7th Pay Commission: Cabinet meet on 18-months DA arrears issue confirmed? Rs 2.16 lakh to be given to govt employees?

New Delhi: 7th Pay Commission latest update: Though there have been no official confirmation on payment of 18 months-pending Dearness allowance (DA) arrears, media buzz around the issue does not seem to die down. As per fresh reports, the schedule for Cabinet meet on 18-months DA arrears issue is now confirmed.

After the hike in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief in September this year, the issue regarding the payment of 18 months-pending Dearness allowance (DA) arrears has been largely discussed in the media. The issue regarding payment of DA arrears of 18 months from January 2020 to June 2021 has long been pending for cabinet discussion and deliberation.

As per the media speculations, the DA arrears of employees at Level-3 can be estimated between Rs 11,880 to Rs 37,554. For Level-13 or Level-14, the arrears of employees can range between Rs 1,44,200 to Rs 2,15,900. However, upon further negotiations with the government, these figures might also change, said reports previously.

7th Pay Commission: Govt hikes DA by 4 percent to 38 percent

The Union Cabinet had on 28 September 2022, approved the release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief @ 4 percent to Central Government employees and pensioners due from 01.07.2022 based on the percentage increase in 12 monthly average of All India Consumer Price Index for the period ending June, 2022. (Also read: Fusion Microfinance IPO: Check today's GMP, listing and other details)

The Central Government employees and pensioners will become entitled to higher amount of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief respectively, w.e.f. 01.07.2022.

The additional financial implications on account of this increase of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees are estimated at Rs.6,591.36 crore per annum; and Rs.4,394.24 crore in the financial year 2022-23 (i.e. for a period of 8 months from July, 2022 to February, 2023).

The additional financial implications on account of this increase of Dearness Relief to pensioners are estimated at Rs.6,261.20 crore per annum; and Rs.4,174.12 crore in the financial year 2022-23 (i.e. for a period of 8 months from July, 2022 to February, 2023).

The combined impart on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be of the order of Rs.12,852.56 crore per annum; and Rs.8,568.36 crore in the financial year 2022-23 (i.e. for a period of 8 months from July, 2022 to February, 2023).