Thiruvananthapuram, 20 Feb (H.S.):The Kerala government has announced a 10 percentage point increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners, raising the rate from 25% to 35%. The revised rates will take effect with the March 2026 salary, payable in April, while pensioners will receive the enhanced DR with pensions due in April.

The hike will benefit state government employees, teachers, aided school staff, private college and polytechnic employees, full-time contingent staff, and employees of local self-government institutions. Pensioners, family pensioners, ex-gratia pensioners and ex-gratia family pensioners under state service are also covered under the order issued by the Finance Department on February 20.

Employees and pensioners who continue under older pay revision orders will receive DA and DR at revised higher rates corresponding to their pay scales. Under the revised structure, DA/DR rates have been fixed at 72% for those under the 2016 pay revision, 230% for the 2011 revision, 466% for the 2006 revision, and 525% for the 1998 revision.

The government clarified that the additional financial burden arising from the DA hike for local body employees must be met by the respective local governments from their own funds. The benefit will also extend to part-time teachers, part-time contingent employees and re-employed pensioners, based on their eligible pay.

State public sector undertakings, statutory corporations, autonomous bodies, boards and grant-in-aid institutions that follow the state DA/DR pattern may implement the hike subject to conditions. Organisations capable of meeting the additional expenditure from internal resources may do so with board approval, while others will require prior government sanction. Institutions where over 90% of salary or pension expenses are met through government grants can disburse the revised DA and DR with board approval alone.

However, entities such as KSEB and KSRTC, which issue separate DA orders, will continue under the existing system and require separate approval.

In a related move, the government has also enhanced DA and DR for teaching staff and pensioners under UGC, AICTE and Medical Education schemes. Teachers under the 2016 revised scale will see DA rise from 50% to 58%, while those under the 2006 scale will receive an increase from 239% to 257%. Orders regarding arrears will be issued separately.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman