UP Minimum Wages October 2026: District-wise Rates, VDA and Official Order

Uttar Pradesh changed how it sets minimum wages in April 2026. For more than a decade the state had a single rate for each skill level across all 75 districts. After worker protests in Noida and Greater Noida, an order dated 17 April 2026 split the state into three district categories with different rates from 1 April 2026. Many payroll websites still show the old statewide figures, and some show the new structure with wrong numbers. This guide reproduces the official order, explains which category your district falls in, and works through ₹ examples for employers and workers.

Quick answer

From 1 April 2026, the minimum monthly wage for an unskilled worker in UP is ₹13,690 in Noida and Ghaziabad, ₹13,006 in other districts with a Nagar Nigam (such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi) and ₹12,356 in all other districts. Skilled rates are ₹16,868, ₹16,025 and ₹15,224.

• Rates include VDA (variable dearness allowance) of 6.25% of the basic wage

• They apply in the 74 scheduled employments with notified minimum wages; brick-kiln piece rates are excluded

• Order No. 374/36-2-2026-2041256, dated 17 April 2026 — still the latest on uplabour.gov.in when we last checked on 19 October 2026

• October 2026: no new VDA order posted yet — the April 2026 rates continue for October 2026 to March 2027

• Daily rate ≈ monthly rate ÷ 26, for example about ₹527 for unskilled work in Noida

UP minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026

The order fixes a basic wage and a VDA for each skill level in each district category. Employers must pay at least the total.

The daily column is our calculation (monthly ÷ 26, rounded) — the order itself states monthly rates only. We checked the figures in both the English and Hindi versions of the order on the department's website.

Uttar Pradesh minimum wage calculator

Zone / employment

Category I — Gautam Buddha Nagar, GhaziabadCategory II — other Nagar Nigam districtsCategory III — all other districts

Skill level / category

UnskilledSemi-skilledSkilled

Days worked in the month

Overtime hours

Actual wage paid (₹/month, optional)

Months underpaid

A full month is 26 working days; the daily rate is the monthly rate ÷ 26 where the order fixes only a monthly figure.

Monthly minimum (26 days)₹13,690

Daily rate (monthly ÷ 26)₹526.54

Pay for 26 days₹13,690

Overtime at 2× (₹131.64/hour)₹0

Minimum gross pay this month₹13,690

Overtime is paid at twice the ordinary rate (daily rate ÷ 8 hours). Arrears assume the same shortfall in every month since the rates took effect on 1 April 2026; a claim under the Code on Wages must generally be filed within 3 years. Estimates only — check the order for your employment.

UP minimum wages in October 2026 — what has changed?

Many people search for "UP minimum wages October 2026" expecting the half-yearly VDA revision. Here is where things stand:

• Latest official order: No. 374/36-2-2026-2041256 dated 17 April 2026, in force from 1 April 2026. It is still the most recent 74-employment order on uplabour.gov.in as of 19 October 2026.
• No October VDA order yet. The department's Minimum Wages and Related VDA page lists no wage order for the 74 employments after this one. The previous general VDA order before it was dated 1 October 2024.
• So for October 2026 to March 2027 the table above is the legal minimum. Do not apply any figure from a WhatsApp image or payroll site that is not in the official order.
• If an order is posted later with effect from 1 October 2026, the difference is payable as arrears, as happened with the April 2026 order, which was signed on 17 April but took effect from 1 April.

The rates in this guide are the all-inclusive monthly totals (basic plus VDA) from the order. Our minimum wage calculator gives the figure for a given number of days, and the central minimum wages guide shows how other states compare.

Which district category are you in?

The order sorts all 75 districts into three groups by industrialisation, urban infrastructure and cost of living:

• Category I — Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida, Greater Noida) and Ghaziabad. These border Delhi and have the highest living costs.
• Category II — every other district that has a Nagar Nigam (municipal corporation), such as Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Agra, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Meerut, Bareilly, Aligarh, Moradabad and Gorakhpur.
• Category III — all remaining districts.

What counts is where the employee actually works. A Lucknow-registered company with a warehouse in Barabanki pays Category II rates in Lucknow and Category III rates in Barabanki. If you are unsure whether a district has a Nagar Nigam, check with the district labour office before your next payroll.

Why UP changed its minimum wages in April 2026

The order sets out the background in unusual detail:

• UP's minimum wages for the 74 scheduled employments were last set from a price index average of 216 points (July–December 2012).
• Full revisions were due from 1 April 2019 and 1 April 2024 but were not carried out. Workers received only periodic VDA increases.
• In April 2026, workers in Noida and Greater Noida protested and demanded wages on the pattern of neighbouring Haryana. The state set up a high-level committee on 13 April 2026, chaired by the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, with five worker and three employer representatives.
• Employers argued that global tariffs and supply disruptions had hurt business. Both sides agreed to the three-tier district classification.

