PNS|Hyderabad
The Telangana government on Thursday issued orders enhancing the Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees from 26.39 percent to 30.03 percent of basic pay, with effect from January 1, 2023. This hike benefits all government employees, including teaching and non-teaching staff of local bodies, and grant-in-aid institutions drawing pay in the 2020 Revised Pay Scales (RPS).
As per G.O.Ms.No.78 issued by the Finance Department, the revised DA will be paid with the salary for June 2025, payable in July. Arrears for the 29-month period from January 2023 to May 2025 will be disbursed in 28 monthly installments, starting from July 1, 2025.
For employees drawing pay in the 2015 Revised Pay Scales, the DA is revised from 63.912 percent to 68.628 percent. Those covered under UGC/AICTE/SNJPC 2016 scales will now receive 42 percent DA (up from 38 percent), while those under UGC/AICTE/FNJPC 2006 scales will get 221 percent DA (revised from 212 percent).
The revised DA will also apply to employees under Zilla Parishads, Mandal Praja Parishads, Gram Panchayats, municipalities, municipal corporations, agricultural market committees, and cooperative institutions drawing pay under the relevant Revised Pay Scales.
The order covers all full-time employees, but excludes those not eligible for DA as per the rules.
Employees drawing DA as per court orders or special terms will be guided by those rulings. Heads of Departments are directed to calculate and claim the arrears in accordance with the schedule provided.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government has revised the Dearness Relief (DR) for its pensioners with effect from 1 January 2023. As per G.O.Ms.No. 79 issued by the Finance (HRM.V) Department on 13 June, pensioners across several categories will benefit from the enhanced DR rates, which will be paid from July 2025 onwards.
The government has increased the Dearness Relief from 26.39% to 30.03% of the basic pension for those who retired on or after 1 July 2018 under the Revised Pay Scales of 2020. Similarly, pensioners under the 2015 Revised Pay Scales will now get 68.628%, up from 63.912%.
Pensioners who retired under the UGC/AICTE/SNJPC Pay Scales of 2016 will see their DR revised from 38% to 42%, while those under the 2006 scales, who did not migrate to the 2016 scales, will get 221%, up from 212%.
The orders apply to a wide range of beneficiaries including service pensioners, family pensioners, pensioners from aided educational institutions, municipal and panchayat bodies, and even Jagir and Estate pensioners.
The revised DR will be paid along with the June 2025 pension, which will be disbursed in July 2025. Arrears from January 2023 to May 2025 will be cleared in 28 equal monthly instalments, starting July 2025.
Treasury officers and pension payment authorities have been authorised to make payments without awaiting further instructions from the Accountant General.
Officials clarified that financial assistance grantees who are not entitled to DR will not benefit from these orders. For university pensioners, the additional expenditure on DR will be met from block grants, while municipal and ZP pensioners will be covered through their respective pension funds.
The government also announced that orders on DR pending from 1 July 2023 will be issued separately after six months.
