8th Pay Commission: After the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission (8th CPC),government employees have started to voice their demands. The staff side of the National Council (JCM) has reached out to Pankaj Jain, the Member Secretary of the 8th Pay Commission, through a letter. Dated April 1, 2026, JCM Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra outlined nine important points aimed at addressing the concerns of employees and the challenges they encounter in conveying their perspectives to the Commission.
One of the primary demands is the restoration of the old pension scheme. The most significant and long-standing request from employees is for the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). In their correspondence, the JCM made it clear that employees have a multitude of complaints and issues regarding the NPS and UPS. Government employees should not be subjected to any contributory pension scheme. There is a strong call for the reinstatement of the Non-Contributory Pension Scheme. Additionally, they are seeking specific provisions for pensioners, which include vital matters such as pension parity, the revision of post-retirement benefits, and the timely restoration of the commuted value of pensions.
Special provisions for women employees have also been highlighted. The JCM has pushed for a dedicated section for women employees within the framework of the 8th Pay Commission. They have requested that particular issues concerning their work, such as workplace safety, maternity benefits, menstrual leave, and child care leave (CCL),be taken seriously. Employees contend that effective policies can only be developed by ensuring equality for women in the workplace and considering their specific needs. Moreover, different departments encounter unique challenges, and thus, a separate section has been requested in the memorandum to emphasize department-specific issues.
The current online system for submitting memorandums has several technical limitations. The JCM has demanded that the word limit be increased from 500 words to at least 1, 000 words to fully present arguments and data on complex issues. It has also suggested increasing the file attachment limit from 2 MB to 10 MB. Furthermore, employees have demanded that memorandums be submitted not only online, but also via email and hard copy, so that employees at all levels can easily convey their views.
Request for extension of date and meeting
The JCM has requested an extension of the deadline for submitting a memorandum on department-related issues to May 31, 2026. They stated that consultations with various organizations and unions across the country take time. Concluding the letter, Shiv Gopal Mishra also proposed that they would like to have a face-to-face meeting with the 8th Pay Commission on any convenient date after April 13, 2026.
It’s mandatory for all central government employees to complete competency-based courses related to their role or level each year on a dedicated online platform, which will also be reflected in their annual performance appraisal report. The government recently disclosed this information in the Rajya Sabha.
What did the minister say?
Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, in a written reply to a question, said,“The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has made it mandatory for all central government employees and All India Services officers to annually complete role/level-specific competency-based courses on the Integrated Government Online Training (IGOT) portal and comprehensive assessments set by their Ministries/Departments/Organizations (MDOs) or Cadre Controlling Authorities (CCAs). This information will also be recorded in their Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs). This means that this course will be linked to the appraisal reports of central government employees. This could become a major factor in determining appraisal.”
It should be noted that central government employees are awaiting the recommendations of the Eighth Pay Commission. The central government announced the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission in January last year. The Pay Commission was formed in November 2025. This Pay Commission has 18 months to submit its recommendations to the government.
