There is good news for employees in Himachal Pradesh, while central government employees are still waiting for their next Dearness Allowance (DA) hike.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has approved a 3% increase in DA for employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation (HPSFDCL). The revised DA will be effective from April 1, 2025.
Apart from this, the corporation’s Board of Directors has also approved a bonus for 175 employees earning up to Rs 21,000 per month.
Big Relief for Workers and Contract Employees
In its 216th meeting, the Board approved the regularisation of daily wage workers who have completed 240 days of service in each of the last four years. This decision follows the state government’s notification issued on April 1, 2026.
Eligible contract employees will also be regularised according to the state’s policy.
The Board has also increased the minimum wages for different categories of workers from Rs 425 per day to Rs 450 per day. The new wage rates will come into effect from April 1, 2026.
When Will Central Government Employees Get Their DA Hike?
Meanwhile, central government employees and pensioners are eagerly waiting for the DA announcement for the July-December 2026 period.
Based on previous trends, the government is expected to announce the new DA rates in September or October this year.
Earlier in April, the Finance Ministry increased DA by 2%, taking it from 58% to 60% of the basic salary with effect from January 1, 2026.
The hike benefited nearly 50 lakh central government employees and around 65 lakh pensioners, including retired defence and railway personnel.
How Much DA Increase Is Expected This Time?
The final decision will depend on the latest All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) data.
The index stood at 149.1 in March 2026, rose to 149.9 in April, and further increased to 150.8 in May.
According to estimates, the June 2026 AICPI-IW figure could reach around 151.7. Based on current trends, employees may expect another DA increase of around 3% to 4%.
However, the final hike will only be confirmed after the June AICPI-IW data is released and the government gives its approval.
