The Department of Personnel & Training has released instructions on a range of allowances that are available to employees of the Central Government, according to the Office Memorandum (OM) dated April 2, 2024.
Following its 2016 evaluation and recommendations, the 7th Pay Commission examined all benefits provided to Central Government employees, including those for railway workers, civilian defence workers, and defence personnel.
DA, DR hiked to 50%: Will DA, DR automatically merge into basic pay of central govt employees, pensioners now?
Major allowances which are applicable to Central Government Employees are as follows.
- Dearness Allowance
- House Rent Allowance
- Transport Allowance
- Children Education Allowance
- Travelling Allowance while on Tour
- Deputation Allowance (Applicable to officers who are deputed to other departments)
- Fixed Medical Allowance for Pensioners.
- Higher Qualification Allowance
- Leave Travel Concession
- Leave encashment (while on duty and at the time of retirement)
- Non-Practicing Allowance
Dearness Allowance
Dearness Allowance (DA) has recently been hiked by 4% to 50% for central government employees. Dearness relief (DR) has also been increased by 4% to 50% for the central government pensioners. The revised DA is effective from January 1, 2024.Also read: DA hiked to 50%: 6 things central government employees should know about latest dearness allowance increaseAccording to the OM dated April 2, 2024, the main points of these instructions on Children’s Education Allowance, Risk Allowance, Night Duty Allowance (NDA), Over Time Allowance (OTA), Special Allowance Payable to Parliament Assistants, and Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities have been condensed into the following paragraphs for your convenience and clarity.Children Education Allowance (CEA)
Consequent upon the decisions taken by Government to implement the recommendation of 7th CPC, this department has issued an OM No. A-27012/01/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 17.07.2018. The salient features of CEA are:
(i) CEA/Hostel Subsidy can be claimed only for the two eldest surviving children.
(iii) The amount of hostel subsidy is Rs. 6750/- per month.
(iv) The reimbursement of CEA for Divyang Children of Government servant shall be payable at double the normal rate of CEA i.e. Rs. 4500/- per month. In a case where Divyang Child is not able to attend school, the reimbursement of CEA for availing education / special education at residence, shall be made at double the normal rates of CEA subject to production of payment receipted by teacher/instructor etc. and self-certification by the Central Government servant for availing education of their child at his/her residence.
(v) The rate of CEA would be raised by 25% every time the DA on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%.
(vi) The CEA and Hostel subsidy is admissible in respect of children studying from three classes before class one to 12th standard in accordance.
2. Risk Allowance
(i) As per decision taken by the Government on the recommendation of 7th CPC rates of Risk Allowance were revised.
(ii) Risk Allowance is presently given to Central Government employees engaged in hazardous duties or whose work will have a deleterious effect on health over a period of time.
(iii) The Risk Allowance will not be treated as “Pay” for any purpose.
3. Night Duty Allowance (NDA)
Consequent upon the decision taken by Government on the recommendations made by 7th CPC on the subject following guidelines has been issued:
(i) Night duty will be defined as duty performed between 22:00 hours and 6:00 hours.
(ii) A uniform weightage of 10 minutes shall be given for every hour of night duty performed.
(iii) The ceiling of basic pay for entitlement of NDA shall be Rs 43600/- per month.
(iv) The hourly rate of NDA equal to [(BP+DA)/200] will be paid and the basic pay and DA for the calculation of NDA rates shall be the basic pay and DA prevalent as per 7th CPC.
(v) The amount of NDA will be worked out separately for each employee depending upon the basic pay the concerned employee is drawing on the date of performing the night duty.
4. Over Time Allowance (OTA)
Consequent upon the recommendations of 7th CPC as accepted by the Government, it has been decided that:
(i) “Ministries/Departments to prepare a list of those staff coming under the category of ‘Operational Staff’. Rates of Overtime Allowance not to be revised upwards”.
(ii) The following definition has been used to define Operational Staff: “All non-ministerial, non-gazetted Central Government Servants directly involved in smooth operation of the office including those tasked with operation of some electrical or mechanical equipment.”
(iii) The concerned Administration Wing of the Ministries/Departments will prepare a list of operational staff with full justification based on the above parameters for inclusion of a particular category of staff in the list of operational staff with the approval of JS(Admn.) and Financial Adviser of the concerned Ministry/Department.
(iv) The grant of OTA may be linked to biometric attendance.
5. Special Allowance Payable to Parliament Assistants
(i) As per the decision taken by the Government on 7th CPC recommendations to enhance the rates of Special Allowance payable to those wholly engaged in Parliament work during Parliament session by 50% from the existing levels of Rs. 1500/- and Rs. 1200/- payable to Assistants and UDCs respectively to the level of Rs. 2250/- and Rs 1800/-.
(ii) The allowance will be admissible at full rates for every calendar month in which the Parliament is in session for at least 15 days in that month. For month with shorter period, the allowance will be admissible half the rates prescribed for the full month.
(iii) No OTA shall be paid to Parliament Assistants for the calendar months in which the Parliament is in session.
6. Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities
(i) For providing extra benefits to women employees with disabilities especially when they have young children and children with disabilities, it has been decided that women with disabilities shall be paid Rs. 3000/- per month on Special Allowance for child care. The allowance shall be payable from the time of the child’s birth till the child is two years old.
(ii) The above limit would be raised by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%.