Merger of 50% DA with basic pay was done in the 5th pay commission, but the 6th panel did not recommended it. The Centre is expected to announce next month a hike in DA by 10% which would make it 100% of basic pay. It will be the second double digit DA hike in a row as the government had announced a hike of 10% in September last year, effective from July 1, 2013.