Uttarakhand Govt Grants 3% Increase In DA

The Uttarakhand government announced a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees on Tuesday, raising the DA from 50 to 53 per cent per month. This hike, effective from July 1, 2024, applies to regular, full-time employees and officials associated with the University Grants Commission (UGC). Arrears from July 1 to September 30, 2024, will be disbursed in cash, with the increased allowance incorporated into the regular salary starting October 1, 2024, according to an official statement.

The updated DA rate will not immediately extend to high court judges, the chairman and members of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission, or certain other employee categories. Separate directives for these groups will be issued shortly.

In addition to the DA increase, non-gazetted employees in state-aided educational institutions, local bodies, district panchayats, and daily wage workers are eligible for an ad-hoc bonus for the 2023-24 fiscal year. As per guidelines from the Government of India, this 30-day bonus is capped at ₹7,000.

The bonus will benefit employees who were actively serving as of March 31, 2024, and had a minimum of six months of continuous service. Those with less than a full year of service but at least six months will receive a prorated bonus based on their tenure.

For daily wage and casual workers, a bonus amounting to ₹1,184 is available for those who have worked at least 240 days annually over the past three years, applicable to offices with a six-day work week.

Employees under disciplinary action or involved in criminal cases are excluded from the bonus, although those reinstated following suspension will qualify.