Odisha declares a special variable dearness allowance (VDA) twice a year - on 1 April and 1 October - at the rate of Rs. 2.60 for every point increase in the Consumer Price Index for industrial workers (base 2016=100). During the last half-year, the index rose from an average of 147.50 to 149.80, an increase of 2.30 points, which the Labour Commissioner rounded up to add a flat Rs. 6 a day to every category's wage from 1 October 2026.
Two things to check first
Odisha's minimum wage table is not split by zone or by employer-provided benefits - a single statewide rate applies to each of the four skill categories. The 'Skilled' category is combined with 'Clerical' staff, who are paid the same rate.
Scheduled Employments: Wage Rates by Category
Every figure is taken from the live wage table published on Simpliance for Odisha, effective 1 October 2026. Basic per day already includes VDA accumulated from earlier cycles; VDA per day is only this cycle's increase.
| Class of Employment | Basic Per Day (Rs.) | VDA Per Day (Rs.) | Total Per Day (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | 472 | 6 | 478 |
| Semi-skilled | 522 | 6 | 528 |
| Skilled/Clerical | 572 | 6 | 578 |
| Highly Skilled | 622 | 6 | 628 |
The Rs. 6 a day increase applies uniformly across all four categories this cycle, unlike states that scale the VDA amount up with skill level. The next recalculation is due around 1 April 2027.