Govt approves 100% DA, Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension

Government on Friday raised dearness allowance to 100 per cent, from 90 per cent, benefiting its 50 lakh (5 million) employees and 30 lakh (3 million) pensioners.

The decision to hike DA for its employees, and to provide dearness relief for pensioners, by 10 per cent to 100 per cent was taken by the Union Cabinet in its meeting held in New Delhi.

"The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to hike Dearness allowance for its employees and dearness relief for its pensioners to 100 per cent in its meeting held here," a source said.

This increase in the dearness allowance by the United Progressive Alliance-2 government comes ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct by the Election Commission.

The code is likely to come into force with the announcement of the schedule for the forthcoming general elections in a week or so.

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Also it would be the second double digit DA hike in a row.

The government had announced a hike of 10 per cent to 90 per cent in September last year, effective from July 1, 2013.

The new hike in DA would be effective from the January 1 this year.

As per practice, the government uses Consumer Price Index- Industrial Workers data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for the purpose of any DA hike.

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Govt approves Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension

Government on Friday also approved the proposal to ensure Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension under a scheme of retirement fund body EPFO that would immediately benefit 28 lakh (2.8 million) pensioners, including 500,000 widows.

The decision to provide the entitlement under Employees' Pension Scheme-95, run by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, was taken by the Union Cabinet in its meeting held in New Delhi.

The government would have to provide an additional amount of around Rs 1,217 crore (Rs 12.17 billion) to ensure the minimum pension of Rs 1,000 starting 2014-15.

Pensioners will get the benefit with effect from April 1.

The proposal has already been approved by the Finance Ministry.