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In a much-anticipated move, the Karnataka government has announced a 3.75% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees. This hike fulfills a longstanding demand of government employees in the state and is consistent with a promise made by the Congress party during the assembly election campaign.
The government issued an official order to revise the dearness allowance from the current 35% to 38.75%. Furthermore, the announcement includes a 4% hike in DA for lecturers on the UGC/AICTE/ICAR scale and judicial officers.
This decision will result in an additional expenditure of ₹1,109 crore for the state government. It’s worth noting that in March of the same year, the previous BJP government had offered an interim increase in basic salaries of up to 17% due to pressure from employee unions. They had also formed a committee to explore the feasibility of reverting to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Additionally, on the same day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed higher education officials to prioritize filling Kalyana Karnataka and other backlog positions. He also called for the establishment of a uniform calendar of events to streamline the activities of various universities, ensuring convenience for candidates seeking admission.
The chief minister further reviewed the operations of the Kannada Study Chair at Jawahar Nehru University (JNU), which was initiated during his previous tenure, and provided instructions to advance its activities. This move demonstrates the government’s commitment to the welfare of state employees and higher education initiatives.
