The Bihar cabinet on Friday increased the DA (Dearness Allowance) by 3% for state government employees from 55% to 58%. Bihar's Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary called the hike a "gift ahead of Diwali and Chhath" from the government, adding that it will be effective from July 1. The cabinet also doubled the students' scholarship under 'Mukhyamantri balak balika yojna'.