Diwali gift for state employees: UP, Uttarakhand, Odisha raise DA
Just in time for Diwali, a bunch of Indian states have announced a bump in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government workers and pensioners.
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Sikkim are all on board—hoping to help folks out with rising prices during the festive season.
How much is the increase and when is it effective?
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have both raised DA by 3% (now at 58%), effective from July 2025 and showing up in October paychecks.
Uttar Pradesh is rolling out the same increase for about 28 lakh employees—costing the state an extra ₹1,960 crore till March 2026.
Odisha's move will benefit over eight lakh people with a similar hike from July 2025.
Gujarat's update covers Sixth and Seventh Pay Commission staff, while Sikkim's new rates kick in January 2025 based on different pay structures.
All these changes are meant to offer some financial relief right when it matters most.