New Delhi: The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) to central employees before Diwali and Dussehra. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav gave this information. At the same time, the cabinet has approved the celebration of 150 years of the Vande Mataram song.
Several important decisions were also taken in the meeting. The key decisions include sanctioning Rs 11,440 crore for the ‘Selfirance Mission in Dalhans’ by 2025-31. Ashwini Vaishnav said that the central government has approved a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance and dearness relief effective from July 1.
Dearness allowance increased by 3 percent With a 3 percent increase in DA, the dearness allowance of employees has now increased from 55 percent to 58 percent. The increase will be effective from July 1, 2025. This is the second increase in dearness allowance this year. The dearness allowance is revised twice a year by the government.
What is DA and DR and how much was the increase last time DA is dearness allowance i.e. dearness allowance. DR is dearness relief i.e. dearness relief. DA and DR are an important part of government salary and pension. These are aimed at reducing the impact of inflation and maintaining purchasing power. The government reviews them twice a year in January and July. In March 2025, the central government increased the DA and DR by 2 percent, which came into effect from 1 January 2025.
57 New Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) approved On the cabinet decisions, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the Union Cabinet has approved 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in 17 states and Union Territories, which are being covered. It is proposed to open 20 KVs in those districts where there is currently no KV. 14 KVs are proposed in aspirational districts, 4 KVs in Left Wing Extremism districts and 5 KVs in NER, hilly areas.
Rabi season 2026-27 On the decisions of the cabinet, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the estimated procurement during the rabi season 2026-27 is likely to be 297 lakh metric tonnes and the amount to be paid to farmers at the proposed MSP is Rs 84,263 crore.
150 years of Vande Mataram song, Cabinet approves celebration
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the fifth major decision taken by the Union Cabinet today is to make the Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715 (86 km, Rs 6,957 crore) four-laning. It has a 34 km long elevated viaduct in Kaziranga National Park. Briefing about another decision, Ashwini Vaishnav said, Biomedical Research Career Programme Phase 3 with an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore has been approved by the Union Cabinet. He also said that the cabinet has approved the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Vande Mataram song.
Cabinet approves Rs 11,440 crore for ‘Reliance Mission in Dalhans’ by 2025-31 The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the Self-Reliance Mission in Dalhans. This is a historic initiative aimed at boosting domestic production and achieving self-reliance in pulses.
According to a release issued by the cabinet on Wednesday, the mission will be implemented with a financial outlay of Rs 11,440 crore over six years from 2025-26 to 2030-31. Pulses are of particular importance in India’s cropping systems and diet. India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses. With rising income and standard of living, pulses consumption has also increased. However, domestic production has not been in line with demand, which has led to a 15 to 20 percent increase in pulse imports.
The Cabinet release said that to reduce this import dependency, meet the growing demand, maximise production and increase farmers’ income, the 6-year ‘Sufficiency in-Sufficiency Mission’ was announced in the budget for the financial year 2025-26. The mission will adopt a comprehensive strategy involving research, seed systems, sector expansion, procurement and price stability. To make the advanced varieties widely available, 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds will be distributed to pulse farmers in an area of 370 lakh hectares by 2030-31.
