October Salary and Pension: Good news for West Bengal state government employees and pensioners. Salary and pension for October 2026 will not wait until the end of the month this time. The money will be credited on October 15, 2026, and this payment will be the first to include the enhanced 38% Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR). The Audit Branch (Group T) of the state Finance Department announced the decision in Memo No. 3555-F(Y), dated September 23, 2026.
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What Does the New Memo Say?
- October’s salary, Grant-in-Aid salary, wages, remuneration, stipend and honorarium will be paid on October 15, 2026.
- October’s pension and family pension will also be paid on 15.10.2026.
- Wherever applicable, this salary and pension will include the enhanced DA/DR sanctioned under Memo No. 2834-F(P2), dated 04.08.2026.
- DDOs and Administrators of Deposit Accounts have been asked to submit bills/advices at the treasuries well in advance. Treasuries will issue mandates according to the dates above.
The memo is signed by P K Mishra (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal. Monthly pay dates are normally set by Memo No. 6454-F(Y) of 2015. This time, the government has moved the date forward through a special decision.
38% DA: Key Points From the Original Order
Under the 2834-F(P2) order issued on August 4, 2026, DA rises from 18% to 38% with effect from October 1, 2026. The main provisions are:
- Basis of calculation: DA is calculated on the revised Basic Pay under ROPA 2019 plus NPA, if any. No other type of pay is included.
- Who is covered: State government employees are covered. So are teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions, Panchayat employees, and employees of municipalities, statutory bodies, government undertakings and local bodies.
- Pensioners: Dearness Relief at 38% on revised pension and revised family pension. The Pension Disbursing Authority is responsible for calculating DR in each case.
- Pre-revised pay structure: Employees still drawing pay under the 5th Pay Commission structure get DA raised from 171% to 223%. Pensioners still drawing pre-revised pension under ROPA 2009 get 223% DR.
- Daily-rated workers: Workers whose wages are not regulated by statutory provisions such as the Minimum Wages Act get an ad-hoc increase of ₹110 in their daily wage.
- DA/DR amounts will be rounded off to the nearest rupee.
How Much Will Your Salary Increase? A Simple Calculation
The formula for your monthly increase is simple: Basic Pay (or Basic Pension) × 20%. Here are some examples:
| Basic Pay/Pension | Old DA (18%) | New DA (38%) | Monthly Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹20,000 (Pension) | ₹3,600 | ₹7,600 | +₹4,000 |
| ₹25,000 | ₹4,500 | ₹9,500 | +₹5,000 |
| ₹30,000 | ₹5,400 | ₹11,400 | +₹6,000 |
| ₹50,000 | ₹9,000 | ₹19,000 | +₹10,000 |
To get your exact figure including NPA, use the DA Hike Calculator on wbpay.in. It works for both employees and pensioners.
Important Tips for Employees and Pensioners
- Plan your spending: The payment on October 15 is your full salary for October. November’s salary will arrive on its usual schedule, so the gap between the two paydays will be longer than normal. Plan your EMIs, rent and festive expenses with this in mind.
- Check your pay slip: After your salary is credited, confirm that DA has been calculated at 38%. If anything looks wrong, inform your DDO promptly.
- For DDOs: Prepare bills at the new DA rate early and submit them at the treasury. Delays could mean salaries are not credited on the scheduled date.
- Ad-hoc bonus: Under 811-F(P2), eligible employees will receive a ₹7,400 bonus between September 28 and October 1, 2026. To be eligible, monthly emoluments must not have exceeded ₹46,000 as on 31.03.2026. Because eligibility is fixed on March 31 emoluments, the new DA has no effect on this year’s bonus eligibility.
- Pensioners: Check the new DR calculation with your pension disbursing bank or treasury.
The Bottom Line
A major DA hike and a mid-month salary and pension together will put extra money in the hands of lakhs of state employees and pensioners ahead of the festive season. However, receiving pay early can strain next month’s budget, so it is wise to spend carefully.
Sources: Finance Department, Government of West Bengal: Memo No. 3555-F(Y), dated 23.09.2026, and Memo No. 2834-F(P2), dated 04.08.2026. The original orders are available on the Finance Department website, finance.wb.gov.in.
