Da For Central Govt Staff Up 3%

The Union cabinet has approved a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance for Central government employees from the existing 13 per cent with effect from January, an official spokesman said. Pensioneers will also get increased dearness relief from January as it is interlinked to the dearness allowance of Central government staff. The increase in da would cost the exchequer Rs 1,170 crore in a full year and Rs 1,365 crore in 1998-1999.