1% DA hike for Central government staff

• The Union Cabinet has approved the release of an additional 1% (existing rate of 4%)of dearness allowance (DA) to Central government employees and dearness relief (DR) to pensioners (applicable from 1st July 2017).
• This will benefit about 49.26 lakh Central government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners.
• The Cabinet also approved a proposed law amendment to double the maximum gratuity payout to private sector workers from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs.