Festive cheer: Govt hikes DA, crop prices in ₹1.2 trillion push

The government on Wednesday approved a hike in dearness allowance for its employees, increased the minimum support price (MSP) for key crops, and okayed a mission to boost pulses output in the country, in decisions that will cost the Centre ₹1.2 trillion.

- Rituraj Baruah & Vijay C Roy

Effective 1 July, DA stands at 58% of basic pay.

(ISTOCKPHOTO)

Amid festive cheer, the Union cabinet approved a 3% hike in the dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for central government employees and pensioners.

Effective | July, DA stands at 58% of basic pay and would benefit about 4.92 million employees. Similarly, the DR would benefit 6.87 million government pensioners, Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister for information and broadcasting, told media after the cabinet meeting. The increase in DA and DR would cost the government about ₹10,084 crore.