Chandigarh, August 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Government has asserted that its employees in several cadres already receive significantly higher salaries than their counterparts in the Central Government, even though the State currently provides Dearness Allowance (DA) at 42 per cent compared with the Centre’s 60 per cent.
According to the State Government, Punjab’s higher basic pay scales ensure that employees in many categories continue to receive greater overall monthly emoluments despite the lower DA rate. It stated that employees in different cadres receive salaries ranging from 30 to 70 per cent higher than those of similarly placed Central Government employees.
The Government has maintained that it is prepared to ensure that no Punjab Government employee receives less than the total salary payable under the Central Government pay structure along with the Central Government DA. However, it has reiterated that the higher Central DA cannot be superimposed on Punjab’s already higher pay scales, as the two pay structures are based on different salary frameworks and cannot be merged.
The State has further maintained that fixation of Dearness Allowance is a sovereign policy decision of the State Government.
Highlighting its financial position, the Government said Punjab already carries the highest salary and pension burden among major Indian states. It added that implementation of the recent judgment is expected to further increase the State’s financial commitments, thereby reducing the fiscal space available for capital investment and developmental expenditure.
The Government also released comparative salary figures to support its position. According to the data, a Clerk in Punjab receives ₹54,812 per month compared with ₹36,960 under the Central Government pay structure, while a Driver receives ₹40,612 against ₹36,960.
Similarly, a Stenographer in Punjab draws ₹56,374 compared with ₹47,360 under the Central Government. An Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) Teacher receives ₹67,592 in Punjab against ₹65,760 at the Centre, while a Punjab Police Constable earns ₹54,812 compared with ₹36,960 under the Central Government pay structure.
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