The government issued the new rates as interim relief under section 3(b) of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The order replaced the Labour Commissioner's order of 25 March 2026, except for brick kilns, where piece rates continue. It also notes that the Uttar Pradesh Code on Wages Rules, 2026 were being prepared. So expect a further notification under the Code, which allows states to set different rates by geographical area and skill.

UP minimum wage milestones

2012 base

Rates fixed on an index average of 216 (Jul–Dec 2012); VDA added since

1 Apr 2019 & 1 Apr 2024

Full revisions due but not carried out

21 Nov 2025

Code on Wages in force; earlier wage notifications saved until replaced

25 Mar 2026

Labour Commissioner's order (later superseded)

13 Apr 2026

High-level committee meets after Noida protests

17 Apr 2026

Three-tier rates notified, effective 1 April 2026

Worked examples in ₹

Example 1 — a helper in a Noida factory. An unskilled helper in Sector 63 works a full month. Minimum pay is ₹13,690: basic ₹12,885 plus VDA ₹805. If he works 20 days on a daily arrangement, pay at least 20 × ₹527 = ₹10,540.

Example 2 — arrears from 1 April. The order was signed on 17 April but takes effect from 1 April 2026. A Kanpur unit (Category II) paid a semi-skilled machine operator ₹13,500 for April before updating payroll. The arrear for April is ₹14,306 − ₹13,500 = ₹806. For a 40-person unit with similar gaps, that is over ₹30,000 — budget for it in the same month.

Example 3 — overtime. Section 14 of the Code on Wages requires overtime at twice the normal rate. For a skilled worker in a Category III district earning ₹15,224, the hourly rate on a 26-day, 8-hour basis is about ₹73, so each overtime hour costs at least ₹146.

Example 4 — Delhi vs Noida. A Delhi company employs two unskilled packers, one in Okhla (Delhi) and one in Noida. The Delhi worker must get at least ₹18,456 a month; the Noida worker at least ₹13,690. Paying both the higher Delhi rate is allowed and simpler, but it is not required. See our guide to minimum wages in Delhi.

Unskilled monthly minimum wage — Delhi vs UP

Place of work	Rate	In force from
Delhi (all districts)	₹18,456	1 April 2025
Noida / Ghaziabad (UP Category I)	₹13,690	1 April 2026
Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra etc. (UP Category II)	₹13,006	1 April 2026
Other UP districts (Category III)	₹12,356	1 April 2026

Delhi (all districts)

Rate

₹18,456

In force from

1 April 2025

Noida / Ghaziabad (UP Category I)

Rate

₹13,690

In force from

1 April 2026

Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra etc. (UP Category II)

Rate

₹13,006

In force from

1 April 2026

Other UP districts (Category III)

Rate

₹12,356

In force from

1 April 2026

Scheduled employments and industry-specific orders

The April 2026 order covers the 74 scheduled employments for which UP fixed minimum wages under the old Minimum Wages Act. The full list is in the department's earlier notifications; it covers most factory, shop and service work. Under the Code on Wages, every employee now has a statutory right to the minimum wage. Until UP notifies rates under its new Code rules, these rates are the benchmark for any job in the state.

Some industries have their own wage or DA orders on the department's Minimum Wages and Related VDA page, including bidi, carpet (kaleen), glass bangles, hotels and restaurants, vacuum-pan sugar mills, and engineering units with 50 or more workers. If you run one of these, check that page for the order covering your industry as well as the general order. Brick kilns are expressly left out of the April 2026 order where wages are paid by the piece.

How VDA revisions work in UP — and how to check for updates

VDA links wages to prices. UP has historically issued VDA orders for the 74 employments around 1 April and 1 October. The department's list shows orders dated April 2023, September 2023, May 2024 and October 2024. In the April 2026 order, VDA equals 6.25% of the new basic wage in every category.

To stay current:

1. Check uplabour.gov.in in April and October — new orders appear first in the home-page notices, in Hindi and English.
2. Open Minimum Wages and Related VDA for industry-specific orders.
3. Match the order number and date on any PDF you receive with the one on the website.
4. Note the effective date. Orders are often signed weeks after it, so plan for arrears.

When we checked on 19 October 2026, no VDA order from 1 October 2026 had been posted; when it is, arrears are due from 1 October.

Employer obligations under the Code on Wages

UP minimum wage compliance checklist

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• Identify the district category for every place of work (I, II or III)
• Classify each worker as unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled by the work done
• Ensure basic + VDA is at least the current rate — not CTC or gross with allowances
• Pay arrears from 1 April 2026 if you updated payroll late
• Pay monthly wages before the 7th of the next month; full and final within two working days of exit
• Pay overtime at twice the normal rate
• Keep wage registers, issue wage slips and display category-wise rates on the notice board
• Check industry-specific orders (bidi, carpet, glass bangles, hotels, sugar, engineering)

Share Print

The penalties are the same nationwide. Paying less than the amount due can draw a fine of up to ₹50,000, and a repeat offence within five years up to ₹1 lakh fine and/or 3 months' imprisonment (section 54). Workers, their union or an Inspector-cum-Facilitator can file a claim within 3 years, and the authority can award compensation of up to 10 times the claim (section 45).

