Assam 2% DA hike: Himanta Cabinet hives of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to 60 percent

The Assam Cabinet on Friday approved a 2 per cent increase in hardship allowance (DA) and hardship relief (DR), taking it from 58 per cent to 60 per cent with immediate effect. The decision is set to benefit more than 8 lakh state government employees and pensioners across the state, ANI reported.

Addressing a press conference after chairing the first cabinet meeting after the expansion of the ministry that day, the chief minister said the increased rates will benefit civil service employees, pensioners, family pensioners, extraordinary pensioners and compassionate family pensioners, ANI reported.

The cabinet also approved an increase in the allocation from the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund. ₹1 crore up to ₹1.5 crore to each MLA during 2026–27, while from 2027–28 it will be further increased to ₹2 crore, Sarma said.

The cabinet also approved an amendment to the MLALAD guidelines to allow up to 10 percent of the annual allocation to be used for the purchase and distribution of eligible community, educational, cultural, sports and support equipment for persons with disabilities, Sarma said, as reported by ANI.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to declare a second State Capital Region, Dibrugarh, and to set up a Second State Capital Region Development Authority, Dibrugarh (SCRDA-D).

The region will cover an area comprising a 20-km radius of the capital Dibrugarh in Dibrugarh district, Sarma said.

The Second State Capital Region Development Authority, Dibrugarh, will oversee the preparation of regional and sector-specific development plans as well as the identification of growth corridors and areas earmarked for urban expansion under the Second Capital Region project.

To support the development of infrastructure in the region of the second capital, a dedicated fund ₹500 million crowns will be set aside for the implementation of related projects and works through the budgets of the relevant line departments.

The increased rates will benefit government employees, pensioners, family pensioners, extraordinary pensioners and compassionate family pensioners.

The Cabinet approved the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialized Schools) Service (Amendment) Amendment Rules, 2026, which regulates the procedure for promotion of serving employees IV. degrees to positions III. degrees, he added.