There is a very important news for you! The 8th Pay Commission, which has been in discussion for a long time, may soon get approval for its Terms of Reference (ToR). After this big decision, the way will be cleared for formal negotiations between the government and the employees related to salary, allowances and pension. This news has brought great relief to crores of central employees and pensioners of the country, as it will be an important step towards improving their financial condition.
The government may soon give the green signal to the ToR
Senior members of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) have confirmed that the central government may soon give the green signal to the ToR of the 8th Pay Commission. Staff Side Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra, while talking in an interview, said, “We hope the government will approve it soon.

There should be no further delay in this process.” ToR, as we also discussed in the previous article, are the guidelines based on which the Pay Commission does its work and prepares its recommendations. Only after their approval, the Commission will be able to proceed with its detailed work.
Strong demand for change in the formula for determining minimum wage
When the government sought suggestions on ToR from the staff side in January, NC-JCM had submitted a detailed draft. This draft included many important and revolutionary demands. The biggest demand among these was the new calculation of minimum wages, in which it has been said to make 5 units the basis instead of 3 units till now. This simply means that now there is an emphasis on considering parents as dependents while deciding the salary structure.
Shiv Gopal Mishra emphasized that today’s social and family structure has changed. Taking care of parents is not only a moral but also a legal responsibility. He put this point strongly citing the ‘Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2022’. If this change is implemented, it will significantly help in fulfilling the financial security and social obligations of central employees.
These major demands got tremendous support
The demands emphasized by NC-JCM include several specific points that will directly affect the lives of employees:
Merging of lower pay levels: Like merging Level 1 with Level 2 and similarly Level 3 with 4 so that promotions of employees are not stopped and they can get better pay scales.
Pension changes: Restoration of commuted pension after 12 years and review of pension every 5 years has been demanded. This will be a big relief for pensioners, as this will keep their income increasing regularly.
Integrating Dearness Allowance into Basic Pay: The practice which was in the 5th Pay Commission has been demanded to be resumed. Currently, Dearness Allowance (DA) has reached 55 percent, and the demand to integrate it into the basic pay is gaining momentum as inflation is constantly affecting the pockets of common people. By doing so, employees will get more benefits on their basic pay.
Delay in panel formation

Although the central government gave in-principle approval to the 8th Pay Commission in January 2024, its panel has not been constituted yet. The tentative date of its implementation has been set as January 1, 2026, but if the ToR and formation process is delayed, its implementation may be delayed till 2027. This delay remains a matter of concern among employees and pensioners, as they are eagerly waiting for the new pay structure.
Why is the 8th Pay Commission so important?
A pay commission is constituted in India every ten years, which affects more than one crore central employees and pensioners of the country. This commission has a direct impact not only on the salary but also on the retirement, pension, and standard of living of the employees.
Its objective is to ensure fair and competitive remuneration to government employees in line with the rising inflation and cost of living so that they can lead a better life and remain motivated to serve the country. Now all eyes are on the next announcement of the central government, which will shape the future of lakhs of families.