A payslip with separate basic and VDA lines is the easiest proof of compliance — our free salary slip generator builds one in a minute.

Official links

• UP order dated 17.04.2026 — rates w.e.f. 01.04.2026 (English PDF)Three-tier rates, basic and VDA
• UP order dated 17.04.2026 (Hindi PDF)Original Hindi notification
• UP Labour Department — Minimum Wages and Related VDAIndustry-specific and earlier VDA orders
• The Code on Wages, 2019 (India Code)Overtime, payment dates, claims, penalties
• PIB — Labour Codes in force from 21 Nov 2025Minimum wage for all workers

Related guides

Higher minimum wages raise wage-linked costs: recheck your gratuity provisions, and see PF withdrawal rules for employees' provident fund questions. For neighbouring states, compare Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

What are the UP minimum wages for October 2026?

The rates fixed from 1 April 2026 still apply. When we checked uplabour.gov.in on 19 October 2026, no 1 October 2026 VDA order had been posted. Unskilled workers get ₹13,690 (Noida, Ghaziabad), ₹13,006 (other Nagar Nigam districts) or ₹12,356 a month. If an order is issued later with effect from 1 October, arrears are due.

Are UP minimum wages revised in October 2026 to March 2027?

UP has historically issued VDA orders around 1 April and 1 October, but not every cycle. No order for October 2026 to March 2027 was on the department's website when we checked, so the April 2026 rates are the current ones for this period.

Where can I download the UP minimum wages PDF?

The English order is at uplabour.gov.in/MediaGallery/TickerScrolls/document-34.pdf and the Hindi original at document-33.pdf. Both are linked under Official links below.

What is the minimum wage in UP in 2026?

From 1 April 2026, UP pays by district category. In Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) and Ghaziabad the unskilled rate is ₹13,690 a month; in districts with a Nagar Nigam such as Lucknow or Kanpur it is ₹13,006; elsewhere it is ₹12,356. Skilled workers get ₹16,868, ₹16,025 and ₹15,224 respectively.

What is the minimum wage in Noida?

Noida and Greater Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar district) are in Category I, the highest tier: ₹13,690 a month for unskilled, ₹15,059 for semi-skilled and ₹16,868 for skilled workers, including VDA, from 1 April 2026. Ghaziabad has the same rates. These are lower than Delhi's rates, so a company with staff on both sides of the border must apply each state's order separately.

What is VDA in UP minimum wages?

VDA (variable dearness allowance) is the part of the minimum wage that tracks the cost of living. In the April 2026 order, VDA is 6.25% of the basic wage in every category — for example ₹805 on a basic of ₹12,885 for unskilled workers in Noida. Employers must pay basic plus VDA; showing them separately on payslips makes compliance easy to check.

How do I calculate the daily minimum wage in UP?

The April 2026 order gives monthly rates only. The usual method is to divide the monthly rate by 26 working days. For an unskilled worker in a Category III district: ₹12,356 ÷ 26 ≈ ₹475 a day. Check the department's website for any separate daily or piece rates in employments such as brick kilns, which this order excludes.

Where can I check the latest UP minimum wage notification?

On the UP Labour Department's website, uplabour.gov.in. New orders appear in the scrolling notices on the home page and in the 'Minimum Wages and Related VDA' section. The April 2026 order was published in both Hindi and English. Avoid relying on PDFs shared on WhatsApp — confirm the order number on the official site.

Is a highly-skilled category notified in UP?

No. The April 2026 order fixes rates for three skill levels only — unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled — in each of the three district categories. The Code on Wages allows states to add a highly-skilled tier, and UP's own Code on Wages Rules were still being finalised when the order was issued.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 19 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Order No. 374/36-2-2026-2041256 dated 17.04.2026 — revised minimum wages with VDA in 74 scheduled employments w.e.f. 01.04.2026 (English) — Labour Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh · accessed 7 October 2026
2. 2.Order dated 17.04.2026 — Hindi original — Labour Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh · accessed 7 October 2026
3. 3.Minimum Wages and Related VDA — list of orders — Labour Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh · accessed 7 October 2026
4. 4.The Code on Wages, 2019 (No. 29 of 2019) — India Code, Legislative Department · accessed 7 October 2026
5. 5.Government announces implementation of the four Labour Codes (21 Nov 2025) — PIB — Ministry of Labour & Employment · accessed 7 October 2026
6. 6.Delhi minimum wage order dated 15.04.2025 — Labour Department, Government of NCT of Delhi · accessed 7 October 2026
7. 7.Minimum wages in Uttar Pradesh 2026 — SalaryBox Academy · accessed 7 October 2026