Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 27 Oct: Pensioners of the state government who have been awaiting a revision in Dearness Allowance (DA), have received a significant relief from the State Government. The government has approved a three per cent increase in DDA following the earlier hike granted to state employees. The revised rate of Dearness Relief for pensioners will now be 58 per cent, up from the previous 55 per cent, and will be effective from 1 July 2025. The Finance Department has issued the formal order in this regard after the Governor’s approval.
As per the notification issued by the state finance department, the revised DA will apply to pensioners whose pensions were revised in accordance with the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. This benefit will extend not only to permanent pensioners of the State Government but also to eligible teaching and non-teaching staff of State-funded aided educational institutions also under the School and Technical Education Departments, who receive pensions equivalent to administrative pensioners.
However, the order specifies that this increase will not automatically apply to civil or family pensioners belonging to categories such as High Court Judges, the Chairman and Members of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission, local bodies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs). In fact, separate orders will be required to be issued by the departments concerned to extend the benefit to these groups.
The finance department has also clarified that no separate approval will be needed from the Accountant General for disbursing the revised DA and that the respective offices will process the payments. Earlier this month, the State Government had already extended the increased Dearness Allowance to its regular employees. With this latest decision, lakhs of pensioners across the state are expected to benefit.
While the hike in Dearness Allowance will result in an additional annual financial burden of several crore rupees on the State Government exchequer, the decision has been taken in the public interest according to the government, keeping in view rising inflation. The move is anticipated to enhance the monthly income of pensioners and provide them with much-needed financial support.
