Percentage of HRA in 7th pay commission after cabinet approval.

Percentage of HRA in 7th pay commission after cabinet approval

The Pay commission has recommended HRA should be rationalized by using the factor 0.8 which is used for rationalising the percentage based allowances. The 7th CPC recommended 24 percent, 16 percent and 8 percent of the Basic Pay for Class X, Y and Z cities respectively. The Commission also recommended that the rate of HRA will be revised to 27 percent, 18 percent and 9 percent when DA crosses 50 percent, and further revised to 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent when DA crosses 100 percent.

The cabinet committee reviewed the recommendations on Allowances and they are not able to give a decision over the Allowances. Hence the Union Cabinet  decided to constitute a Committee headed by Finance Secretary for further examination of the recommendations of 7th CPC on Allowances. And it is said that the Committee will complete its work in a time bound manner and submit its reports within a period of 4 months.

In the press release issued by government said the following

” The Commission examined a total of 196 existing Allowances and, by way of rationalization, recommended abolition of 51 Allowances and subsuming of 37 Allowances. Given the significant changes in the existing provisions for Allowances which may have wide ranging implications, the Cabinet decided to constitute a Committee headed by Finance Secretary for further examination of the recommendations of 7th CPC on Allowances. The Committee will complete its work in a time bound manner and submit its reports within a period of 4 months. Till a final decision, all existing Allowances will continue to be paid at the existing rates.”

The above press release  concluded with a statement of ” Till a final decision, all existing Allowances will continue to be paid at the existing rates”

Since the House Rent Allowance also listed among one of these 196 Allowances, the status HRA is not clear now. The existing rates of HRA is 30%, 20% and 10% for class X, Y and Z respectively. Whether these existing rates of HRA will be paid based on revised pay or pre revised pay..? It needs to be clarified when implementation of 7th pay commission is in process.