DA Hike: Good News! THIS State Govt Announces Major Increase Ahead of Holi, Over 10 Lakh Employees to Benefit

In a major relief for government employees and pensioners in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government has announced a 4% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) ahead of Holi. Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya made the announcement while presenting the state budget for 2025-26 on Wednesday. The revised DA rates, increasing from 14% to 18%, will be applicable from April 1, 2025.

Over 10 Lakh Employees to Benefit

This decision will benefit more than 10 lakh government employees and pensioners in West Bengal. However, despite the hike, the difference between the DA of central and state government employees remains 35%. The DA hike comes after prolonged protests from government employees demanding parity with their central counterparts.

Strategic Move Ahead of 2026 Elections

The announcement holds political significance as West Bengal is set to go to assembly elections in 2026. This was the last full budget presented by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government before the polls. Given the sustained pressure from employees demanding a DA hike, economic analysts had anticipated this move in the final budget before elections. The decision appears to be aimed at addressing employee dissatisfaction and securing support from the government workforce ahead of the elections.

Smartphones for ASHA and Anganwadi Workers

Apart from the DA hike, the West Bengal government has also allocated ₹200 crore for providing smartphones to ASHA and Anganwadi workers. This initiative will benefit 70,000 ASHA workers, improving their efficiency in delivering healthcare services.

However, the budget did not include any new provisions for the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, a popular financial assistance program for women in the state. Addressing this, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed her commitment to the scheme, stating that 2.21 crore women benefit from Lakshmi Bhandar, with the state government allocating ₹50,000 crore towards it annually.

With these announcements, the Mamata Banerjee government aims to provide economic relief to employees while gearing up for the upcoming elections. The DA hike and welfare measures are expected to play a crucial role in shaping public sentiment ahead of 2026.