Diwali bonanza for UP govt employees as DA hiked to 63% months before 2027 polls

In a major festive bonanza for lakhs of government employees in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that the Dearness Allowance (DA) will be hiked by three percentage points, taking it from the existing 60 per cent to 63 per cent.The revised rates will be effective from July 1, 2026, bringing additional financial relief to state government employees ahead of Diwali in a move that has come just months before the 2027 UP Assembly polls.As per the announcement, employees will receive the enhanced DA along with their November salary. The arrears for the four-month period between July and October will be credited to their Provident Fund (PF) accounts.The decision is expected to benefit a large section of the state's workforce, including employees of the Uttar Pradesh government and staff working in aided educational and technical educational institutions. Employees of urban local bodies will also be covered under the revised DA structure, extending the benefit beyond regular state government departments.The increase is aimed at providing relief against inflation and improving employees' disposable income at a time when household expenses typically rise during the festive season. The move comes amid a series of welfare and development initiatives recently announced by the Yogi Adityanath government.These include the Rani Lakshmibai Scooty Yojana, under which meritorious girl students are to receive free scooters, and cashless medical cards announced for 3.54 lakh mid-day meal cooks.The state government has also launched a Rs 1,725-crore skill development and employment initiative, with plans to establish Skill and Employment Zones across all 75 districts.With the revised DA set to reflect in November's salary, employees can expect the immediate benefit of the higher allowance, while the accumulated arrears will strengthen their PF savings.The implementation of the revised rates and the subsequent credit of arrears will be the key developments to watch in the coming weeks.- Ends