5th CPC Dearness Allowance from July 2025: FINMIN O.M dt 06.10.2025
No. 1/4(iii)/2025-E.II(B) Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure
Kartavya Bhavan 1, Kartavya Path, New Delhi-110001 Dated the 06th October, 2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Revision of rates of Dearness Allowance to the employees, who are continuing to draw their pay in the pay scale as per 5th Central Pay Commission.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departmentโs O.M. No. 1/1(3)/2025-E.II(B) dated 2nd April, 2025 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the rate of Dearness Allowance (DA) in respect of employees, who are continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale as per 5th Central Pay Commission, shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 466% to 474% of Basic Pay w.e.f. 1st July, 2025.
2.The provisions contained in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministryโs O.M.No.1(13)/97-E.II(B) dated 3rd October, 1997 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.
3.The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of all organisations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.
Hindi version is attached.
(Samir Kumar Das) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
To
All Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India (as per standard distribution list)
Copy to: C&AG, UPSC, etc.(as per standard endorsement list).
Unified Pension Scheme Cut-Off Date Extended by 2 Months: Deadline Extended to November 30, 2025
File No. 11/14/2025-PR Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services (Pension Reforms Section)
3rd floor, Jeevan Deep Building Parliament Street, New Delhi Dated: 30th September, 2025
To: Chairperson Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) E-500, Tower-E, Sth floor, World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi-110029
Sub: Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme- Extension of date for option.
Sir,
I am directed to refer to the subject matter and to say that Unified Pension Scheme has been implemented w.e.f. 01.04.2025.
2. As per PFRDA (Operationalisation of UPS under NPS) Regulations, 2025, eligible existing employees, past retirees and legally wedded spouse of the deceased past retirees have been given time-frame of three months to exercise choice for UPS i.e. upto 30 June, 2025. However, based on various representations received from stakeholders, this deadline was subsequently extended till 30.09.2025 vide this Departmentโs OM dated 01.07.2025.
3. Various positive changes have been announced recently under UPS including the switch option, benefits on resignation, compulsory retirement, tax exemptions etc. Requests have been received from various stakeholders that some more time need to be given to employees to exercise the option in view of these changes. Accordingly, it has been decided to extend the cut-off date to exercise choice for UPS by two months i.e. upto 30th November, 2025 for eligible existing employees, past retirees and legally wedded spouse of the deceased past retirees.
4. PFRDA is requested to carry out necessary changes including required entablements in the CRA systems, regulations or issue of a circular to give effect to the decision of the Government in this regard.
5. This issues with the approval of Honโble Finance Minister.
The latest revision, based on the accepted formula under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC), increases the rate of DA and DR by 3%, taking the total rate from the existing 55% to 58% of the Basic Pay/Pension. This final major revision under the 7th CPC is a much-needed inflation shield for nearly 1.2 crore employees and pensioners.
Key Updates for July 2025
Component
Previous Rate (w.e.f. Jan 1, 2025)
Revised Rate (w.e.f. Jul 1, 2025)
Dearness Allowance (DA)
55% of Basic Pay
58% of Basic Pay
Dearness Relief (DR)
55% of Basic Pension
58% of Basic Pension
Increase
–
3%
Note:The payment of the revised DA/DR will be done along with the October salary/pension, including arrears for July, August, and September 2025.
Transport Allowance
As per the 7th CPC recommendations, Transport Allowance will also increase based on the latest Dearness Allowance percentage
7th Pay Commission Recommendation for Transport Allowance
The central government implemented the 7th Pay Commission Transport Allowance and released Office Memorandum No.21/5/2017-E.II (B) dated 7th July 2017, in addition to this OM, FinMin also released another Office Memorandum on 2nd August 2017 O.M No.21/5/2017-E.II(B) with partial modification on Transport Allowance to CG Employees for the pay of Rs.24200/- & above in Pay Level 1 & 2
This 58% DA/DR is likely the last revision under the current pay panel, as the 7th CPC’s ten-year term nears its end. Employees are now looking forward to the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to be implemented from January 1, 2026.
Once the 8th Pay Commission recommendations are accepted, the DA, which has now crossed the 50% mark, is likely to be merged with the Basic Pay, resetting the DA rate back to zero and paving the way for a major restructuring of the salary, allowances, and pension framework.
