New Delhi: Wednesday, the Union government increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government workers by 5% from the present 12%. The announcement made after a Cabinet meeting by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar is expected to help 50 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners. Calling it a ' Diwali gift, ' Javadekar said almost Rs 16,000 crore would cost the raise to the exchequer. The DA has now grown to 17 per cent.