DA Hike: From 18% to 38%, Here’s How Much Your Salary Will Rise! Read Details

The West Bengal government has announced a massive DA hike from 18% to 38% in its 2026-27 budget. This is great news for state government employees and pensioners, as their monthly salaries and pensions will see a big jump based on their basic pay.

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A massive 20% DA hike in one go

Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced a huge 20% Dearness Allowance hike in the 2026-27 budget. This takes the current DA from 18% straight to 38%, marking the biggest single DA increase in the state's history.

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Effective from October 1, 2026?

The government will roll out the new DA from October 1, 2026. This means state employees and pensioners could receive the increased amount just in time for the festive Puja month.

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Who are the beneficiaries?

Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta confirmed everyone gets the benefit. This includes state government employees, staff of government-aided schools and colleges, municipal and panchayat workers, and even pensioners.

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How much will your salary increase?

The calculation is super simple: just multiply your basic pay by 0.20. For instance, if your basic pay is ₹30,000, you'll get an extra ₹6,000 monthly. A basic of ₹50,000 means a ₹10,000 raise, and a basic of ₹80,000 means ₹16,000 more in your pocket every month.

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Salary Increase Graphic

This graphic gives you a quick snapshot of how much your salary could increase after the DA hike.

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Pensioners will also get equal benefits

It's not just for current employees. Retired pensioners will also get the same 20% hike as Dearness Relief (DR). This will bring a major boost to the monthly income of lakhs of senior citizens.

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Gap with Central DA reduced

Currently, Central government employees get around 55% DA. This hike in West Bengal will help reduce the huge, long-standing gap between state and central DA rates, partially meeting a key demand of the employees.

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Long-standing DA movement

State government employees have been demanding DA on par with central government rates for a long time. They have held street protests and even fought legal battles for this cause. This hike finally brings some relief by narrowing the gap.