Central government employees and pensioners are eagerly awaiting the release of the DA Arrears 2026. With Dearness Allowance (DA) reaching 60% as of January 2026, all are hoping arrears will be paid for the period starting January and leading up to the official announcement. Furthermore, the upcoming Eighth Pay Commission is supposed to bring more extensive arrears after they commence with the acceptance of the recommendations. This article simplifies the anticipated timeline and the amounts.
What Are DA Arrears?
DA arrears are the additional sums of money that an employee should have been paid if the higher DA rate had been applied from the day of its effect. In other words, in the event of the DA hike with retrospective effect, the difference in old and new DA rates is paid as arrears.
January 2026 DA Hike Arrears
The 2% DA hike (from 58% to 60%) is effective from 1 January 2026. The official order is expected in March–April 2026.
| Basic Pay Example | Monthly DA Increase | Estimated Arrears (3 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| ₹50,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹3,000 |
| ₹70,000 | ₹1,400 | ₹4,200 |
| ₹1,00,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹6,000 |
Arrears will be paid in one lump sum along with salary after the order is issued.
8th Pay Commission Arrears Outlook
Eighth Pay Commission, as it comes into effect from 1 January 2026, can be expected in its final report by mid-2027. Once underway, the DA credited for the period until the implementation date (say, 60%–63%) would be amalgamated with the new basic pay.
These previous arrears are going to generate significant tension as the new pay shall be calculated from January 2026. For countless employees, total net arrears (joining DA merger bits and fitting factor returns) would fall between ₹1 lakh to ₹4 lakh or even more, according to the wage level and the time it will take to be implemented.
When will Arrears Start Being Paid?
DA arrears of January 2026 are expected at the end of April or May 2026. 8th Pay Commission arrears might begin trickling in by 2028, distributed possibly in 2–3 installments as seen in the previous commissions’ practices.
What Should Employees Do?
Keep your Must-Connect account often and up to date, again and again. Use reckoning estimations with the online sanctioned DA calculators to affirm your personal arrears. Confirm your dates and amounts officially on mail from the DoPT and Fin. Ministry.
DA Arrears Release 2026 will come gradually in two phases: small DA arrears first and, later, larger 8th CPC arrears. Be patient and keep looking out for official announcements.
Also read: HDFC 450-Day FD 2026: Practical Relief With 7.40% Interest and Flexibility for Investors