DA hike news: Which states have announced a 3% Dearness Allowance increase so far?

DA hike news: Ahead of the festive season, both the Bihar and Rajasthan state governments have announced a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), aligning with the recent decision by the Central Government.

The Union Cabinet approved the 3% DA/DR increase on October 1, 2025, for all Central Government employees and pensioners.

This marks a quick revision following the previous 2% hike announced in March, which took the rate from 53% to 55%.

Following the Centre's announcement, the state governments of Bihar and Rajasthan swiftly implemented the same hike:

The DA/DR hike is typically revised twice a year (in January and July). Importantly, this latest revision is likely to be the final one under the 7th Pay Commission, as the 8th Pay Commission is expected to come into effect from January 2026.

Meanwhile, the next DA hike will come into effect from January 1, 2026. It will be decided based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) data of six months from July to December 2025.