The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a 4 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for central government employees and pensioners. Information and broadcast minister Prakash Javadekar in a media briefing said that DA for 48 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners have been hiked to 21 percent from the existing 17 percent of the basic pay or pension. The hike will come into effect from January 1, 2020 and this will cost the govt Rs 14,595 crore, the minister said.