New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from July 1, 2025.
With this revision, the DA/DR rate will rise from 55% to 58% of the basic pay or pension, according to an official release. The increase is expected to benefit nearly 49.19 lakh Central Government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners, with an annual financial burden of around ₹10,083.96 crore on the exchequer. The hike is in line with the formula recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission and is aimed at cushioning the impact of inflation.
In another major decision, the Cabinet cleared the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’, a six-year programme (2025-26 to 2030-31) with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore. The mission seeks to boost domestic production and achieve self-sufficiency in pulses.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, also approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated rabi crops for the 2026-27 marketing season. The hike aims to ensure fair and remunerative returns to farmers.
The steepest increase has been announced for safflower, with a rise of ₹600 per quintal, followed by lentil (masur) at ₹300 per quintal. The MSP of rapeseed & mustard has been raised by ₹250 per quintal, gram by ₹225 per quintal, barley by ₹170 per quintal, and wheat by ₹160 per quintal.
