Bhopal, March 23 The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Monday approved a 3 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and pensioners, and also cleared development and construction projects worth Rs 6,940 crore, officials said.
The DA increase will benefit approximately 10 lakh people, including nearly three lakh pensioners, and will cost the state exchequer Rs 2,450 crore annually, they added.
"These decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the Mantralaya. The cabinet also approved several welfare proposals, including a micro irrigation project in the Rewa district and a training scheme for youth from the Other Backward Category," an official said.
"The 3 per cent increase for state government employees under the Seventh Pay Commission will bring DA to 58 per cent, effective from July 1, 2025. The finance department has been authorized to revise DA proportionately for employees under earlier pay scales," he said.
The arrears for the period from July 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 will be paid in six equal installments from May to October, while the arrears for retired or deceased employees for the period from January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 will be paid in a lump sum, he added.
The cabinet also approved pension relief of 58 per cent under the Seventh Pay Commission and 257 per cent under the Sixth Pay Commission for pensioners and family pensioners from January 1, 2026.
The cabinet sanctioned Rs 82.39 crore for the Mahana micro irrigation project in the Rewa district, which will provide irrigation to 4,500 hectares and benefit approximately 950 farmer families in 18 villages of the Jawa and Teonthar tehsils.
"The cabinet approved the 'Shaurya Sankalp Training Scheme 2026' to train OBC youth for recruitment in the armed forces and other security services. Under this scheme, 4,000 youths will receive residential training annually with monthly stipends. Male trainees will receive Rs 1,000 per month and female trainees will receive Rs 1,100 per month. At least 35 per cent of the seats will be reserved for female candidates," the official said.
The cabinet approved a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 for guest teachers working in institutions for persons with disabilities. It also approved an increase in supplementary nutrition for severely underweight children in the 6 to 6-year age group at anganwadi centers, raising the daily amount from Rs 8 to Rs 12 per beneficiary.
The cabinet approved the continuation of multiple schemes from 2026-27 to 2030-31 across departments, the official informed.
"These include Rs 2,933 crore for rural housing and transport infrastructure and Rs 691 crore for construction works under the Public Works Department, Rs 865 crore for food and civil supplies schemes, including Smart PDS and Mukhyamantri Ration Aapke Gram," he said.