As everyone knows the Central Government has constituted the 7th Pay Commission and named its Chairmen recently. The decision of the government to constitute the 7th CPC has triggered many expectations among the central government employees. Among them was the merger of 50% DA with basic pay as done in the 5th CPC. But the 6th CPC did not recommended anything like that. It is understood that the employees are eagerly awaiting for an economic relief from the soaring prices of essential commodities. There are instances of announcing interim relief (I.R) to the employees apart from DA by a newly constitute pay commission prior to their implementations in the past.
Let us look into some of them
Interim relief prior to Second Pay
Details of interim relief in the past
Interim relief of Rs 5.p.m was granted by the 2nd pay commission with effect from the 1st july, 1957 to all employees drawing basic pay not exceeding Rs.250 per month.
| Pay range | Dearness pay | Dearness allowance | Total of dearness allowance. Dearness pay and interim relief |
| Rs | Rs | Rs | |
| Up to Rs 50 | 20 | 25 | 45 |
| Rs.51—— 100 | 25 | 30 | 55 |
| Rs.101—– 150 | 27.50 | 32.50 | 60 |
| Rs.151—– 200 | 30 | 35 | 65 |
| Rs.251—- 300 | 32.50 | 37.50 | 70 |
| Rs.301—- 500 | 35 | 35 | 70 |
Second pay commission
Interim relief as on 31.12.1972
| Pay range | Dearness allowance | Portion treated as dearness pay | Interim relief |
| Below Rs.85 | 71 | 47 | 29 |
| Rs.110-149 | 71 | 47 | 41 |
| Rs.150-209 | 98 | 70 | 41 |
| Rs.210-399 | 122 | 90 | 41 |
| Rs.400-499 | 146 | 110 | 50 |
Third pay commission
Interim relief (1.6.1983 and 1.3.1985)
Rates of interim relief from 1.6.1983
The staff side of the national council (joint consultative machinery) had raised a demand relating to the parity of scale of pay of central government employees with public sector pay scales and pending acceptance of this demand, an interim relief to all central government employees was sanctioned at the rates indicated below.
| Categories of employees/pay range | Amount of interim relief sanctionedRs. | |
| i | For employees drawing pay below Rs.300 p.m | 50 p.m |
| ii | For employees drawing pay of Rs.300 and above but below Rs 700 p.m | 60 p.m |
| iii | For employees drawing pay of Rs.700 and above but below Rs 1600p.m | 70 p.m |
| iv | For employees drawing pay of Rs.1600 and above but below Rs 2250 p.m | 80 p.m |
| v | For employees drawing pay of Rs.1600 and above but below Rs 2250 p.m | 100 p.m |
Rates on interim relief from 1.3.1985
The Fourth Pay Commission had recommended an Installment of interim relief at the rate of 10% of the basic pay of the employees subject to minimum of Rs.50 per month to be paid with effect from 1st march 1985.
Fourth Pay Commission
Interim relief
First installment of interim relief to the central government employees from 16.9.1993
Interim relief of Rs.100/- p.m has been sanctioned to all central government employees w.e.f 16.9.1993.
The amount interim relief will neither be termed as ‘pay’ nor ‘allowance’ nor ‘wages’, accordingly this amount will not counted for any service benefit.
Second instalment of interim relief from 1st April 1995
The Fifth Central Pay commission have recommended a further instalment of interim relief at the rate of of 10% of the basic pay to the employees subject to minimum of Rs .100 per month to be paid with effect from 1st April, 1995.
Third instalment of interim relief from 1st April 1996
The Fifth Central Pay Commission in their interim report have recommended a further instalment of interim relief at the rate of 10% of the basic pay to the employees subject to minimum of Rs .100 per month to paid with effect from 1st April, 1995.
Fifth pay commission
The Fifth CPC, in para 105.11 of their report had recommended that DA should be converted into Dearness Pay each time the CPI increase by 50% over the base index used by the Pay Commission.
Merger of 50% of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief with basic pay/pension to Central Government employees/pensioners w.e.f. 01/04/2004.
6th pay commission
The 6th pay commission after its constitution and implementation did not recommended or suggest any kind of interim relief or merging of DA with the basic pay. As of now the DA has touched 100% and its government is unable to satisfy employees. All federation and associations are pressing the government for the merger of 50% DA. They strongly suggest some kind of relief to the employees As the price of essential commodities are in the rise, the government should act now to fullfil the expectation of the employees. The government should come up with merger 50%DA merger or some interim relief to the employees as early as possible.
