Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today hiked dearness allowance (DA) for the state government employees and pensioners with retrospective effect from January 1, 2018.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gave approval to a proposal in this regard, sources said.

As per chief minister's office, the DA has been hiked by 2 per cent taking it to total 7 per cent for employees and pensioners.

Besides, the pensioners drawing pension at the pre-revised rate will get a hiked Dearness Relief (TI) of 2 percent. This apart, the pensioners drawing pension not at pre-revised rate will get an additional TI of 3 percent.

In November last year, the state government had increased DA by 1 percent.