Modi Government Greenlights 8th Pay Commission for Salary Revisions
Agartala, Jan 17, 2025, By Our Correspondent107
The Union Cabinet has given the green light for the formation of the 8th Pay Commission, which will address the issue of increasing salaries for Central government employees and payments to pensioners. This decision was announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a press briefing following the Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission to benefit all central government employees and pensioners. Vaishnaw highlighted that since 1947, seven pay commissions have been established, with the 7th Pay Commission coming into effect in 2016 and its tenure concluding in 2026. By deciding to form the 8th Pay Commission in 2025, the government aims to receive recommendations well before the completion of the 7th Pay Commission's period.
The process will involve extensive consultations with state governments, central government, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and various stakeholders. A chairman and two members will soon be appointed for the commission.
Officials estimate that the move will benefit around 50 lakh central government employees, including defense personnel, and more than 65 lakh pensioners. Pay commissions are typically formed every 10 years to recommend the fitment factor and other modalities for revising salaries and pensions.
The 7th Pay Commission was established by the Manmohan Singh government in February 2014, with its recommendations implemented by the Modi government from January 2016 onwards. The announcement of the 8th Pay Commission comes amid persistent demands from employee unions and staff associations, who have been calling for the commission's formation at the earliest to ensure salary revisions from January 2026 onwards.
All India Railwaymen's Federation Secretary-General Shiv Gopal Mishra emphasized that since the last pay hike took effect on January 1, 2016, the next salary revision should occur from January 1, 2026, as salary hikes for Central government staff take place every 10 years. Mishra, who is also the secretary (staff side) of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), an official platform for resolving disputes between the government and its staff through dialogue, stated that employees expect a fitment factor of at least 2.86 to be recommended for the salary revision. The 7th Pay Commission had raised wages and pensions based on a fitment factor of 2.57.