In a major announcement ahead of Holi, the Maharashtra government has approved a 12% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees, bringing much-needed relief to nearly 17 lakh government workers. The hike, which takes effect from July 1, 2024ensures that employees will receive their revised pay in their February 2025 salary, along with arrears for the past seven months.

According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued on February 25the DA will rise from 443% to 455%while the existing 5th Pay Commission pay structure remains unchanged. This decision aligns Maharashtra’s DA rates with those of the central government, which recently increased DA from 50% to 53%.

Financial Impact and Employee Response

The revised DA will be covered within the state budget for salaries and allowancesensuring a smooth implementation. Additionally, grant-in-aid institutions and Zila Parishad employees will receive funding under their respective financial aid categories.

For months, employees had been demanding a DA revision, citing rising inflation. This long-awaited decision comes as a significant financial boostand employees have welcomed it wholeheartedly. With the pending arrears also being paid in Februarygovernment workers will have extra funds just in time for the festive season.

This move demonstrates the state government’s commitment to addressing inflation concerns and ensuring financial stability for its employees. With nearly 1.7 million beneficiaries, the DA hike marks a major milestone in Maharashtra’s public sector salary reforms.