DA Arrears Notification: On April 6, 2026, the University Branch of the Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal, issued a crucial notification regarding the calculation of Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears for employees of state-aided or grant-in-aid universities. This administrative move is primarily based on Memo No. 998 issued by the state Finance Department, which mandates the compilation of detailed DA and Dearness Relief (DR) calculations for the period between 2016 and 2019. This marks a significant step toward clearing the long-pending financial dues of university staff.
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Key Details of the Notification
Following the Finance Department’s directive, the Higher Education Department has tasked the relevant Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) with specific responsibilities to ensure an error-free process.
- The detailed pay and allowance information of every eligible employee must be meticulously recorded and submitted in an Excel Sheet.
- DDOs are instructed to prepare these calculations by strictly verifying each employee’s Service Book and the corresponding Acquittance Roll.
- The official document explicitly mentions the calculation of arrear Dearness Allowance (DA) for serving employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners covering the specific period from January 2016 to December 2019.
Latest Update on DA Arrears Clearing
According to the latest information, following a landmark Supreme Court order on February 5, 2026, the state government decided to clear the pending DA arrears. While initial plans suggested a phased payout, the government modified its decision on March 28, 2026, announcing that the arrears for the 2016-2019 block will be cleared in a single instalment. Necessary technical updates are currently being implemented in the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) to support this massive financial rollout.
Impact on University Employees
This notification brings immense relief to both serving and retired staff of grant-in-aid universities. By mandating a strict cross-verification with Service Books and Acquittance Rolls, the government ensures that there are no discrepancies in the final arrear amounts. Once the precise data is submitted by the DDOs, the Finance Department can quickly approve the necessary funds. Consequently, employees will receive their rightful, exact dues directly into their bank or General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts without further bureaucratic delays.
Status of Other Educational Institutions
Although the calculation process has actively begun for universities, separate notifications for schools and other grant-in-aid institutions have not been issued yet. However, it is widely expected that once the university data collection gains momentum, the state government will soon release similar guidelines for school teachers and non-teaching staff, paving the way for their arrears to be cleared.