Single Girl Child Scholarship – CBSE invites online applications
เคเฅเคจเฅเคฆเฅเคฐเฅเคฏ เคฎเคพเคงเฅเคฏเคฎเคฟเค เคถเคฟเคเฅเคทเคพ เคฌเฅเคฐเฅเคก ( เคถเคฟเคเฅเคทเคพ เคฎเคเคคเฅเคฐเคพเคฒเคฏ, เคญเคพเคฐเคค เคธเคฐเคเคพเคฐ เคเฅ เค เคงเฅเคจ เคเค เคธเฅเคตเคพเคฏเคคเฅเคค เคธเคเคเค เคจ ) CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (An Autonomous Organisation under the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India)
PUBLIC NOTICE
MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) invites online applications from eligible students for the following Merit Scholarship Schemes:
1. Single Girl Child Scholarship โ Class X (2025 Scheme):
Online applications are invited for the CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child students who have passed Class X in 2025 from CBSE and are currently studying in Class XI in CBSE affiliated schools.
2. Single Girl Child Scholarship โ Class X 2024 (Renewal in 2025):
Online applications are invited for renewal of the CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship โ Class X awarded in 2024.
The detailed guidelines, eligibility conditions, and the online application form are available on the CBSE website at the Scholarship Link (www.cbse.gov.in).
The last date for submission of online applications is 23/10/2025.
Cabinet approves 3% Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners from July 2025
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.fย 01.07.2025 representing an increase of 3% over the existing rate of 55% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate against price rise.
The combined impact on the exchequer on account of increase in both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.10083.96 crore per annum. This will benefit about 49.19 lakh Central Government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners.
This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
Small Savings Schemes interest rates from October 2025 to December 2025
F.No.1/4/2019-NS Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division)
North Block, New Delhi Dated: 30.09.2025
OFFICะ ะะะORANDUM
Subject: Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes – reg.
The rates of interest on various Small Savings Schemes for the third quarter of FY 2025-26 starting from 1st October, 2025 and ending on 31st December, 2025 shall remain unchanged from those notified for the second quarter (1st July, 2025 to 30th September, 2025) of FY 2025-26.
2. This has the approval of the competent authority.
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (2016=100) โ August, 2025
1. Labour Bureau, an attached office of the M/o Labour & Employment, has been compiling Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 317 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country. The index for the month of August, 2025 is being released in this press release.
2. The All-India CPI-IW for August, 2025 increased by 0.6 point and stood at 147.1 (one hundred forty-Seven point One).
Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for 2024-25: FinMin O.M
F. No. 7/24/2007/E III (A) Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi, Dated 29.09.2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2024-25.
The undersigned is directed to convey the sanction of the President to grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc Bonus) equivalent to 30 days emoluments for the accounting year 2024-25 to all Central Government employees in Group โCโ and all non-gazetted Central Government employees in Group โBโ, who are not covered by any Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme. The calculation ceiling for payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders shall be monthly emoluments of Rs.7000/-. The payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders will also be admissible to the eligible employees of Central Para Military Forces and Armed Forces. The orders will deemed to be extended to the employees of Union Territory Administration which follow the Central Government pattern of emoluments and are not covered by any other bonus or ex-gratia scheme.
2. The benefit will be admissible subject to the following terms and conditions:-
(i) Only those employees who were in service as on 31.3.2025 and have rendered at least six months of continuous service during the year 2024-25 will be eligible for payment under these orders. Pro-rata payment will be admissible to the eligible employees for period of continuous service during the year from six months to a full year, the eligibility period being taken in terms of number of months of service (rounded off to the nearest number of months);
(ii) The quantum of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) will be worked out on the basis of average emoluments/calculation ceiling whichever is lower. To calculate Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) for one day, the average emoluments in a year will be divided by 30.4 (average number of days in a month). This will, thereafter, be multiplied by the number of days of bonus granted. To illustrate, taking the calculation ceiling of monthly emoluments of Rs.7000/- (where actual average emoluments exceed Rs.7000/-), Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) for thirty days would work out to Rs.7000ร30/30.4=Rs.6907.89/- (rounded off to Rs.6908/-).
(iii) The casual labour who have worked in offices following a 6 days week for at least 240 days for each year for 3 years or more (206 days in each year for 3 years or more in the case of offices observing 5 day week), will be eligible for this Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) Payment. The amount of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) payable will be (Rs.1200ร30/30.4 i.e. Rs.1184.21/- (rounded off to Rs.1184/-). In cases where the actual emoluments fall below Rs.1200/- p.m., the amount will be calculated on the basis of actual monthly emoluments.
(iv) All payments under these orders will be rounded off to the nearest rupee.
