DA hike: Can it be delayed till October 28?

The central government has not yet announced the dearness allowance (DA) for July 2026 and it is unlikely to do so over the weekend. If the government does not announce the hike by Saturday or Sunday, it may delay the announcement until the next weekly cabinet meeting, which typically occurs on Wednesday. This meeting could take place on October 28, 2026.

The government often makes significant announcements after weekly cabinet meetings, and the DA and dearness relief (DR) affect more than one crore central government employees and pensioners. Consequently, there is a possibility that the hike could be announced during the upcoming cabinet meeting.

However, announcing the DA hike after a cabinet meeting is not a strict rule. The Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry can issue the DA hike independently of a cabinet announcement.