Cabinet may approve 6% DA for Central Government Employees on Thursday

Cabinet may approve 6% DA for Central Government Employees on Thursday

The Union Cabinet approval for the 6% rise in the Dearness Allowance for the Central Government employees is expected to be announced on coming Thursday.

It is a well-known fact that every six months, the Central Government increases the Dearness allowance for its employees during the months of January and July. The increased amount is calculated on the price index (CPI IW BY 2001=100) of essential commodities. Rise in the Dearness allowance is being calculated on the basis of the changes in the prices of the essential commodities during the periods between January and June and the period between July and December.

But, it takes around three months since the release of the price index for the months of June and December to arrive at the calculation for the increase in the Dearness allowance. With the result that the increase due from the month of July is being given only from the month of October and the amount due from January is being given only from the month of April.

And, because of this situation, the amount due for the left-behind period of two months is to be settled as arrears. Practical problems arise in the calculation of the arrears amount and also problem arises in clarifying the doubts of the beneficiaries. Pensioners especially, are more tensed up over this procedure.

To avoid this situation, the price index during the periods from November to April and from May to October can be taken into account and the increase in the Dearness allowance calculated based on the information relevant to these periods. The amount can be disbursed from the months of January and July as per this calculation so that there’s no due as arrears.

We imaginatively tested this method to find out the result. It was found out that there was no tangible change in the increase amount if calculated on the basis of the price index obtained during the months of April and October.

Source: cgen.in

7% DA from July 2014 – Prompt decision is worth appreciating..!

7% DA from July 2014 – Prompt decision is worth appreciating..!

The Centre has announced an additional 7% DA hike for the Central Government employees and Pensioners from July 2014.

Usually, agendas for central government employees’ DA hike are presented at the Cabinet meeting only on the third or fourth Thursdays of the month. There are times when these decisions were made during the last cabinet meeting of the season. Sometimes, these decisions are not made even during the last meeting and are taken up only during special meeting or at critical times.

On the 4th of this month, out of the blue, the Government announced a 7% DA hike. The cabinet’s announcement gives a positive conclusion to the relentless waiting of the past few weeks.

DA is calculated twice a year (from January to June, and from July to December) based on the changes in the Consumer Price Index (IW) BY 2001=100. The AICPIN numbers of the month are released by the Labour Bureau the following month.

In the month of August, the Labour Bureau sends the AICPIN data for the months of January to July, to the Finance Ministry. Based on the data, the Finance Ministry calculates the DA hike and the additional expense likely to be incurred, and presents the findings and reports towards the end of August to the Cabinet for its approval. The final decision is made in the month of September. This is the usual procedure.

Irrespective of the date of the Cabinet approval in the month of September, the DA hikes are calculated and given along with the salary for the month of September. Increase for the month of July and August are calculated and given as arrears to the employees and pensioners too.

Although 7% hike has been confirmed already, the prompt decision is worth appreciating!

Source : www.cgstaffnews.in

Flash News: Cabinet approves 7% DA hike from July 2014

Cabinet committee today approved 7% additional Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Pensioners due from July 2014.

Release of additional installment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners due from 01.07.2014

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the release of an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.07.2014. This is an increase of seven percent over the existing rate of 100 percent of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be of the order of approximately Rs. 7691 crore per annum and Rs.5127 crore respectively in the financial year 2014-2015 (i.e. for a period of eight months from July, 2014 to February, 2015).

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PRESS RELEASE OF AICPIN FOR THE MONTH JULY 2014 & DA TABLE

Central Government likely to approve 7% additional DA

Central Government likely to approve 7% additional DA

Government to increase dearness allowance to 107%

The Government is likely to approve a hike in dearness allowance (DA) to 107 per cent from the existing 100 per cent, benefiting around 30 lakh Centre’s employees and its 50 lakh pensioners including dependents.

“The average rate of retail inflation for industrial workers from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 works out to be 7.25 per cent. Thus the Central government will hike dearness allowance for it employees by 7 per cent,” an official said.

He said the Finance Ministry will now put a Cabinet proposal for approval of 7 per cent DA hike from July 1 this year as the revised Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers data for June was released by Labour Ministry on Saturday.

With increase in DA, the pensioners will also gain as the benefit provided to them as dearness relief will be hiked to 107 per cent of basic pay.

The previous UPA government had increased DA to 100 per cent from 90 per cent with effect from January 1, 2014, on February 28 on the basis of agreed formula for revision of the allowance.

However, the central government employees’ union is not very enthused by the 7 per cent hike in the dearness allowance as their long pending demand of merger of DA with basic pay has not been given heed by 7th Pay Commission and the government.

“The erosion of value of wages is unbearable at 50 per cent dearness allowance. Now it will be 107 per cent. It is high time to merge DA with basic pay to provide relief to employees,” Confederation of Central Government Employees’ President KKN Kutty told PTI.

“We had summited our memorandum in this regard to 7th Pay Commission. They forwarded it to Central Government. We have apprised about the issue to the newly elected NDA government.

But no decision has been taken so far,” he said.

With merger of DA with basic pay, the salary and allowances paid in proportion of basic pay are increased. As per earlier practise DA was merged with basic pay once it breached 50 per cent mark. But the 6th Pay Commission has disallowed that.

Source : The Hindu
[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to-increase-dearness-allowance-to-107-from-100/article6366781.ece]

Expected DA from Jan 2014 – Rates of Children Education Allowance may be revised again…!

Expected DA from Jan 2014 – Rates of Children Education Allowance may be revised again…!

All Central Government Employees and Pensioners are expecting to hear the announcement of hike in the Dearness allowance by 10% from July 2013.

The Union Cabinet Committee may take the agenda point for approval on DA in the next meeting, which will be held on 19.9.2013 (Thursday).

Following the approval on DA, the total DA will go upto 90% and the DA may cross 100% very soon..!

As per the recommendations of 6th CPC,  particular allowances will be increased by 25% every time the Dearness allowance payable on revised pay scales goes up by 50%. Therefore, once again the allowances, including Children Education Allowance will be increased by 25%, when the DA crosses 100%.

There is a slight confusion in the calculation of 25% in increasing Children Education Allowance from Rs.1000 or Rs.1250. Ofcourse, there is lot of time to discuss and decide the calculation factor..!

Source : www.ekanews.blogspot.in
[http://ekanews.blogspot.in/2013/09/expected-da-from-jan-2014-rates-of.html]