Uttarakhand's Diwali Gift | 04 Nov 2024
Why in News?
Recently, Uttarakhand announced a festive increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees as a Diwali benefit.
Key Points
- DA Hike:
- Uttarakhand raised the DA for government employees by a set percentage, aiming to mitigate inflation's impact on household expenses.
- The DA has been increased from 50% to 53% per month.
- The dearness allowance hike applies to all regular and full-time state employees and UGC-affiliated officials, retroactive from 1st July, 2024, with arrears from July to September 2024 payable in cash.
- The increased DA is effective immediately, covering employees and pensioners under the state government.
- Economic Impact:
- This increase supports employees’ purchasing power, particularly significant during the festive season when expenses are typically higher.
- Similar DA adjustments are seen across states as they aim to provide financial relief amidst rising living costs.
Dearness Allowance (DA)
- It is the cost-of-living adjustment to offset inflation, provided to government employees and pensioners. It is calculated as a percentage of the basic salary.