X Y Z Classification of Cities for HRA 2026

X Y Z Classification of Cities for HRA in Central Government Services

X Y Z Classification of Cities for HRA: The Central Government has developed a system for categorizing cities based on their level of development, which is used to determine the amount of House Rent Allowance (HRA) that government employees will receive. This system is known as the X Y Z classification, and it takes into account a variety of factors such as population size, infrastructure, and economic indicators. By using this system, the government can ensure that HRA payments are fair and equitable, and that they reflect the cost of living in different parts of the country.

What is the classification of cities for HRA?

The Indian Central Government offers its employees a House Rent Allowance (HRA) as a form of assistance to cover a significant portion of their housing expenses. To determine the amount of HRA, the Central government has classified cities into three different categories based on their population.

How to classify X, Y, and Z Cities in India for HRA?

To determine the appropriate House Rent Allowance (HRA) for Central Government Employees in India, cities are categorized based on their population. X Class Cities, with a population above 50 lakh, are eligible for an HRA equivalent to 24% of their Basic Salary. Y Class Cities, with a population ranging from 5 to 50 lakh, are eligible for an HRA equivalent to 16% of their Basic Salary. Finally, Z Class Cities, with a population below 5 lakh, are eligible for an HRA equivalent to 8% of their Basic Salary.

What is the current rate of HRA?

The current house rent allowance (HRA) rates for central government employees vary based on the classification of the city they reside in. X Class Cities have a rate of 27%, Y Class Cities have a rate of 18%, and Z Class Cities have a rate of 9%. Previously, these rates were set at 24%, 16%, and 8% respectively. However, due to the Dearness Allowance (DA) surpassing 25%, the HRA rates have been updated to the current percentages.

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List of X-Class HRA Cities

The following cities, categorized as X-Class with a population exceeding 50 lakh, are entitled to receive a House Rent Allowance (HRA) amounting to 24% of their Basic Salary: Ahmedabad (Urban Agglomeration), Bengaluru (Urban Agglomeration), Chennai (Urban Agglomeration), Delhi (Urban Agglomeration), Mumbai (Urban Agglomeration), Hyderabad (Urban Agglomeration), Kolkata (Urban Agglomeration), and Pune (Urban Agglomeration).

List of Y Class HRA Cities

This is a compilation of Y Class HRA Cities which are entitled to receive a housing rent allowance equivalent to 16% of their basic salary. These cities have a population ranging from 5 to 50 lakh. The list includes Vijayawada (UA), Warangal (UA), Greater Visakhapatnam (M.Corpn), Guntur (UA), Nellore (UA), Guwahati (UA), Chandigarh (UA), S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, and Durg-Bhilai Nagar (UA) etc,.

List of Z Class HRA Cities

In order to allocate House Rent Allowance to Central Government employees, cities and towns located in different States and Union Territories that do not fall under the classification of ‘X’ or ‘Y’, are grouped under the category of ‘Z’. This category is referred to as the Z Class HRA Cities.

HRA for Armed Forces Personnel PDF

The HRA rates for Armed Forces Personnel have been revised and the updated minimum rates for X, Y, and Z class cities are Rs.5400, Rs.3600, and Rs.1800 respectively. The term “Basic Pay” in the updated pay structure refers only to the payment received in the listed payment levels mentioned in the Pay Matrix Table and does not include additional types of payment such as Non-Practising Allowance (NPA), Military Service Pay (MSP), and special pay. The Ministry of Finance has released a PDF containing this information under reference No.2/5/2017-E.II(B) on 07.07.2017, and the Ministry of Defence has also published a PDF with reference No.3(1)/2015-D(Q@C) on 11.11.2017. The PDFs can be downloaded by clicking on the provided links.

List of HRA Order PDF Download

X Y Z Classification Cities and Towns for HRA

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X Y Z classification of cities for HRA in Tamil Nadu

X Y Z classification of cities for HRA in Karnataka

X Y Z classification of cities for HRA in Rajasthan

X Y Z classification of cities for HRA in Maharashtra

X Y Z classification of cities for HRA in Haryana