<h1>Cabinet approves 28% Dearness Allowance hike for Central Government employees and pensioners, effective July 1, 2021.</h1> The Cabinet Committee, led by the Prime Minister, approved an increase in Dearness Allowance for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners to 28%, effective from July 1, 2021. This represents an 11% rise from the previous rate of 17%. The adjustment accounts for three additional instalments that were frozen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, originally scheduled for January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021. The rate for the period from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, remains at 17%.