Dearness allowance (DA) is a crucial part of the salary structure for central government employees, helping them cope with inflation. Recently increased by 3%, DA and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners now stand at 53%. Revised biannually, DA plays a significant role in shaping employees’ financial stability by adjusting salaries based on inflation rates. This article explains DA’s importance, how it’s calculated, and why job aspirants should understand its impact on their future earnings.