Central government employees and pensioners are set to hold a nationwide protest tomorrow, April 16, over the delay in the latest Dearness Allowance (DA) revision, which is usually given every six months. This delay is the longest in over a decade.
The Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers (CCGEW) has announced that its affiliated unions will observe a lunch-hour protest at workplaces across the country.
In a letter addressed to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the CCGEW expressed concern over the delay in announcing the next DA hike.
This protest has been called at a time when there is a lack of clarity over the timeline of 8th Pay Commission's rollout.
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The organisation pointed out that while the government had last revised DA in October 2025, effective from July 2025, employees have been waiting for the subsequent revision since January 2026.
"This is to give notice that the employees who are members of the affiliated organisations of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will hold a lunch hour's demonstration at all workplaces on April 16, 2026, and send a resolution," the notice read.
Their main demand is that the government should immediately announce the pending DA/DR hike effective from Jan. 1, 2026, for both central government employees and pensioners. Because the DA revision is pending, pensioners are also not getting the Dearness Relief (DR), which is linked to DA.
"The single demand pursuant of which the employees will embark upon the above action programme is 'immediate declaration of the due instalment of DA/DR, w.e.f., January 1, 2026, for employees and pensioners," the letter further says.
The government usually revises the DA twice a year to adjust salaries and pensions for inflation. Since the 7th Pay Commission started on January 1, 2016, such delays in announcements have not happened for this long before.
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Employees were expecting the DA hike to be announced around Holi, March 4, or shortly before it, but it has still not been declared.
"Severe discontent and apprehensions is there amongst the employees and pensioners, over the delay in declaration of the same," said the employees' body.
"The confederation beseech your personal intervention in the matter and request to your good self to kindly cause the Declaration/issuance of the DA/DR orders at the earliest," it added.
The current DA rate is 58% and is expected to increase by around 2%.
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