The Union Cabinet has approved 2 per cent additional Dearness allowance for Central government employees and Dearness relief for pensioners. It will be effective from 1st of January, 2017.<br/><br/>The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting in New Delhi this evening. The decision will benefit about 48.85 lakh Central government employees and 55.51 lakh pensioners.The combined impact on the exchequer due to it would be over 6,833 crore rupees in 2017-18 for a period of 14 months from January, 2017 to February, 2018.