West Bengal Government employees and pensioners are set to receive their October 2026 payments earlier than usual, following a special decision ahead of Durga Puja.
Under Finance Department Memo No. 3555-F(Y), dated 23 September 2026, the government has scheduled salary, wages, pension and family pension payments for 15 October 2026. Eligible recipients will also receive the enhanced 38% Dearness Allowance (DA) or Dearness Relief (DR), applicable from 1 October.
The decision brings together two benefits: early access to monthly income during the festive season and a higher allowance for eligible employees and pensioners.
Which payments are being released on 15 October?
The Finance Department’s order covers the following payments for October 2026:
Government employees’ salaries, including Grant-in-Aid salaries
Wages and remuneration
Stipends and honoraria
Retirement pensions and family pensions
The department has directed Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), deposit account administrators and treasuries to complete the necessary payment formalities in advance.
This is an advance disbursement of the regular October payment, not an additional month’s salary or pension.
38% DA/DR from 1 October: How much will employees benefit?
A separate order, Memo No. 2834-F(P2), dated 4 August 2026, increased DA and DR from 18% to 38% for eligible employees and pensioners drawing revised pay or pension.
The increase is 20 percentage points and is calculated on the applicable basic pay or basic pension.
For example, an employee with a revised basic salary of ₹40,000 would see the following change:
| Particulars | Earlier | From October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| DA rate | 18% | 38% |
| DA amount | ₹7,200 | ₹15,200 |
| Monthly increase | — | ₹8,000 |
This is an illustrative calculation. Actual salary credits will depend on individual entitlements and applicable deductions.
Who else benefits from the revised DA/DR?
Beyond regular State Government employees, the order extends benefits to eligible teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions, statutory bodies, government undertakings, panchayats, municipalities and other specified local bodies.
For beneficiaries continuing under the applicable pre-revised pay or pension structure, the DA/DR rate increases from 171% to 223%. Eligible daily-rated government workers whose wages are not governed by statutory wage provisions receive an additional ₹110 per day.
These benefits are subject to the conditions specified in the respective government order.
Does the October payment include previous DA arrears?
The enhanced 38% DA/DR is a current entitlement effective from 1 October 2026. It should not be confused with historical DA/DR arrears arising from earlier periods.
Those arrears are covered by separate government orders and payment procedures. The 15 October salary and pension memorandum does not authorise the automatic settlement of all outstanding arrears.
Why is the early payment important?
Releasing October salaries and pensions ahead of Durga Puja allows employees and pensioners to meet festival-related expenses without waiting until the usual payment date.
Importantly, the decision changes the timing of the October payment, while the separate DA/DR order changes the applicable allowance rate. It does not represent the implementation of a new Pay Commission.
For beneficiaries, the practical result is earlier access to their regular monthly income together with the applicable revised DA or DR.
Sources
West Bengal Finance Department — Memo No. 3555-F(Y), dated 23 September 2026
Read the official October salary and pension payment order (PDF)West Bengal Finance Department — Memo No. 2834-F(P2), dated 4 August 2026
Read the 38% DA/DR memorandumWest Bengal Finance Department
Official government circulars and memoranda archive
Note: Individual payment amounts and eligibility are governed by the applicable State Government instructions.
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