Arrear DA Payment: After a prolonged legal battle, a wave of relief and happiness has finally swept through the state government employees and pensioners of West Bengal. Bringing an end to the long-standing deadlock over Dearness Allowance (DA), the state government has decided to clear the pending arrears under the Fifth Pay Commission (ROPA 2009). The legal struggle, which escalated from the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) to the Calcutta High Court and ultimately reached the Supreme Court of India, has reached a successful conclusion. Following strict directives from the apex court, the state administration is now geared up to disburse the massive financial dues.
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Official Announcement and Disbursement Timeline
Fulfilling the legitimate demands of the workforce, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has officially addressed the issue. Through a formal post on her X (formerly Twitter) handle, she confirmed that the distribution of the much-awaited ROPA 2009 DA arrears will commence in March 2026. The Chief Minister highlighted that her government is committed to honoring the promises made to the state’s workforce and retired personnel. Following the Supreme Court’s order, the necessary administrative and financial preparations have already begun.
I am happy to announce that our Ma-Mati-Manush government has delivered on its promise to all its employees and pensioners, and to lakhs of teachers and non-teaching staff of our educational institutions, as well as employees/ pensioners of our other grant-in-aid instititions…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 15, 2026
Wide Range of Beneficiaries
This landmark decision will positively impact lakhs of citizens across the state. The financial benefit is not restricted merely to the direct employees of various state government departments. It extensively covers retired personnel and family pensioners. Furthermore, teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions are also included. Active and retired employees associated with grant-in-aid organizations, including municipalities, panchayats, and other local autonomous bodies, will equally receive their legitimate dues.
Financial Guidelines and Next Steps
While the disbursement is set to begin in March 2026, the exact modalities regarding the payment structure and installment plans will be detailed by the Finance Department of West Bengal. An official memorandum outlining the complete procedure will soon be uploaded to the Finance Department’s portal. Employees are advised to wait for this official notification to understand the precise calculation of their dues. For continuous updates and to access an accurate DA Arrear Calculator, personnel can keep a regular check on the wbpay.in portal.
