NewsIMTS4% increase in dearness allowance for UGC, AICTE and medical education teaching staff was ordered by the Kerala government on 31/10/2025. The DA will rise from 42% to 46% for those who shifted to revised scales from January this year or later. Staff continuing in the sixth pay scale will see DA increase from 221% to 230%. Dearness Relief for UGC pensioners will also increase by similar percentages. The enhanced DA will be paid with October 2025 salaries, while increased DR applies from November 2025 pensions. The order affects grant-in-aid institutions where these schemes are implemented. A day earlier, the government also raised DA for other state employees from 18% to 22%. Organizations must secure approval from governing bodies if they can meet expenses from their own resources. (Updated 31 Oct 2025, 16:57 IST; source: link)
Kerala Increases Dearness Allowance for Teaching Staff
The Kerala government has approved a 4% increase in dearness allowance (DA) for teaching staff working under University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) schemes. This raise, ordered on October 31, 2025, will benefit teachers in higher education and medical education institutions across the state. For staff who adopted revised pay scales from January 2016 or later, the DA will increase from 42% to 46%. Those still following the older sixth pay scale will see their DA rise from 221% to 230%. The enhanced allowance will be included with October 2025 salary payments, providing immediate financial relief to thousands of teaching professionals.
Pensioners and Grant-in-Aid Institutions Also Benefit
Along with active teaching staff, retired UGC scheme employees will receive a similar increase in Dearness Relief (DR). The government order extends this benefit to pensioners, with the enhanced DR applying to November 2025 pension payments. The DA hike also covers teaching staff in grant-in-aid institutions where UGC and AICTE pay schemes are implemented. This follows a separate order that raised DA for other state government employees from 18% to 22%. For organizations that can fund these increases from their own resources, approval must be obtained from their governing bodies before implementation. This comprehensive approach ensures both current and retired teaching professionals receive financial support.
Key Points
- 4% increase in dearness allowance for UGC, AICTE and medical education teaching staff was ordered by the Kerala government on 31/10/2025.
- The DA will rise from 42% to 46% for those who shifted to revised scales from January this year or later.
- Staff continuing in the sixth pay scale will see DA increase from 221% to 230%.
