DA Hike News: Tamil Nadu Govt Increases Pongal Festival Bonus, DA Hiked By 2%

A piece of good news arrived on Monday for more than 16 lakh Tamil Nadu state government employees as Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a Dearness Allowance (DA) hike and various benefits to pensioners. Tamil Nadu government employees will now get 2% more DA with effect from April 1, 2025.

Tamil Nadu state Government employees like teachers, pensioners, police personnel others will get benefit of DA Hike. As per reports, DA Hike will entail an additional allocation of Rs 1,252 crore per year.

CM Stalin also announced a manifold jump in the "marriage advance" for the benefit of state government employees.

The marriage advance has been increased for state government employees and teachers from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5 lakh, CM Stalin said.

Tamil Nadu CM lauded state government employees and acknowledged their role in state's development and progress. CM said they are the ones who implemented Government welfare schemes on ground and only because of them last man standing in the queue is getting the benefit.

Chief Minister also announced the resumption of 'cash for surrendering earned leave' benefits. This scheme was suspended during COVID-19.

"From October 1, 2025, earned leave of up to 15 days can be surrendered to get cash benefit. This follows a request from government employees to implement it from this year. The gesture would benefit about 8 lakh government officials and teachers. The government would allocate an additional sum of Rs 3, 561 crore for this," the Chief Minister.

Another big announcement was increase in maternity leaves from present nine months to one year.

CM also increased the Pongal festival bonus for state government retired C and D category staff, all types of individual pensioners and family pensioners, from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000.