Rajasthan hikes DA by 9% for 5th Pay, 5% for 6th Pay from Jan 2026
Synopsis
Rajasthan has quietly delivered a meaningful raise to its older pay-scale cohorts — a 9-point DA jump to 483% for Fifth Pay Scale staff and a 5-point bump to 262% for Sixth Pay Scale, effective January 2026. Arrears for employees go to GPF; pensioners get cash. A targeted move for the pre-Seventh Pay Commission workforce.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan approved DA and DR hikes for Fifth and Sixth Pay Scale employees and pensioners, effective 1 January 2026 .
Fifth Pay Scale DA/DR rises 9 percentage points — from 474% to 483% .
Sixth Pay Scale DA/DR rises 5 percentage points — from 257% to 262% .
Arrears for serving employees (Jan–Apr 2026) will be credited to GPF , GPF-2004 or GPF-SAB accounts.
Pensioners will receive DR arrears in cash; revised DR will reflect in future monthly pensions.
The decision was cleared by Deputy CM and Finance Minister Diya Kumari .
The Rajasthan government on 3 June approved a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for state employees and pensioners drawn under the Fifth and Sixth Pay Scales, effective 1 January 2026. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari cleared the Finance Department's proposal, raising DA for Fifth Pay Scale beneficiaries by 9 percentage points and Sixth Pay Scale beneficiaries by 5 percentage points.
Revised DA and DR rates
Under the approved order, employees and pensioners on the Fifth Pay Scale will see their DA and DR rate move from 474% to 483%. Those on the Sixth Pay Scale will move from 257% to 262%.
The enhanced rates will apply from 1 January 2026, bringing the older pay scale cohorts in line with periodic inflation-linked revisions.
How arrears will be paid
According to the Finance Department's order, DA arrears for serving employees for the period 1 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 will be credited to their respective GPF, GPF-2004 or GPF-SAB accounts. From May onwards, the higher DA will be paid as part of regular monthly salary.
Pensioners, by contrast, will receive the DR arrears for the same four-month window in cash, and the revised DR will be folded into subsequent monthly pension payments.
Who is affected
The decision covers a narrower segment than the Seventh Pay Commission cohort — specifically employees and retirees who remained under the older Fifth and Sixth Pay Scales. For many long-retired pensioners, these scales still govern their pension calculations, making DR revisions a key driver of monthly take-home.
Why it matters
DA and DR are inflation-indexed components meant to offset rising living costs. State governments typically mirror Centre-led revisions for older pay scales with a lag, and Rajasthan's order brings parity for its pre-Seventh Pay Commission workforce.
The state government framed the move as part of its broader commitment to employee welfare and inclusive development. Sectoral implementation details are expected to follow through routine Finance Department circulars.
Point of View
But they matter disproportionately to long-retired pensioners whose monthly income is anchored to these formulas. Rajasthan's move keeps parity with Centre-led revisions for legacy cohorts — a routine but necessary administrative act. The more interesting question is fiscal: state DA bills compound quietly, and with the Seventh Pay Commission cohort due its own revisions, cumulative wage outgo bears watching against Rajasthan's revenue trajectory. Routing employee arrears to GPF rather than cash is a sensible liquidity-management choice that mainstream coverage tends to overlook.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new DA rate for Rajasthan's Fifth Pay Scale employees?
The Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief rate for Fifth Pay Scale employees and pensioners has been raised from 474% to 483% — a 9 percentage point increase. The revised rate is effective from 1 January 2026.
How much has DA been increased for Sixth Pay Scale beneficiaries?
Sixth Pay Scale employees and pensioners will see a 5 percentage point hike, with the rate moving from 257% to 262%. This is also effective from 1 January 2026.
How will the DA arrears be paid to employees and pensioners?
Arrears for serving employees covering 1 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 will be credited to their GPF, GPF-2004 or GPF-SAB accounts. Pensioners will receive the corresponding DR arrears in cash, with the revised rate added to subsequent monthly pensions.
Who approved the Rajasthan DA hike?
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari approved the Finance Department's proposal. The order applies specifically to employees and pensioners under the Fifth and Sixth Pay Scales.
When will the increased DA reflect in salaries?
From May 2026 onwards, the increased DA will be paid as part of regular monthly salary for serving employees. Arrears for the January–April 2026 window go into GPF accounts rather than cash.
