New Delhi: In Rs 9,700-crore sop, the Centre on Monday hiked Dearness Allowance (DA) by 7 per cent for its employees and pensioners, and allowed pension proposals for personnel of armed forces. The hike in DA to 72 per cent of basic pay will be effective from July 1, 2012, and the arrears are entitled from this date. The combined impact on the exchequer would be of the order of Rs 7,408.24 crore per annum.
