West Bengal Government employees and pensioners will receive their October 2026 salary, wages, pension and family pension on 15 October 2026, instead of waiting until the usual month-end payment cycle.
The decision has been issued by the West Bengal Finance Department through Memo No. 3555-F(Y), dated 23 September 2026. The same order states that the October payment will include the enhanced Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), wherever applicable, under the separate DA order issued in August.
What will be paid on 15 October 2026?
According to the Finance Department memorandum, the following October payments have been advanced to 15 October 2026:
Drawing and Disbursing Officers and administrators of deposit accounts have also been directed to submit bills and payment advices to treasuries sufficiently in advance so that the revised payment schedule can be followed.
Enhanced DA is 38% from 1 October
The early payment order refers specifically to Finance Department Memo No. 2834-F(P2), dated 4 August 2026.
Under that order, whole-time West Bengal State Government employees drawing revised pay are entitled to Dearness Allowance at 38% of basic pay from 1 October 2026.
State Government pensioners and family pensioners drawing revised pension are similarly entitled to 38% Dearness Relief on revised basic pension/family pension from the same date.
The earlier applicable revised-pay DA rate was 18%, making the October order a significant increase for eligible employees and pensioners.
Who else is covered by the DA order?
The 38% DA provision is not limited only to employees working directly in State Government offices.
The order also provides for eligible employees of Government-aided educational institutions, statutory bodies, Government undertakings, Panchayats, Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Local Bodies, subject to the conditions laid down in the memorandum.
Eligible pensioners and family pensioners of these institutions may also receive the corresponding DR benefit.
For employees and pensioners who continue under certain pre-revised structures, separate rates apply. The order raises the applicable pre-revised DA/DR rate from 171% to 223% from 1 October 2026.
Daily-rated workers also get an increase
The same DA memorandum provides an additional ₹110 per day for eligible daily-rated workers under the State Government whose wages are not governed by statutory provisions such as minimum-wage laws.
This increase is also effective from 1 October 2026.
Current 38% DA and old DA arrears are different issues
One important clarification is necessary.
The 38% DA/DR effective from 1 October 2026 is the current rate applicable to eligible employees and pensioners.
It should not be confused with the separate issue of old DA/DR arrears relating to earlier years.
The West Bengal Government has issued separate notifications and payment mechanisms for historical arrears following the Supreme Court proceedings. For example, the March 2026 notification dealing with pensioners’ arrears covers qualifying periods linked to April 2008 to December 2019 and provides for phased payment.
So: October 2026 current DA/DR = 38% from 1 October
Past DA/DR arrears = separate orders and payment process
Is this the implementation of a new Pay Commission?
No. The October salary and pension payment and the 38% DA/DR increase should be understood as West Bengal Finance Department decisions under the existing applicable pay and pension framework.
They should not be presented as implementation of a new Central Pay Commission benefit.
What employees and pensioners should know?
The position is now clear from the Finance Department orders:
October 2026 salary, wages, stipend and honorarium are payable on 15 October. Pension and family pension will also be disbursed on 15 October. Eligible beneficiaries will receive the enhanced DA/DR applicable from 1 October 2026.
For employees on revised pay, the DA rate is 38% of basic pay, while eligible pensioners and family pensioners receive 38% DR on revised basic pension/family pension.
Sources
West Bengal Finance Department — Memo No. 3555-F(Y), dated 23 September 2026
Read the October 2026 Salary & Pension Order
West Bengal Finance Department — Memo No. 2834-F(P2), dated 4 August 2026
Read the 38% DA/DR Order
West Bengal Finance Department — Official Publications
Open Official Finance Department Order Archive
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