DA Merged – Big news for central government employees — and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The government has finally confirmed what many were expecting: the Dearness Allowance (DA) has officially been merged into the basic salary.
Good, right? Well, hold on — because the fitment factor hike that many were banking on? That’s not happening. And let’s just say, people aren’t thrilled.
DA Merged with Basic Pay: What’s Going On?
First off, the DA crossing the 50% mark pretty much guaranteed it would be merged with the basic pay. That’s how it’s usually done, and this year was no different.
On the bright side, merging DA into the basic pay simplifies things — your salary structure gets cleaner, pension benefits go up, and future allowances tied to basic pay also get a boost. So technically, it’s a smart move.
But here’s the catch — people weren’t just excited about the DA merge. They were really hoping for a juicy salary hike thanks to a new fitment factor too. And that… didn’t happen.
What’s This Fitment Factor Everyone’s Talking About?
If you’re wondering what the fitment factor is — it’s basically the multiplier used to figure out your new basic pay whenever salaries are revised. Right now, it stands at 2.57 times the old basic pay.
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Employees were hoping that after the DA got merged, the government would also raise the fitment factor — which would mean a nice fat paycheck. But nope, the government has made it clear there’s no hike coming in 2025.
Why Was Everyone Expecting a Raise?
Honestly, it wasn’t a random hope. Typically, when DA is merged into basic pay, a fitment factor hike follows sooner or later. Plus, after the financial blows from the pandemic and the rising cost of living, unions were pushing hard for an update.
A lot of people thought 2025 would be the perfect time for the government to step up and offer some relief. Unfortunately, that’s not how it’s playing out.
So… Why No Fitment Hike in 2025?
Turns out, the government is holding off. They’re hinting that any big changes to the fitment factor might only come with the 8th Pay Commission — and that’s probably around 2026.
So while the DA merge does mean a bit more money in hand because your basic pay is higher, that dreamy “big salary jump” employees were hoping for? That’s going to have to wait.
Why Employees and Unions Are Upset
It’s not hard to see why people are upset. Unions are already up in arms, saying the DA merger is nice but not enough. With inflation climbing and the cost of everything from groceries to fuel spiking, many employees feel abandoned.
Unions believe the government missed a huge opportunity to ease financial pressure — and they’re not letting it go quietly. Protests and appeals are already being planned to push for a fitment factor revision sooner rather than later.
What About Pensioners?
Good news for pensioners: the DA merger also boosts their basic pension. So retirees will see an increase in their monthly pension payouts. But, like active employees, they won’t see any fitment hike right now.
It’s a partial win — more money for pensioners, but still a bit of a letdown for those hoping for bigger reforms in 2025.
What Experts Are Saying
Most experts agree: merging DA into basic pay is a smart move on paper. It streamlines things, boosts pensions, and makes the pay matrix cleaner.
But let’s be real — it doesn’t solve the real issue: government employees’ salaries haven’t been keeping pace with the cost of living.
Everyone’s now looking at the 8th Pay Commission to deliver the actual, meaningful salary hike employees have been waiting for. Until then, the DA merger feels more like a half-step than a full win.
So, What’s Next?
Right now, the ball is in the government’s court. Unions will keep pushing for a fitment hike, and employees will keep hoping that the 8th Pay Commission brings the major salary bump they were dreaming about in 2025.
For now, salaries will rise a little thanks to the DA merger — but the “real” raise? Looks like that’s still a year or two away.
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