The Bihar government greenlit a hike in dearness allowance for employees and pensioners on Tuesday — with an increase of up to 8% for eligible individuals. The change will come into effect retroactively from July 1 this year and apply to workers paid under the fifth and sixth pay commissions. The development also comes mere weeks after the previous government led by Nitish Kumar approved a 3% hike in dearness allowance.
According to an update shared by Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, the hike will apply to state government employees and pensioners and take effect from July 1. An official update indicated that those receiving wages or pensions under the Sixth Pay Commission would see DA hiked from 252% to 257%. The Bihar government also approved a hike from 466% to 474% for those under the Fifth Pay Commission.
Second hike within weeks
The announcement came merely two months after the previous Bihar government (also led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar) approved 3% increase in the dearness allowance for more than 10 lakh state employees. The change was applicable for both government employees and pensioners with effect from July 1. The decision was approved taken during a Cabinet meeting ahead of the state Assembly elections — raising the dearness allowance for state employees and pensioners from 55% to 58%.
Cabinet approves creation of 3 new depts, changing names of 3 others
The cabinet of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday approved proposals to create three new departments and change the names of three others, officials said.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Kumar on Tuesday.
The newly created departments are the Youth, Employment and Skill Development Department, the Higher Education Department and the Civil Aviation Department, they said.
The CM had recently announced on X the state government’s decision to create three new departments.