Diwali Gift For Punjab Govt Employees, Pensioners As CM Bhagwant Mann Announces 3% DA Hike

Last Updated:November 04, 2026, 7:54 PM IST

Mann said the latest hike would provide employees with an annual financial benefit of approximately ₹3,988 crore.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister acknowledged the contribution of government employees and pensioners to the state’s administration and public service.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday announced a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, taking the DA rate to 53% from the earlier 50%.

Announcing the increase as a Diwali gift, Mann said it would benefit nearly 8 lakh employees and pensioners. The revised DA/DR will come into effect from November 1, with the enhanced amount reflected in salaries and pensions paid in December.

The latest announcement comes just two months after the state government announced an 8-percentage-point increase in DA in September. With the latest revision, the cumulative increase over the two months stands at 11 percentage points.

Taking to X, Mann said the latest hike would provide employees with an annual financial benefit of approximately ₹3,988 crore.

“Today, as a major Diwali gift to nearly 8 lakh employees and pensioners of Punjab, we have announced a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA). With this, the DA has risen to 53%, providing employees with an annual financial benefit of approximately ₹3,988 crore,” he said.

“Employees are the backbone of our government, and we are fully committed to their welfare, rights and overall well-being. Heartiest Diwali greetings to all employees and their families,” he added.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister acknowledged the contribution of government employees and pensioners to the state’s administration and public service.

“Employees and pensioners are members of the Punjab Government family and are the backbone of the administrative machinery. They are performing their duties with dedication and commitment to address the grievances of the common people, maintain law and order and implement various welfare schemes,” he said.

Mann said the government’s public welfare initiatives had been made possible in large part by the contribution of its employees. He also highlighted the state’s recruitment drive, claiming that the government had provided 71,777 jobs over the past four years and nine months purely on merit, without bribery or recommendations.

“I have always preferred dialogue to address the pending demands of employees, and our doors remain open for them at all times,” he said.

DA Increased By 25 Percentage Points Since 2022

Mann said the state government had raised the DA rate from 28% when it assumed office in 2022 to 53% following the latest revision.

“From 2022 till date, the state government has increased DA by 25 percentage points. Just two months ago, in September, an 8% increase in DA was announced. This is for the first time that any government has increased DA by 11 percentage points within a span of just two months,” he said.

He added that the cumulative 11-percentage-point increase announced over the past two months would benefit employees and pensioners by ₹1,813 crore during the current financial year.

Punjab Govt To Clear Pending Pay Commission Arrears

The Chief Minister also spoke about the pending liabilities arising from the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission, whose recommendations were meant to take effect from January 1, 2016, but were implemented only in July 2021.

According to Mann, this led to arrears of approximately ₹14,191 crore for the period between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2021.

He said his government had drawn up a phased plan to clear the outstanding dues, prioritising pensioners. Their arrears were released from April 1, 2025, while payments to serving government employees began on April 1, 2026.

“So far, arrears amounting to ₹4,891 crore have been released, and the remaining ₹9,300 crore will also be paid,” Mann said.

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What is the new Dearness Allowance rate for Punjab government employees and pensioners?

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), bringing the total rate up from 50% to 53% as a Diwali gift for state employees and pensioners.

When will the revised DA hike take effect and reflect in payments?

The revised 3% DA and DR increase comes into effect starting November 1, 2026, with the enhanced amount reflecting directly in the salaries and pensions paid out in December.

How much has the Punjab government increased DA by since taking office in 2022?

The Punjab government has increased the Dearness Allowance rate by a cumulative 25 percentage points since taking office in 2022, raising it from 28% to the current rate of 53%.

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