(v) Various points regarding regulation of Ad-hoc / Non-PLB Bonus are given in the Annexure.
3. The expenditure on this account will be debitable to the respective object head in terms of Department of Expenditureโs Notification dated 16th December 2022.
4. The expenditure to be incurred on account of Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) is to be met from within the sanctioned budget provision of concerned Ministries/Departments for the current financial year 2025-26.
5. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India.
(Umesh Kumar Agarwal) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.
To,
All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India as per standard list etc.
ANNEXURE-1
ANNEXURE to O.M. No. 7/24/2007-E-III(A) dated 29/09/2025
Point
Clarification
1. Whether the employees in the following categories are eligible for the benefit of ad-hoc bonus for an accounting year
Subject to completion of minimum six months continuous service and being in service as on 31st March, 2025.
(a) Employees appointed on purely temporary ad-hoc basis.
(a) Yes, if there is no break in service.
(b) Employees who resigned, retired from service or expired before 31st March, 2025.
(b) As a special case only those persons who superannuated or retired on invalidation on medical grounds or died before 31st March, 2025 but after completing at least six months regular service during the year will be eligible for the ad-hoc bonus on pro rata basis in terms of nearest number of months of service.
(c) Employees on deputation/ foreign service terms to state governments, U.T. Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, etc., on 31st March, 2025.
(c) Such employees are not eligible for the ad-hoc bonus to be paid by the lending departments. In such cases the liability to pay ad-hoc bonus lies with the borrowing organization depending upon the ad-hoc bonus/PLB/ex-gratia/incentive payment scheme, if any, in force in the borrowing organization.
(d) Employees who reverted during accounting year from deputation on foreign service with the organizations indicated in โCโ above.
(d) The total amount of bonus/ex-gratia received for the accounting year from foreign employer and the ad-hoc bonus, if any, due from a central government office for the period after reversion will be restricted to the amount due under ad-hoc bonus as per these orders.
(e) Employees from state Government/U.T. Admin./Public Sector Undertakings on reverse deputation with the Central Government.
(e) Yes, they are eligible for ad-hoc bonus to be paid by the borrowing departments in terms of these orders provided no additional incentive as part of terms of deputation, other than Deputation Allowance, is paid and the lending authorities have no objection.
(f) Superannuated employees who were re-employed.
(f) Re-employment being fresh employment, eligibility period is to be worked out separately for re-employment period; the total amount admissible, if any, for prior to superannuation and that for re-employment period being restricted to the maximum admissible under ad-hoc bonus under these orders.
(g) Employees on half-Pay leave/E.O.L./Leave not due/study leave at any time during the accounting year.
(g) Except in the case of leave without pay the period of leave of other kinds will be included for the purpose of working out eligibility period. The period of E.O.L./dies non will be excluded from eligibility period but will not count as break in service for the purpose of ad-hoc bonus.
(h) Employees under suspension at any time during the accounting year.
(h) Subsistence allowance given to an employee under suspension for a period in the accounting year cannot be treated as emoluments. Such an employee becomes eligible for the benefit of ad-hoc bonus if and when reinstated with benefit of emoluments for the period of suspension, and in other cases such period will be excluded for the purpose of eligibility as in the case of employees on leave without pay.
(i) Employees transferred from one Ministry/Department/Office covered by ad-hoc bonus orders to another within the Government of India or a Union Territory Government covered by ad-hoc bonus orders and vice versa.
(i) Employees who are transferred from any of the Ministry/Department/Office covered by ad-hoc bonus orders to another such office without break in service will be eligible on the basis of combined period of service in the different organizations. Those who are nominated on the basis of a limited departmental or open competitive exam from one organization to a different organization will also be eligible for the ad-hoc bonus. The payment will be made only by the organization where he was employed as on 31st March, 2025 and no adjustments with the previous employer will be necessary.
(j) Employees who are transferred from a Government Department/ Organization covered by ad-hoc bonus orders to a Government Department/ Organization covered by productivity โ Linked Bonus scheme or vice versa.
(j) They may be paid what would have been paid on the basis of emoluments in ad-hoc bonus covered department for the entire year less the amount due as productivity-linked bonus. The amount so calculated may be paid by Department where he was working on 31st March, 2025 and/or at the time of payment.
(k) Part-time employees engaged on nominal fixed payment
(k) Not eligible.
2. Whether ad-hoc bonus is payable to casual labour for an accounting year in the following cases:-
ย
(a) Those who have put in specified number of days of work in different offices during each of the three years ending with the said accounting year.
