NewsIndia

The 8th Pay Commission is set to significantly revise salaries and pensions for over 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners. This revision will impact approximately 50-55 lakh employees and 65-70 lakh pensioners.

Key facts:

• The 8th Pay Commission reviews and recommends changes to allowances, salaries, pensions, and associated benefits.
• Its Terms of Reference were approved by the Cabinet on 28 October 2025.
• Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai chairs the commission, with Pulak Ghosh as a part-time member and Pankaj Jain as member secretary.
• The fitment factor proposals range from 1.8 to 3.833, potentially raising minimum salaries significantly.

The last revision occurred under the 7th Pay Commission, which set the minimum basic pay at ₹18,000 and the maximum salary at ₹2,50,000 for apex positions like Cabinet Secretary. The new commission aims for a substantial salary hike that could lead to a percent increase in salaries based on the fitment factor.

Officials expect implementation by 1 January 2026. The commission plans visits to various regions, including Ladakh and Hyderabad, to gather input from stakeholders. The outreach signifies an effort to understand diverse needs across different areas.

The commission’s work will directly influence government spending on employee compensation. As such, it is crucial for the administration to balance fiscal responsibility with fair compensation for workers. However, uncertainties remain regarding how these proposed changes will affect current budgets.