Union Cabinet hikes dearness allowance, approves PLB for rail staff

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a hike in the dearness allowance (DA) to central government employees and dearness relief (DR) to pensioners by four precentage points to 46 per cent of basic salary. The government said the decision was taken to compensate against price rise. The Cabinet also approved a productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for 2022-23 to all the eligible non-gazetted staffers of the Indian Railways.

The release of the additional instalment of DA and DR will be applicable from July 1, 2023, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said.

“This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission,” the statement said.