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Dearness allowance (DA) for TNPSC posts
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Dearness allowance (DA) is an amount added to the basic pay of a government employee to offset rising prices. It is calculated as a percentage of basic pay and revised by government order from time to time. For a TNPSC post, your salary is therefore the basic pay at your pay level plus DA and other allowances, less deductions.
How DA is worked out
DA is expressed as a rate. The formula is simple: DA = basic pay x DA rate. Because it is a share of basic pay, a post at a higher pay level earns a larger DA amount at the same rate.
For illustration only, with round numbers that are not any current rate or pay-level amount: a DA rate of 10 per cent on a basic pay of ₹20,000 adds ₹2,000.
What else makes up the salary
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | The starting figure at your pay level on the pay matrix |
| Dearness allowance | A percentage of basic pay, revised by order |
| Other allowances | For example house rent allowance and city compensatory allowance, which depend on where you are posted |
| Deductions | Contributions and taxes taken from gross pay |
Your in-hand pay is gross pay less deductions. Which allowances apply depends on the post and the posting, so the notification and the service rules are the authority.
Why no number is given here
TNPSC notifications print the pay level, not rupee amounts, and the DA rate is set separately by the state government and changes over time. Any figure quoted in a blog post or video may be out of date. Before you use a figure, check the current government order.
An example
A candidate selected as Junior Assistant at Level 8 and another selected as Steno-Typist Grade III at Level 10 both receive DA at the same rate. The Level 10 post earns a larger DA amount because its basic pay is higher, and the gap widens whenever the rate is revised. This is why comparing posts by pay level, not by a single salary figure, gives a fair picture.
For how each group's posts are paid, see TNPSC salary by group.
Frequently asked questions
Is DA part of the basic pay?
No. DA is added on top of the basic pay and is revised separately.
Does TNPSC mention DA in the notification?
Notifications give the pay level for each post. They do not set the DA rate.
Is DA the same in every state?
No. Each state government, and the central government, sets its own rate for its employees.
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- Pay matrix and pay levelTNPSC notifications give the Tamil Nadu pay matrix level, not rupees, for each post. See the levels for Group 1, 2, 2A and 4 posts and how to read them.
- Junior AssistantJunior Assistant is the largest TNPSC Group 4 post: 2,610 non-security vacancies at Level 8 in 2026. See post codes, age limits and shortlist ratios.
- VAO (Village Administrative Officer)VAO stands for Village Administrative Officer, a Level 8 post filled through TNPSC Group 4. See the Tamil name, 2026 vacancies and age limits.
- TNPSC salary by groupTNPSC salary by pay-matrix level: Level 22 for Group 1, 16-18 for Group 2, 9-12 for Group 2A, mostly Level 8 for Group 4, plus how to estimate in-hand pay.
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