Gandhinagar: In a meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a decision was taken in the wider interest of state government employees to increase the dearness allowance—effective from January 1, 2025—in line with the Central Government for employees covered under the Sixth and Seventh Pay Commissions, an official statement said.

State government spokesperson and Health Minister Rushikeshbhai Patel, while announcing this decision, stated that the dearness allowance for employees under the Seventh Pay Commission has been increased by 2 percent. For employees under the Sixth Pay Commission, the dearness allowance has been increased by 6 percent.

The spokesperson further stated that the difference in dearness allowance for three months, i.e., from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025, will be paid in a single installment along with the salary for April 2025.

This increase in dearness allowance will benefit a total of 4.78 lakh Karmayogis of the state government, Panchayat service, and others, as well as approximately 4.81 lakh retired employees or pensioners, he added.

The state government will pay a total of ₹235 crore in arrears to the employees, and an additional annual expenditure of ₹946 crore will be incurred for salaries, allowances, and pensions, the spokesperson minister added.

Minister Patel also mentioned that the Finance Department has been directed to issue the necessary orders to implement this employee welfare decision taken by the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. DeshGujarat