No arrears for 18 months DA/DR freeze: Joint Secretary at SCOVA meeting

The Issue of Payments of DA/DR arrears frozen for 18 months from 1.1.2020 to 30.06.2021 was raised in the SCOVA meeting held on 12.4.2022.

The Joint Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has stated that the rates of DA/DR have been restored prospectively and subsumed in the cumulative revised rates effective from 01.07.2021 vide OM dated 20.07.2021.

DA/DR arrears for 18 months

The Central Government Pensioners Welfare Association, Jaipur and Ex-Defence Employees Welfare Association, Balasore mentioned that although the Central Government has granted the DA/DR rise of 11% from 01.07.2021, the arrears for 18 months have not been released. The Association requested for releasing the DA/DR Arrears for 18 months to Central Government employees and pensioners/family pensioners.

Discussion/Decision on the agenda item

Joint Secretary, Department of Expenditure stated that this issue was raised in the last meeting of JCM chaired by the Cabinet Secretary also and the JCM was informed that the decision to freeze DA and DR due from 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 & 01.01.2021 was taken in the context of Covid-19 pandemic, so as to ease pressure on Government finances. The rates of DA/DR have been restored prospectively and subsumed in the cumulative revised rates effective from 01.07.2021 vide OM dated 20.07.2021.

In view of the above, the item was closed