It is Dussehra today (Tuesday, October 20, 2026), and the central government is yet to announce the dearness allowance (DA) hike applicable from July 1 for its employees. It didn’t announce the DA hike in its last two cabinet meetings on Wednesday this month. But expectations of the hike are high for employees as the government is set to hold its weekly cabinet meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, October 21, 2026). Can it announce the DA hike?
Manjeet Singh Patel, president, All India New Pension Scheme (AINPS), told ET Wealth Online that the DA hike can be announced in the upcoming cabinet meeting on Wednesday as it has already been quite late.