The Union Cabinet Friday announced a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, marking the second such adjustment this fiscal year. The revised rates, rising from 53% to 55% of basic pay, will take effect from January 1, 2025, benefiting approximately 1.15 crore individuals across the country.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the decision following today’s Cabinet meeting, stating the hike reflects the government’s commitment to mitigating inflation’s impact on its workforce. “This revision aligns with our established formula based on the All-India Consumer Price Index data,” Vaishnaw said. The move carries an annual financial implication of ₹6,614.04 crore for the exchequer.

Detailed Financial Impact
The increase affects 48.66 lakh active employees and 66.55 lakh pensioners. For illustration:

• Senior bureaucrats with ₹2 lakh basic pay will see monthly DA rise by ₹4,000 (from ₹1.06 lakh to ₹1.10 lakh)
• Mid-level officers drawing ₹56,100 basic pay gain ₹1,122 monthly
• Entry-level staff (₹18,000 basic) receive an additional ₹360 per month

Implementation Timeline
The Finance Ministry has directed all departments to:

1. Process revised payments for February 2025 salaries
2. Calculate and disburse January arrears separately
3. Complete all account adjustments by March 31, 2025

This follows July 2024’s 3% DA hike (50% to 53%) and precedes the anticipated 8th Pay Commission recommendations expected in 2026. Since 2020, DA revisions have followed this biannual pattern, except during the pandemic-induced freeze from April 2020 to June 2021.

State governments typically follow the Centre’s lead on such adjustments, suggesting similar announcements may follow from various state capitals in coming weeks. The move comes as the government balances fiscal responsibility with welfare commitments in an election year.

India spin legend Harbhajan Singh, now part of the IPL 2025 commentary panel, has weighed in on one of T20 cricket’s most debatable questions—who is the best T20 batter right now?

Is it Australia’s in-form explosive opener Travis Head, India’s rising star Abhishek Sharma, or the ultra-aggressive Jake Fraser-McGurk? No, says Harbhajan.

His pick? Nicholas Pooran, the Trinadidan tsunami.

The former off-spinner declared his choice on social media after Nicholas Pooran’s latest blitz for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025. “Currently Nicholas Pooran is the best player of T20 format. Period!” he posted on X.

Presenting the batter’s T20 stats, Harbhajan declared Pooran as the best T20 player in the world right now, following his electrifying start to IPL 2025 with LSG.

Continuing his red-hot form, the 29-year-old Trinadadian has smashed 145 runs in just two matches, including a 26-ball 70 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and a 75 from 30 balls vs Delhi Capitals. He currently holds the Orange Cap, with a strike rate of 258.92 and average of 72.50.

After his destructive knock against SRH, Nicholas Pooran became the second player after KL Rahul to score over 1000 runs for LSG. He reached the milestone in just 31 matches, averaging 45.54 at a destructive strike rate of 184.53.

Known for his effortless power-hitting, Pooran holds the record for the most IPL fifties scored in under 20 balls—doing so four times, more than any other player. He recently smashed an 18-ball half-century, second-fastest for LSG, only behind his own 15-ball effort from IPL 2023.

When it comes to speed, Pooran leads again—holding the record for most IPL fifties in under 20 balls (4). Travis Head and Fraser-McGurk have managed this feat three times each.

In a tournament full of hard-hitters, Pooran isn’t just keeping pace—he’s setting it.

The Central government has approved the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium. The decision, formalised by the Union Law Ministry on Thursday, comes amid ongoing controversy over an alleged cash stash incident linked to the judge’s residence.

“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Yashwant Varma… to be a Judge of Allahabad High Court,” stated the official notification.

The Supreme Court had earlier clarified that the transfer was not related to the ongoing inquiry into the alleged cash discovery at Justice Varma’s official bungalow, where a fire reportedly destroyed a substantial amount of money. The judge has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and part of a conspiracy.

Protests and criticism over transfer decision

The decision has triggered protests by lawyers in the Allahabad High Court, who have objected to what they perceive as a pattern of sending judges to their court as a punitive measure. They argue that such transfers reinforce a negative perception of the court being used as a “dumping ground.”

Former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi also voiced concern over the matter, suggesting the transfer appears linked to the controversy surrounding the alleged cash stash. “There are several loose ends in this case… I don’t think there is any great thing in saying that the transfer is not connected to the scam,” he said, questioning the Supreme Court’s statement distancing the move from the investigation.

Justice Varma, in a response submitted to the committee formed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, described the allegations as damaging to his reputation. “In the life of a judge, nothing matters more than reputation and character. That has been severely tarnished and irreparably damaged,” he wrote.

The controversy continues to stir debate within the legal community, even as Justice Varma prepares to assume his new position at the Allahabad High Court.