CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has announced a major adjustment in dearness allowance for 85,000 state personnel engaged after July 17, 2020, elevating the allowance rate from 42 per cent to 60 per cent. Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora, alongside fellow Cabinet Sub-Committee members Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, confirmed the recommendation following detailed administrative reviews. The proposal now awaits final executive endorsement from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to finalize implementation across state departments.
The policy shift specifically addresses structural differences between personnel governed by earlier state pay frameworks and those brought on under the Central 7th Pay Commission structure post-July 2020. Arora stated that while pre-2020 recruits continue under historically higher state entry pay scales, post-2020 employees required allowance adjustments to ensure parity with central standards. The decision encompasses various service cadres statewide, including over 20,000 teachers, 11,000 constables, and thousands of healthcare workers, clerks, patwaris, and junior engineers.
The state administration reiterated its stance on prioritizing staff dignity and maintaining supportive public service conditions. Official representatives noted that maintaining equitable remuneration standards reinforces institutional stability while recognizing the essential contribution of government personnel to state governance.
