New Delhi: Before Diwali, the central government gave a major gift to central employees by increasing their DA, but everyone is eagerly awaiting the second one. The Modi government could constitute the 8th Pay Commission any day now. The government approved it in January, but has not yet constituted it. Amidst the anxiety among central employees, the demand for its formation is gaining momentum.
The government could decide to constitute it during the festive season, which would prove to be a major gift. The deadline for the 7th Pay Commission expires on December 31, 2025. There has been no word yet on the implementation timeline for the 8th Pay Commission, which is being claimed in media reports.
When could the 8th Pay Commission be implemented?
The question of when the 8th Pay Commission will be implemented for central employees is a million-dollar question. The government will not be able to implement the new Pay Commission by January 1, 2026. There are speculations that the government may constitute the 8th Pay Commission by November. Its review could then take 18 to 20 months.
This clearly means that it could be implemented on January 1, 2028. This means that the new Pay Commission could be implemented with a delay of two years. The government implemented the 7th Pay Commission on January 1, 2016, while the 6th Pay Commission was implemented on January 1, 2006. India has a tradition of implementing a Pay Commission every ten years.
How much has the DA increased?
During the second half of the year, the DA has increased by 3%. The DA has now reached 58%. Previously, the DA benefit was 55%. Previously, the dearness allowance was increased by 2%. Its rates were implemented from January 1, 2025.
The DA increase will be effective from July 1, 2025. This means that the arrears for July, August, and September will be received simultaneously. Over 1 crore employees and pensioners will benefit from the increased DA.