West Bengal to pay ROPA 2009 DA arrears from March 2026; honorarium for purohits and muezzins raised to ₹2,000
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on 15 March 2026 that DA arrears under ROPA 2009 will be paid from March 2026 and raised the monthly honorarium of purohits and muezzins by ₹500 to ₹2,000.
Summary
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on 15 March 2026, shortly before the Election Commission declared the Assembly poll schedule, that State government employees and pensioners will receive dearness allowance (DA) arrears under the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) Rules, 2009 from March 2026. The arrears also cover teachers, non-teaching staff and employees of grant-in-aid bodies such as panchayats and municipalities, as per notifications of the State Finance Department. The Supreme Court had ordered the State to release 25% of the outstanding DA arrears by 31 March 2026. Banerjee also raised the monthly honorarium of purohits (Hindu priests) and muezzins by ₹500, from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000, and said pending fresh applications had been approved.
Key facts
- Announced
- 15 March 2026, CM Mamata Banerjee
- DA arrears
- Under ROPA 2009, from March 2026
- Covers
- Employees, pensioners, teachers, non-teaching staff, grant-in-aid bodies
- Supreme Court order
- Release 25% of outstanding DA arrears by 31 March 2026
- Purohit/muezzin honorarium
- ₹1,500 → ₹2,000 per month
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The DA arrears that West Bengal announced on 15 March 2026 it would pay from March 2026 relate to which pay rules?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ROPA 2009
The arrears are under the West Bengal Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) Rules, 2009.
To what amount did West Bengal raise the monthly honorarium of purohits and muezzins on 15 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹2,000
The honorarium was raised by ₹500, from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per month.