the pre-revised basic pay structure (the 6th CPC), DA and DR has been increased by 5% from 257% to 262% with effect from 1 January 2026, the circular said.
• For employees and pensioners drawing pay under the revised basic pay structure (the 7th CPC), the DA and DR has been increased by 2% from 58% to 60%, effective from 1 January 2026, it added.
• The revised DA rates will also apply to contractual employees and personnel of work-charged establishments drawing revised pay in the regular scales of the state government, the Finance Department said in its circular.

• For All India Service (AIS) officers continuing to draw pay under the pre-revised pay band and grade pay structure as per the 6th CPC, DA is hiked by 5% from 257% to 262%, with effect from 1 January 2026.
• For AIS officers drawing salary under the revised basic pay structure based on the recommendations of the 7th CPC, DA is up by 2% from 58% to 60%, with effect from 1 January 2026, it added.
• Said amounts involving a fraction of 50 paise or more would be rounded off to the next higher rupee, while fractions below 50 paise would be ignored, as per the circular.

Punjab notifies 8% DA hike

Meanwhile, he Punjab government, in the last week of September, notified its 8% DA hike for state government employees and pensioners, with effect from 1 September, as per another PTI report. “The enhanced DA will provide additional financial support to employees and pensioners at a time when household expenses and the cost of essential commodities have increased,” as per a statement from the chief minister's office (CMO).

• Employees will receive the increased amount, along with their salary as per applicable government provisions.
• Pensioners will also benefit from the enhanced DA as per the relevant rules.
• According to an earlier statement from the CMO, the DA hike will be rolled in two instalments of 4% each, which will be released to employees and pensioners, with the benefit to be reflected in their salaries from 1 October.

“Ahead of the festive season, this decision will provide additional financial support to thousands of government employees and pensioners and their families,” Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said in the statement.

(With inputs from PTI)