8th Pay Commission: More than 5 million central government employees and approximately 6.9 million pensioners across the country are eagerly awaiting the 8th Pay Commission . However, there are some states where the 11th Pay Commission (Kerala 11th Pay Commission) has already been implemented, and there are some states where the 6th Pay Commission is in effect.
In such a situation, the biggest question is: when will the new pay commission (8th Pay Commission) be implemented in the remaining states, and when will the increased salaries and pensions be received? State employees are now questioning whether they will receive the same benefits as the central government (central vs. state pay revision 2026), or will they have to wait longer?
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Who will benefit first when the new pay commission is implemented?
Whenever the central government implements a new pay commission, its benefits are first available to central employees and pensioners. However, for state employees, the situation is less straightforward. Each state makes decisions based on its own financial situation, budget, and revenue. This is why state governments, rather than copying the central government, establish their own State Pay Commissions.
Why do states create separate pay commissions?
The real reason is money. Each state’s income and expenditure vary. Some states can increase salaries significantly, while others can do so only sparingly. Therefore, state governments don’t directly implement the Central Pay Commission’s recommendations, but instead form their own commissions to decide on salaries, pensions, and allowances. Recently, the Assam government also formed a new State Pay Commission.
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State governments typically keep a fitment factor that is similar to that of the central government. The fitment factor set by the 7th Central Pay Commission was 2.57 (2.57 compared to states). Uttar Pradesh also upheld a fitment factor of 2.57, whereas Punjab’s was slightly higher at 2.59. Nonetheless, this can differ a bit in certain states.
When can state employees expect their arrears? The usual guideline is that arrears should start accumulating the day after the previous Pay Commission’s term concludes. For instance, in Uttar Pradesh, the term of the 7th Pay Commission lasts until December 31, 2025, which means that ideally, arrears should begin from January 1, 2026. However, the start date for the 8th Pay Commission has not been confirmed yet, so we will only have a complete understanding after the government makes an announcement.
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How long does it take for states to implement the changes? There isn’t a fixed timeline for states to adopt the new pay commission following the central government’s lead. Some states manage to implement the new pay commission within six months to a year, while the majority take between one to three years. This was also evident during the 7th Pay Commission. Therefore, it is clear that state employees will certainly gain from the 8th Pay Commission, but the timing, the amount, and the arrears will be entirely dependent on the choices made by the state governments.