Dearness Relief Hike Notification October 2023: The Finance Ministry recently decided to increase the rate of Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Government pensioners and family pensioners from 42% to 46% of the basic pay/family pension.
In a notification dated 27th October 2023, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) said, “the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief admissible to Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 42% to 46% of the basic pension/family pension (including additional pension/family pension) w.e.f 01 July, 2023.
The enhanced DR will be applicable from 1 July 2023. As per the notification, the increased dearness relief will be applicable to the following categories of pensioners:
(i) Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners including Central Govt. absorbee pensioners in PSU/Autonomous Bodies in respect of whom orders have been issued vide this Department’s OM No. 4/34/2002-P&PW(D)Vol.II dated 23.06.2017 for restoration of full pension after expiry of commutation period of 15 years
(ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners/Family Pensioners and Civilian Pensioners/Family Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates.
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(iii) All India Service Pensioners/Family Pensioners. (iv) Railway Pensioners/Family Pensioners. (v) Pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension.
(vi) The Burma Civilian Pensioners/Family Pensioners and Pensioners/families of displaced Government Pensioners from Burma/ Pakistan, in respect of whom orders have been issued vide this Department’s OM No. 23/3/2008-P&PW(B) dated 11.09.2017.
The DoPPW said that payment of Dearness Relief involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
“Other provisions governing grant of DR in respect of employed family pensioners and re-employed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 52 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 and this Department’s OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended from time to time. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension will remain unchanged,” the DoPPW said.
“In the case of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, necessary orders will be issued by the Department of Justice separately,” it added.
