New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from July 1 this year.

It represents an increase of four per cent over the existing rate of 42 per cent of the basic pay and pension "to compensate against price rise".

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Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said after a meeting of the union cabinet that the decision will benefit about 48.67 lakh Central Government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners.

An official release said the increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, it said.

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The release said that the combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.12,857 crore per annum. (ANI)

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