Quick answer: DA arrears for July–October 2026 = 3% of your basic pay × 4 months, because the Department of Expenditure raised DA from 60% to 63% with effect from 1 July 2026 (OM dated 29 October 2026). At the Level 1 entry pay of ₹18,000 that is ₹540 a month, or ₹2,160 for the four months.
What the official order says
DoE Office Memorandum No. 1/2(i)/2026-E.II(B), dated 29 October 2026, says the rates of Dearness Allowance “shall be enhanced from 60% to 63% of the Basic Pay with effect from 1st July, 2026.”
- Effective date: 1 July 2026.
- Basic Pay: “the pay drawn in the prescribed Level in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC recommendations … but does not include any other type of pay like special pay etc.”
- Rounding: fractions of 50 paise and above are rounded up to the next rupee; fractions below 50 paise are ignored.
- Who it covers: Central Government civilian employees, including civilians paid from the Defence Services Estimates. Separate orders will be issued for Armed Forces personnel (Ministry of Defence) and Railway employees (Ministry of Railways).
- Payment month and arrears: the OM does not give a payment month and does not mention arrears. When your pay office starts paying 63% is up to it. Arrears are simply the difference owed for the months already paid at 60%.
How DA arrears are calculated
The only change is the rate: 63% − 60% = 3% of basic pay. For each month from July 2026 that was paid at the old 60% rate, you are owed 3% of that month’s basic pay.
Arrears = Basic pay × 3% × number of months. For July, August, September and October 2026 that is 4 months.
Example (Level 6, ₹35,400): 35,400 × 3% = ₹1,062 a month. ₹1,062 × 4 = ₹4,248 in arrears.
If your basic pay changed during these months, for example because of the July annual increment or a promotion, work out each month separately with that month’s basic. If your office has not paid 63% for November yet either, add that month too.
Level-wise DA arrears table (entry pay, July–October 2026)
This table uses the first cell (entry pay) of each Level in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix under the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 (Level 13 as modified by DoE OM dated 28 September 2017), and the 63% rate from the DoE OM of 29 October 2026. If your basic is higher, use the formula above.
| Pay Level | Entry basic pay | DA at 60% | DA at 63% | Monthly increase (3%) | Arrears, 4 months (Jul–Oct) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ₹18,000 | ₹10,800 | ₹11,340 | ₹540 | ₹2,160 |
| Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹11,940 | ₹12,537 | ₹597 | ₹2,388 |
| Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹13,020 | ₹13,671 | ₹651 | ₹2,604 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹15,300 | ₹16,065 | ₹765 | ₹3,060 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹17,520 | ₹18,396 | ₹876 | ₹3,504 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹21,240 | ₹22,302 | ₹1,062 | ₹4,248 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹26,940 | ₹28,287 | ₹1,347 | ₹5,388 |
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 | ₹28,560 | ₹29,988 | ₹1,428 | ₹5,712 |
| Level 9 | ₹53,100 | ₹31,860 | ₹33,453 | ₹1,593 | ₹6,372 |
| Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹33,660 | ₹35,343 | ₹1,683 | ₹6,732 |
| Level 11 | ₹67,700 | ₹40,620 | ₹42,651 | ₹2,031 | ₹8,124 |
| Level 12 | ₹78,800 | ₹47,280 | ₹49,644 | ₹2,364 | ₹9,456 |
| Level 13 | ₹1,23,100 | ₹73,860 | ₹77,553 | ₹3,693 | ₹14,772 |
| Level 13A | ₹1,31,100 | ₹78,660 | ₹82,593 | ₹3,933 | ₹15,732 |
| Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹86,520 | ₹90,846 | ₹4,326 | ₹17,304 |
| Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 | ₹1,09,320 | ₹1,14,786 | ₹5,466 | ₹21,864 |
| Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 | ₹1,23,240 | ₹1,29,402 | ₹6,162 | ₹24,648 |
| Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 | ₹1,35,000 | ₹1,41,750 | ₹6,750 | ₹27,000 |
| Level 18 | ₹2,50,000 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,57,500 | ₹7,500 | ₹30,000 |
Figures are before income tax and any NPS/UPS deduction. Rounded per para 4 of the OM, although every entry here is already a whole rupee.
What is and isn’t included in DA arrears
- Basic pay only: DA is worked out on basic pay in the Pay Matrix. Special pay and other kinds of pay are excluded (OM para 2).
- HRA: House Rent Allowance is not part of DA arrears. The 29 October OM does not revise HRA.
- Transport Allowance: the TA amount itself is not part of DA arrears. Under 7th CPC rules, DA is paid on top of Transport Allowance, so that small DA-on-TA element also goes up from July. The 29 October OM does not mention it, so it is left out of the table above. Check your pay slip.
- Not “pay”: DA stays a separate part of your pay and is not treated as pay under FR 9(21) (OM para 3).
What about pensioners (DR)?
The Cabinet approved Dearness Relief for pensioners at the same 63% from 1 July 2026 (PIB, 28 October 2026). The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) order on DR was still awaited when this page was published. Pensioners’ DR arrears work the same way: 3% of basic pension × the months paid at 60%. We will link the DoPPW order here once it is out.
Want the full monthly picture? See our DA Hike July 2026 explainer.
For the bigger picture, see 8th Pay Commission 1 year on and try our salary calculator.
FAQs
How much DA arrears will I get for July to October 2026?
3% of your basic pay for each of the 4 months. On ₹18,000 (Level 1) that is ₹2,160. On ₹56,100 (Level 10) it is ₹6,732.
When will the DA arrears be paid?
The DoE OM of 29 October 2026 does not give a payment date or month. Pay offices pay the revised DA and arrears once they process the order, so check with your DDO or pay office.
Is DA from July 2026 63% or 60%?
63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026, up from 60%, as per DoE OM No. 1/2(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 29.10.2026.
Are DA arrears calculated on basic pay plus HRA?
No. DA, and so DA arrears, is calculated on basic pay in the Pay Matrix only. HRA, special pay and other allowances are not included.
Does this order apply to Railway and Defence staff?
It applies to defence civilians paid from the Defence Services Estimates. For Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, the OM says the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways will issue separate orders.
Sources
- Department of Expenditure OM No. 1/2(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 29.10.2026 (PDF)
- PIB: Cabinet approves DA/DR, 28 Oct 2026
- DoE: CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 and Pay Matrix
- DoE OM dated 28.09.2017: Modification of Level-13 of Pay Matrix (PDF)
Last verified 4 November 2026. This page explains the official order and is not itself an official document. Your actual arrears depend on your basic pay in each month.