By taking serious note of the unrest among BSNL Executives about indifferent order issued by DPE on increase of IDA from 01/01/2026 and confusion created thereof, on 11/03/2026, Shri M. S. Adasul, President, NCOA/GS SNEA and Shri V. K. Tomar, Chairman GC NCOA/GS MEA CHQ had a meeting with Economic Advisor/JS, DPE for confirming factual information in respect of IDA OM addressed to the Secretaries of Administrative Ministries and related issues .
The issues discussed in DPE are as follows.
- Marking copies of OM to CPSEs: The copy of the IDA OM had not been endorsed to the CMDs of CPSEs, which used to be the earlier practice. We also added that OM has not been uploaded on the DPE website, due to which considerable confusion and the delay in communication to CPSEs is being experienced.
Response: This time the IDA OM has not been endorsed to the CMDs of CPSEs because a number of CPSEs have not yet provided the information sought by DPE regarding the pattern of DA being followed i.e. IDA/CDA and which PRC is implemented and number of serving employees in their respective CPSEs. He added that until this information is updated by all CPSEs on the PE Survey Portal, the IDA OM will be communicated only to the Administrative Ministries and not directly to any of the CPSEs. Once this information is updated by all CPSEs on the portal, the earlier practice will be restored.
- Mention of the financial implications in implementation of increased IDA:We expressed that special mention of the responsibility of financial implications in implementation of increased IDA will rest with the Administrative Ministries is unwanted as the same has been clarified at the time of implementation of the Pay Revision Committee (PRC) recommendations. This special mention has created unnecessary doubts, particularly in the case of loss-making CPSEs and we requested for removal of this clause or issuing corrigendum so as to clear the unwanted confusions.
Response: In response Respected Economic Advisor DPE appreciated the concern raised by NCOA and informed that as per his information the OM has been implemented in many CPSEs and any CPSEs has any issues the same may be brought to notice of DPE. He added that as OM has been and will be implemented there is no need of any corrigendum at this stage or this OM. But assured that this reference will be removed in future communications from April 2026 onwards.
- Constitution of Fourth Pay Revision Committee (PRC): We requested for the status of constitution of Fourth Pay Revision Committee by DPE as 8th CPC has been already constituted and started functioning.
Response: Till now no action has been taken for the constitution of the Fourth Pay Revision Committee The PRC and CPC have one year gap in its implementation. On our query about any chances of its constitution in the coming days, nothing was firmly assured and hence we feel the issue of constitution of the Fourth Pay Revision Committee needs to be taken up at appropriate higher level and accordingly, the NCOA will continue to pursue matters further.
Persuasion for Endorsement of IDA OM by DoT: After meetings in DPE in morning hours, in the afternoon hours, we discussed the issue of endorsement of IDA increase orders by DoT to BSNL which was pending since 02/03/2026.
After pursuing with different units and sections in DoT and confirmation of doubts and queries by DoT with concerned officers in DPE and getting all issues and doubts cleared, finally IDA order has been endorsed by DoT to BSNL and MTNL and it will be separately endorsed to other CPSEs under DoT and also to all CCAs for adding increased IDA to the pension of retired employees and executives.
Thus, with continuous persuasion at DPE and DoT finally IDA OM has reached the Estt Section of BSNL CO and we are pursuing further for its implementation in BSNL in salary of March 2026.
Meantime, as usual, some rumors are still active on social media that IDA has been frozen, IDA will not be paid to employees/executives of loss making CPSEs etc which has no meaning at this stage.
Though it is fact that OM for increase in IDA from 01/01/2026 and its implementation has been delayed for more than two months and this delay is due to an administrative issue and mainly in getting information about status of implemented PRCs and no response from some CPSEs and no any specific reason.
We are taking care of real issues if any and we are sure that all such issues will be settled with implementation of this IDA OM in Salary/Pension of March 2026.
