The much awaited Approval for payment of enhanced IDA is issued. Copy<<<>>
With immediate and prompt action Estt section BSNL CO also issued formal order for releasing three months IDA arrears i.e. from January to March 2026 as per DPE OM dated 27/02/2026. Copy<<<>>
The process for enhanced IDA arrears as per DPE OM Dated 24/04/2026 for month of April 2026 is also initiated by Estt Section and with formal approval of CMD BSNL, the same also will be added in the Salary of May 2026.
Both these orders respectively from DoT and BSNL for releasing enhanced IDA payment with arrears will clear the financial hardship faced by the Executives and employees of BSNL for the last four months.
With this final approval of DoT, the procedure for payment of enhanced IDA is restored and henceforth the enhanced IDA payment will be quarterly released by BSNL with approval of CMD BSNL and no such approval from DoT will be needed.
The issues created due to delay in issuing DPE OM for IDA payment due from 01/01/2026 and then by addition of para 5 for need of approval of Administrative Ministry, were cleared with revised DPE order dated 24/04/2026 for enhanced IDA w.e.f. 01/04/2026. But DPE has not clarified about pending IDA payment due from 01/01/2026 with applicability of para 5 of DPE OM dated 27/02/2026 and hence formal approval of DoT was required as received now.
Finally this issue has been resolved with approval of Honourable Minster of Communications, which makes it crystal clear that this was not a simple and routine issue.
This is a classic example, how the issues once diverted in wrong directions can make simple issue complicated and take time of months together to restore it.
Enhanced IDA Payment was really complex issue created due to changes by DPE with addition of para 5 in issuing OM for IDA enhancement, which required either approval of administrative Ministry or corrective action by DPE for removal of para 5.
With our persuasion, DPE by issued fresh OM dated 24/04/2026, by removing stringent conditions under para 5, neither corrigendum or revised order for pending IDA Payment from January to March 2026 issue was not issued.
This the entire process started in March 2026 for releasing enhanced IDA payment w.e.f. 01/01/2026 could compete in May 2026 and this delay was mainly due to fact that this issue was totally new issue for DoT.
About each and every stage queries were raised, clarifications were asked, some additional information was sought and overall process was complicated and involving multiple offices and officers including Senior Most officers of BSNL, MTNL, BBNL and DoT.
Earlier BSNL has raised query /request for approval under pars 5 and request was sent with the approval of CMD BSNL, but DoT returned the proposal stating that IDA payment is financial matter, it need approval of BSNL Board.
DoT has called approval of Board from three PSUs under DoT viz. BSNL. MTNL and BBNL but as the regular Board Meetings of these PSUs are held with gap of one or two months and the next meeting of BSNL Board is scheduled tomorrow on 22/05/2026, without special efforts, payment of IDA in Salary of May 2026 was not possible.
By taking note of this, AUAB has taken up matter with CMD BSNL, who in prompt response has issued instructions for not waiting for regular Board Meetings and getting approval of BSNL, MTNL and BBNL Boards through circulation by respective PSU.
With positive recommendations of BSNL Board sent on 08/05/2026, the issue was again delayed for more than week in DoT for want of similar Board approval from MTNL and BBNL.
On receipt of recommendations from MTNL and BBNL Board, the issue was deliberated in DoT as per administrative procedure with prompt clarifications of queries raised by different officers in the process of approval.
With such prompt clarifications the issue has been finally decided positively, and DoT approval for payment of enhanced IDA are issued with approval of Honourable Minister of Communications, GoI.
This is great relief to all the executives and employees of BSNL as IDA enhancement was kept on hold from 01/01/2026 and now it will be paid with arrears in the salary of May 2026.
In this overall process of releasing enhanced IDA payment from 01/01/2026, the role of Shri. A. Robert J. Ravi, CMD BSNL, MTNL & BBNL was very positive and the releasing the pending IDA payment in Salary of May 2026 is possible with his positive & firm stand and with required & timely feedback to DoT/DPE.
With this approval of DoT and formal order by BSNL, the much confusions and negativity unnecessarily created throughout BSNL by some negative minded groups and continued for last four months is cleared and executives will get relief from such continued negativity by false messages on daily/hourly basis.
SNEA was actively involved in pursuing this issue starting from DPE, then DoT, BSNL and also getting required information from MTNL & BBNL by providing timely feedback and required information on the subject matter.
SNEA conveys thanks to Honourable Minister of Communications, Respected Secretary DoT & all concerned officers in DoT, CMD BSNL, Director HR, all other Directors of BSNL Board, PGM Estt and his team for the positive steps and prompt efforts in resolution of this critical issue.
In similar manner, SNEA is sincerely pursuing some of the important HR issues of executives viz. Sabbatical leave which will be decided by BSNL Board in its meeting scheduled today i.e. on 22/05/2026, enhancement of TA/DA rates for AGM and below level executives, Benevolent Fund for Executives, Conversion of SPS to NPS, Restoration of all India LTC, Restoration of medical reimbursement limits, Promotions of different Cadres and wings with immediate JTO to SDE Electrical Promotion order, JTO to SDE Telecom Promotions under PwBD category, and so on are the prominent issues in pipeline. We are hopeful for similar positive outcome on these issues in favour of BSNL executives in coming few days.
