Himachal CM Sukhu hikes DA by 5% for 2.75 lakh employees, pensioners
Synopsis
With Diwali days away, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a 5% DA hike covering 2.75 lakh employees and pensioners — plus a ₹10,000 one-time arrears payment for Class IV staff, all credited on 1 November. The backdrop: a BJP MP simultaneously accused his government of hijacking credit for Central-funded UDAN aviation projects.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a 5% DA hike on 23 October 2026 in Shimla .
The hike covers 2.75 lakh state government employees and pensioners.
It comprises 4% for the current year and 1% pending from the previous year.
Class IV employees will receive an additional one-time payment of ₹10,000 towards pay revision arrears, credited on 1 November .
The formal DA notification will be issued on 1 November .
BJP MP Suresh Kashyap accused the Congress government of claiming credit for Central-funded UDAN aviation projects worth ₹213.52 crore in the state.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, 23 October 2026, announced a five per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners, offering financial relief ahead of the Diwali festive season. The announcement, made during a media interaction in Shimla, is set to benefit approximately 2.75 lakh government employees and pensioners across Himachal Pradesh.
Breakdown of the DA Hike
The five per cent increase is a composite figure: four per cent represents the DA revision for the current year, while the remaining one per cent covers pending dearness allowance carried over from the previous year. Chief Minister Sukhu confirmed that the formal government notification formalising the hike will be issued on 1 November.
One-Time Bonus for Class IV Employees
In addition to the DA revision, Class IV government employees will receive a one-time payment of ₹10,000 towards pay revision arrears. This amount is scheduled to be credited directly to their bank accounts on 1 November, coinciding with the notification date and timed to arrive before the peak Diwali spending period.
Why the Timing Matters
The announcement comes at a moment when government employees and pensioners typically face elevated household expenditure linked to the festive season. Officials noted that the enhanced DA is also intended to provide relief amid persistently rising living costs. The benefit covers both serving employees and retired pensioners, with Class IV staff additionally eligible for the arrears payment.
BJP Hits Back on UDAN Credit Row
Separately, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Suresh Kashyap criticised the state's Congress government for allegedly claiming political credit for aviation projects funded under the Central government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN). Kashyap said the government 'appears more interested in inauguration ceremonies, publicity and political credit than in acknowledging the actual contribution of the Central government.'
Citing official figures presented in Parliament, Kashyap stated that ₹213.52 crore had been allocated for aviation infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh under the UDAN scheme up to June 2024, of which ₹160.48 crore had been utilised. By February 2026, a cumulative 38 regional air routes had been operationalised, connecting four heliports under the scheme. The ruling Congress government had not responded to the BJP's remarks at the time of this report.
Point of View
But the Sukhu government faces a credibility test on two fronts simultaneously. The five per cent hike — split across two years — is less generous than it appears; one percentage point is simply deferred relief that was already owed. Meanwhile, the BJP's UDAN broadside exposes a wider tension: with the Congress state government dependent on Central scheme funding for visible infrastructure wins, the optics of inauguration-first politics carries real electoral risk in a state where the BJP still commands significant ground. How Sukhu navigates the credit-claiming narrative without antagonising New Delhi could matter more than the DA quantum itself.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DA hike announced by Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu?
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a five per cent increase in dearness allowance for Himachal Pradesh state government employees and pensioners on 23 October 2026. The hike comprises four per cent for the current year and one per cent in pending DA from the previous year.
Who benefits from the Himachal Pradesh DA hike?
Approximately 2.75 lakh state government employees and pensioners across Himachal Pradesh will benefit from the five per cent DA increase. Class IV government employees will additionally receive a one-time payment of ₹10,000 towards pay revision arrears.
When will the DA hike and ₹10,000 payment be credited?
The formal government notification for the DA hike will be issued on 1 November. The ₹10,000 one-time payment for Class IV employees is also scheduled to be credited to their bank accounts on 1 November, ahead of Diwali.
What is the BJP's criticism regarding the UDAN scheme in Himachal Pradesh?
BJP MP Suresh Kashyap accused the Congress state government of claiming political credit for aviation infrastructure projects funded under the Central government's Regional Connectivity Scheme, UDAN. Citing parliamentary data, he noted that ₹213.52 crore was allocated and ₹160.48 crore utilised for Himachal Pradesh under UDAN up to June 2024, with 38 regional air routes operationalised by February 2026.
What is the UDAN scheme and how has it benefited Himachal Pradesh?
UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) is the Central government's Regional Connectivity Scheme aimed at making air travel affordable and expanding regional air connectivity. In Himachal Pradesh, the scheme had funded ₹213.52 crore in aviation infrastructure and operationalised 38 regional air routes connecting four heliports as of February 2026, according to figures cited in Parliament.