(a) The eligibility is to be worked out for three years from the said accounting year backwards. The period of 240 days of work in each of these years may be arrived at by combining the number of days worked in more than one offices of the government of India, for which bonus, ex-gratia or incentive payment has not been earned and received.
(b) Casual labour who were not in work on 31st March, 2025.
(b) The condition of being in employment on 31st March, 2025 as laid down in these orders is applicable to regular Government Employees and not to casual labour.
(c) Those who have put in at least specified number of days of work in each of two years preceding the accounting year but are short of this limit due to regularization in employment in the said accounting year.
(c) If a casual labour, who has been regularized in the accounting year does not fulfill the minimum continuous service of six months as on 31st March, 2025 and therefore, cannot be granted benefit as a regular employee, he may be allowed the benefit as for a casual labour provided the period of regular service in the said year if added to the period of work as casual labour works out to at least specified number of days in that accounting year.
Central Government employees on Deputation/Foreign service to submit Physical โForm A2โ to opt for UPS
เคชเฅเคเคถเคจ เคจเคฟเคงเคฟ เคตเคฟเคจเคฟเคฏเคพเคฎเค เคเคฐ เคตเคฟเคเคพเคธ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคงเคฟเคเคฐเคฃ PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Circular
Circular No: PFRDA/2025/13/SUP-CG-SG/05
September 24, 2025
To,
All the stakeholders of NPS and UPS
Subject: Central Government employees on Deputation/Foreign service to submit Physical โForm A2โ to opt for UPS.
The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been notified by the Central Government vide notification F. No. FX-1/3/2024-PR, dated 24.01.2025 issued by Dept. of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. Further, the PFRDA (Operationalization of the Unified Pension Scheme under NPS) Regulations, 2025 were notified on 19.03.2025 and the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under National Pension System) Rules, 2025 have been notified by DoPPW on 02.09.2025.
2. It has come to notice that several employees currently on deputation/foreign service to organisations not covered under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) are facing difficulty in exercising their option for UPS.
3. In view of the impending deadline for exercising the option under the Unified Pension Scheme, i.e., 30th September, 2025 , it is hereby brought to the attention of all concerned that:
All employees who are currently on deputation/foreign service and intend to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme may submit the duly filled physical copy of Form A2 to their respective nodal office of their parent organisation on or before the specified due date.
The nodal office concerned shall then process the migration to UPS through the CRA system in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
4. A copy of the Form A2 is annexed to this circular for reference.
Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for 2024-25
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (เคญเคพเคฐเคค เคธเคฐเคเคพเคฐ) MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (เคฐเฅเคฒ เคฎเคเคคเฅเคฐเคพเคฒเคฏ) RAILWAY BOARD (เคฐเฅเคฒเคตเฅ เคฌเฅเคฐเฅเคก)
RBE No. 101/2025 New Delhi, dt. 24.09.2025
No. E(P&A)II/2025/PLB-1
The General Managers/CAOS, All Indian Railways & Production Units etc.
Sub: Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for the financial year 2024-25
The President is pleased to sanction Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 (Seventy Eight) days wagesโ without any ceiling on wages for eligibility for the financial year 2024-25 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding all RPF/RPSF personnel). Where, wagesโ exceed โน7000/- per month, Productivity Linked Bonus will be calculated as if the โwagesโ are โน7000/- p.m. Other conditions of eligibility, method of calculation of wages, etc., as prescribed in this Ministryโs instructions and clarifications issued from time to time, shall remain unchanged.
2. It has also been decided that in the case of eligible employees mentioned in Para 1 above who were not placed under suspension, or had not quit service/retired/expired during the financial year 2024-25 or were on leave where leave salary admissible is not less than that admissible on leave on average pay, may be paid an amount of โน17,951/- towards Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2024-25. In the case of employees other than those mentioned above, the amount of Productivity Linked Bonus may be calculated in accordance with the extant instructions on the subject.
3. Further, in relaxation to the provisions in Rules 905(2), 908 and 909 of State Railway Provident Fund Rules, as contained in Chapter 9 of R-I/1985 edition (2003 Reprint edition), such of the subscribers to the SRPF as are entitled to Productivity Linked Bonus may, if they so desire, deposit the whole or part of the amount admissible under the Scheme in their respective State Railway Provident Fund Accounts.
4. Disbursement of Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2024-25 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees mentioned in Para 1 above should be made in the same mode as payment of salary, on priority basis.
5. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
