How it's calculated
Dearness Allowance is a percentage of basic pay, set by the Department of Expenditure twice a year. "Basic pay" means the pay in your Level of the 7th CPC pay matrix. It does not include special pay or any other allowance.
Estimate only. Official results, marks and eligibility are decided by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure). Verify on the official website.
Worked example: Level 7 entry pay
Basic pay ₹44,900 at the current 60%: 44,900 × 60 ÷ 100 =₹26,940 a month.
At the previous rate of 58% it was ₹26,042, so the latest revision adds₹898 a month.
DA rate history since 2016 (7th CPC)
| From | DA rate | Order |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | 60% | OM 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B), 22 April 2026 |
| 1 July 2025 | 58% | OM 1/4(i)/2025-E.II(B), 6 October 2025 |
| 1 January 2025 | 55% | OM 1/1(1)/2025-E.II(B), 2 April 2025 DoE's page for this OM has been removed; the rate is confirmed by OM 1/4(i)/2025-E.II(B) dated 06.10.2025 (linked), which raises DA from 55%. |
| 1 July 2024 | 53% | OM 1/5/2024-E.II(B), 21 October 2024 DoE's own page for this OM has been removed; the link is the copy forwarded by the Department of Atomic Energy on 22.10.2024. |
| 1 January 2024 | 50% | OM 1/1/2024-E.II(B), 12 March 2024 |
| 1 July 2023 | 46% | OM 1/4/2023-E.II(B), 20 October 2023 |
| 1 January 2023 | 42% | OM 1/1/2023-E.II(B), 3 April 2023 |
| 1 July 2022 | 38% | OM 1/3/2022-E.II(B), 3 October 2022 |
| 1 January 2022 | 34% | OM 1/2/2022-E.II(B), 31 March 2022 |
| 1 July 2021 | 31% | OM 1/4/2021-E.II(B), 25 October 2021 Raised first to 28% (OM 1/1/2020-E.II(B) dated 20.07.2021, restoring the frozen instalments) and then to 31% from the same date by this OM. |
| 1 July 2019 | 17% | OM 1/3/2019-E.II(B), 14 October 2019 DA stayed at 17% from 1.1.2020 to 30.6.2021: the instalments due on 1.1.2020, 1.7.2020 and 1.1.2021 were frozen (OM 1/1/2020-E.II(B) dated 23.04.2020) and no arrears were paid. |
| 1 January 2019 | 12% | OM 1/1/2019-E.II(B), 27 February 2019 |
| 1 July 2018 | 9% | OM 1/2/2018-E.II(B), 7 September 2018 |
| 1 January 2018 | 7% | OM 1/1/2018-E.II(B), 15 March 2018 |
| 1 July 2017 | 5% | OM 1/9/2017-E.II(B), 20 September 2017 |
| 1 January 2017 | 4% | OM 1/3/2017-E.II(B), 30 March 2017 Rate confirmed by OM 1/9/2017-E.II(B) dated 20.09.2017, which raises DA from the existing 4% (set by OM 1/3/2017-E.II(B) dated 30.03.2017). |
| 1 July 2016 | 2% | OM 1/2/2016-E.II(B), 4 November 2016 |
| 1 January 2016 | 0% | OM 1/2/2016-E.II(B), 4 November 2016 The revised pay structure from 1.1.2016 already includes the 125% DA of the old scale, so DA starts at zero. |
What to know about DA
- It is paid on basic pay only. Allowances such as HRA are not included when working out DA, but Transport Allowance gets its own DA on top.
- Arrears come later. A revision effective from 1 January or 1 July is usually announced months later, and the difference is paid as arrears.
- DA restarts at zero with a new pay commission. When the 7th CPC pay matrix began on 1 January 2016, the old DA was merged into the new pay and DA started again at 0%.
- Pensioners get Dearness Relief under separate orders; this calculator is for serving employees.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current DA rate for central government employees?
60% of basic pay, from 1 January 2026, under Department of Expenditure OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026.
How is DA calculated?
DA = basic pay × DA rate ÷ 100. Basic pay means the pay in your Level of the 7th CPC pay matrix only; it does not include special pay or other allowances. Fractions of 50 paise and above are rounded up to the next rupee.
When is DA revised?
DA is revised twice a year, with effect from 1 January and 1 July. The order usually comes a few months later, and the increase is paid with arrears from the effective date.
Why was DA 17% in 2020 and early 2021?
Because of COVID-19, the Government froze the instalments due on 1 January 2020, 1 July 2020 and 1 January 2021 (OM dated 23 April 2020). DA stayed at 17% until 30 June 2021 and no arrears were paid for that period. From 1 July 2021 it was restored to 28% and then raised to 31%.
Does DA affect other allowances?
Yes. Transport Allowance is paid with DA on top of it, and the House Rent Allowance rates rise when DA crosses 25% and again when it crosses 50%. The 7th Pay Commission salary calculator includes these.
Is this DA rate for state government employees too?
No. These are the central government rates. Each state sets DA for its own employees by its own orders.
Sources
- OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 22 April 2026 (current rate), Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure
- Department of Expenditure: Dearness Allowance orders (7th CPC), Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure