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DA hike history under the 7th Pay Commission
Every Dearness Allowance rate from the start of the 7th CPC in January 2016 to today, and what happens to DA when the 8th Pay Commission starts.
What is Dearness Allowance?
Dearness Allowance (DA) protects salaries against inflation. It is a percentage of basic pay, revised twice a year, with effect from 1 January and 1 July. The rate follows the All-India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW). Revisions are usually announced a few months after the date they take effect, and the months in between are paid as DA arrears. Pensioners receive the same rate as Dearness Relief (DR).
DA rates, 2016 to 2026
| With effect from | DA rate | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | 60% | +2 | Current rate |
| 1 July 2025 | 58% | +3 | |
| 1 January 2025 | 55% | +2 | |
| 1 July 2024 | 53% | +3 | |
| 1 January 2024 | 50% | +4 | HRA rates rose to 30/20/10% |
| 1 July 2023 | 46% | +4 | |
| 1 January 2023 | 42% | +4 | |
| 1 July 2022 | 38% | +4 | |
| 1 January 2022 | 34% | +3 | |
| 1 July 2021 | 31% | +3 | Freeze ended; 28% restored from 1 July 2021, then 31% |
| 1 January 2020 – 30 June 2021 | 17% paid | — | DA frozen during COVID-19; instalments of 21%, 24% and 28% were not paid for this period |
| 1 July 2019 | 17% | +5 | |
| 1 January 2019 | 12% | +3 | |
| 1 July 2018 | 9% | +2 | |
| 1 January 2018 | 7% | +2 | |
| 1 July 2017 | 5% | +1 | |
| 1 January 2017 | 4% | +2 | |
| 1 July 2016 | 2% | +2 | |
| 1 January 2016 | 0% | — | 7th CPC starts; DA reset |
The rate from 1 July 2026 is expected to be announced later in 2026. Always check the latest Office Memorandum from the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, for the official figure.
How DA affects other allowances
- HRA: House Rent Allowance rates step up when DA crosses 25% and again at 50%. See the HRA guide.
- Transport Allowance: DA is also paid on top of transport allowance.
- Some other allowances rise by 25% each time DA crosses 50%.
What happens to DA at the 8th Pay Commission?
When a new pay commission starts, the DA earned so far is folded into the new basic pay through the fitment factor, and DA restarts at 0%. It then begins rising again every January and July. That is why the 8th CPC calculator starts 8th CPC DA at 0% by default.
See how DA changes your payPick any DA rate, or enter your own, in the calculator.
Open the calculator