Archive · 12 Aug 2025
No DA/DR Arrears Release: Finance Ministry Confirms Decision
The government will not give back the money saved from government employees and pensioners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government had stopped extra money payments, called Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, for a year and a half.
This was due to financial problems caused by the pandemic.
A government official stated that the money was needed to help the country.
The group that decides how much government workers get paid is working on changes, but they aren't ready yet.
Finance Ministry confirms that arrears of frozen DA and DR will not be released.
The DA/DR freeze, impacting employees and pensioners, occurred from January 2020 to June 2021.
The decision followed a parliamentary query about the 18-month freeze.
The Minister of State for Finance cited the pandemic's adverse financial impact as the reason.
The 8th Pay Commission has in-principle approval but has not been formally constituted yet.
- Who
- Central government employees and pensioners.
- What
- The Ministry of Finance's decision to not release arrears of frozen DA and DR.
- When
- The DA/DR freeze was from January 2020 to June 2021.
- Where
- New Delhi.
- Why
- Due to the financial impact and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government Employees/Pensioners
Ministry of Finance
Arrears for Frozen DA/DR
Government Employees/Pensioners
Expectation of arrears release.
Ministry of Finance
No arrears released.
- DA/DR Freeze Period
- January 2020 - June 2021
- DA/DR Purpose
- Offset Inflation
- Relevant Entity
- Ministry of Finance
- DA Under 7th Pay Commission
- 55%
- 8th Pay Commission Status
- In-principle Approval, Not Constituted
