West Bengal DA Hike: State Employees To Get 38 Per Cent Hike From October 1

Government employees in West Bengal will get dearness allowance (DA) at 38 per cent of revised basic pay from October 1, 2026, following a notification issued by the state Finance Department.

The 20-percentage point increase was announced in the state Budget in June 2026. The revised rate will apply to employees covered by the state’s current pay structure, while pensioners and family pensioners will receive dearness relief (DR) at 38 per cent of their revised basic pension or family pension.

The change will take effect ahead of Durga Puja, when household spending typically rises across the state.

Who Receives The Benefit

The revised DA will cover regular state government employees as well as staff working in several state-linked institutions and local bodies.

The list includes employees of statutory bodies, government undertakings, panchayats, municipalities, municipal corporations and other local authorities. Teaching and non-teaching employees of government-run and government-aided educational institutions will also be covered, according to a PTI report.

For pensioners and family pensioners, the 38 per cent DR will be applied to the revised basic pension or family pension. The pension paying authority will determine the amount payable in each case.

Employees Under 5th Pay Commission

Employees who still receive salaries under the pre-revised or unrevised pay structure linked to the 5th Pay Commission will also get a higher DA from October 1.

For this group, the DA rate will rise to 223 per cent, from 171 per cent. Pensioners and family pensioners who are still receiving pensions based on the pre-revised structure under the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA), 2009, will see their DR rise to 223 per cent from 171 per cent.

For employees covered by the revised pay structure, DA will be worked out on revised basic pay and non-practising allowance, wherever applicable. Other allowances will not form part of the calculation.

Daily Wage Workers Get Rs 110 Increase

The notification also provides for an additional Rs 110 a day for government daily-rated workers whose remuneration is not governed by statutory provisions, such as the Minimum Wages Act. The increase will also take effect from October 1, 2026.

For government undertakings and statutory bodies, the additional financial burden arising from the higher DA and DR will have to be met through their own funds or financial assistance provided through the state Budget.

The latest order gives effect to the 20 percentage point DA and DR increase announced in the 2026-27 Budget. The state has also constituted a 7th Pay Commission to examine salaries, allowances and service conditions of government employees and pensioners.