DA hike calculation: ₹540 to ₹1,683 a month more at Levels 1-10 entry pay
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DA goes from 60% to 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026. Our pay-level table shows the monthly rise and an estimate of July-October arrears at each level's entry pay. The payment order is still awaited.
Original report · Explained
Figures as of 28 October 2026. Rupee amounts are our calculation at the entry pay of each level; employees on higher cells of a level get more.
DA hike calculation, in one line: the 3% rise in dearness allowance that the Union Cabinet approved on 28 October 2026 adds ₹540 a month at Level 1 entry pay and ₹1,683 at Level 10 entry pay, by our calculation. DA goes from 60% to 63% of basic pay with effect from 1 July 2026, Tribune India and ANI reported (Tribune India, 2026; ANI, 2026).
The national reports gave the new rate and the total cost. None that we opened gave the rupee figure for each pay level, so we worked it out from the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix. See how every outlet covered the DA hike.
DA rises to 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raised DA for employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners by 3 percentage points on 28 October 2026 (Tribune India, 2026). The rise follows the accepted 7th Pay Commission formula. DA is revised twice a year, in January and July.
It covers 48.54 lakh central government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners, at a combined cost of ₹10,016.10 crore a year, ANI reported (ANI, 2026). ANI's report described the aim as "providing relief against rising prices".
What that means in a pay slip depends on the level.
DA hike by pay level: ₹540 to ₹1,683 a month
The rise is 3% of basic pay, so the check is one sum: basic pay × 0.03. At the entry pay (cell 1) of each level in the 7th CPC pay matrix (Indian Pay Calculator, 2026), the monthly increase is:
- Level 1 (₹18,000): ₹540
- Level 2 (₹19,900): ₹597
- Level 3 (₹21,700): ₹651
- Level 4 (₹25,500): ₹765
- Level 5 (₹29,200): ₹876
- Level 6 (₹35,400): ₹1,062
- Level 7 (₹44,900): ₹1,347
- Level 8 (₹47,600): ₹1,428
- Level 9 (₹53,100): ₹1,593
- Level 10 (₹56,100): ₹1,683
These are entry-pay figures only. An employee on a higher cell of the same level has a higher basic pay, so gets more. At Level 1 entry pay, monthly DA rises from ₹10,800 (60%) to ₹11,340 (63%).
The new rate counts from July, so money is owed for the months already paid at 60%.
Arrears from July: an estimated ₹2,160 to ₹6,732
Because the rate is backdated to 1 July 2026, employees are owed the difference for the months since. If the arrears cover four months, July to October, our estimate at entry pay is:
- Level 1: ₹2,160
- Level 2: ₹2,388
- Level 3: ₹2,604
- Level 4: ₹3,060
- Level 5: ₹3,504
- Level 6: ₹4,248
- Level 7: ₹5,388
- Level 8: ₹5,712
- Level 9: ₹6,372
- Level 10: ₹6,732
This is an estimate, not an official figure. The Finance Ministry order that sets the payment is still awaited, and the reports we read did not say whether arrears will come with the November salary (ANI, 2026).
Pensioners get the same rise under a different name.
Pensioners get the same 3-point rise as DR
Dearness relief for pensioners also goes from 60% to 63% of basic pension, from 1 July 2026 (Tribune India, 2026). The sum works the same way: ₹30 a month more for every ₹1,000 of basic pension.
How the coverage split
Tribune India reported the decision as a routine, inflation-linked revision (Tribune India, 2026). The Times of India headline called it a "Diwali gift from PM Modi" (Times of India, 2026). Neither gave a per-level rupee figure.
What we don't know yet
- The date of the Finance Ministry order.
- Whether arrears will be paid with the November salary.
- The exact figure for employees above entry pay, which depends on their cell in the matrix.
Questions people are asking
How much will my DA increase by?
By 3% of basic pay. At Level 1 entry pay of ₹18,000 that is ₹540 a month, by our calculation from the Cabinet decision and the pay matrix.
What is the new DA rate for central government employees?
63% of basic pay, up from 60%, with effect from 1 July 2026 (Tribune India, 2026).
When will DA arrears be paid?
Not confirmed. The rate is backdated to 1 July, but the reports we read gave no payment date, and the formal order is awaited (ANI, 2026).
How do I calculate the DA hike on my salary?
Multiply basic pay by 0.03 for the monthly rise, and by 0.63 for the new monthly DA.
References
- ANI (2026) Cabinet approves 3% DA hike for 48.54 lakh central government employees, 68.71 lakh pensioners. Rising Kashmir. Available at: Cabinet approves 3% DA hike for 48.54 lakh central government employees (Accessed: 28 October 2026).
- Indian Pay Calculator (2026) 7th CPC Pay Matrix Table 2026. Indian Pay Calculator. Available at: 7th CPC Pay Matrix Table 2026 (Accessed: 28 October 2026).
- Times of India (2026) 'Diwali gift from PM Modi': Cabinet approves 3% DA increase for central govt employees. Times of India. Available at: Cabinet approves 3% DA increase for central govt employees (Accessed: 28 October 2026).
- Tribune India (2026) Centre approves 3% hike in DA, DR for govt employees and pensioners effective July 1. Tribune India. Available at: Centre approves 3% hike in DA, DR (Accessed: 28 October 2026).
How we did this
On 28 October 2026 we read the Cabinet decision as reported by Tribune India and by ANI, carried by Rising Kashmir, and took the entry pay for Levels 1 to 10 from the 7th CPC pay matrix table at Indian Pay Calculator, which cites the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2016. We multiplied each level's entry pay by 3% for the monthly rise, and by four for the July to October arrears estimate. We compared the framing with the Times of India headline. The hero image is a bar chart we drew from these figures; upload it with the story.
This story was produced, reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication, with AI assistance where required.
Covered by 4 outlets across the spectrum: 25% left, 50% center, 25% right.
Who is covering this story
- Left-leaning (1): Rising Kashmir
- Center (2): Indian Pay Calculator, Tribune India
- Right-leaning (1): Times of India
Sources
- Article from Rising Kashmir — Rising Kashmir (left-leaning, AI-estimated) ·
- 'Diwali gift from PM Modi': Cabinet approves 3% DA increase for central govt employees — Times of India (right-leaning) ·
- 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix Table & Chart — 7th CPC PDF — Indian Pay Calculator (center) ·
- Centre approves 3% hike in DA, DR for govt employees and pensioners effective July 1 - The Tribune — Tribune India (center) ·