7th Pay Commission: Will Central Govt Employees Get Their DA Arrears Of 18 months With Salaries Soon?

7th Pay Commission Latest News: Central government employees and pensioners are eagerly awaiting news about the dearness allowance (DA) arrears, a demand put forth by various staff unions and associations. Following the re-election of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, a fresh proposal has been submitted to address the payment of DA arrears withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Demand for DA Arrears

The DA arrears in question relate to three bi-annual hikes that were expected but not implemented due to the pandemic. Traditionally, the central government revises DA in January and July each year. However, the Modi government froze DA hikes for 18 months, citing the financial strain caused by the pandemic.

The latest proposal, presented by Shiva Gopal Mishra, Secretary of the National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery for Central Government Employees, emphasizes the need to clear these arrears.

Mishra's Appeal to the Prime Minister

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Mishra highlighted 14 key demands, including the release of the 18-month DA arrears. He stressed the importance of addressing these concerns for the benefit of central government employees and pensioners.

"As Secretary (Staff Side) of the National Council (JCM), it is my duty to draw your kind attention to some of the major issues which are agitating the minds of the central government employees and pensioners," Mishra wrote.

Despite previous government rejections, citing financial constraints, Mishra's letter underscores the continued urgency and importance of this demand.

Previous Government Stance on DA Arrears

In January, the Finance Ministry received a proposal addressing pending DA arrears from January 2020 to June 2021. Mukesh Singh, General Secretary of Bharatiya Pratiksha Mazdoor Sangh, emphasized the significant contributions of government employees and pensioners during the pandemic.

During Modi's second term, then Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, stated in the Lok Sabha that paying the arrears was not feasible due to the financial impact of the pandemic and the fiscal commitments beyond FY 2020-21.

Reasons for Freezing DA Arrears

In response to a Lok Sabha query, Chaudhary explained that the decision to freeze DA instalments from January 2020 to June 2021 was driven by the economic disruption caused by COVID-19. The financial strain of pandemic-related welfare measures extended beyond FY 2020-21, making the arrears payment impractical. Chaudhary noted that the fiscal deficit remains significantly higher than the levels projected under the FRBM Act.