8th Pay Commission: The Central Government had hinted about the 8th Pay Commission at the beginning of the year, but no official announcement has been made so far. This silence has created an atmosphere of doubt and concern among more than 50 lakh central employees and more than 65 lakh pensioners across the country.
Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary of NC-JCM (National Council-Joint Consultative Mechanism), wrote a letter to the Cabinet Secretary on June 18, 2025, in which he clearly said that the government should now immediately make public the Terms of Reference (ToR), i.e. the working conditions of the Commission.
Government announcement, but no formal order
According to a news published in Financial Express, Shiv Gopal Mishra said in his letter that in January 2025, the Ministry of Personnel (DoPT) had informed that the government has decided to constitute the 8th Pay Commission and its terms are being finalized. Along with this, suggestions were also sought from the representatives of the employees, which were given on time.
But till now neither ToR has been issued nor any official notification has come regarding the formation of the commission. This silence of the government is increasing apprehension among employees and pensioners. They want to know whether the government is going back on its promise or if there will be any further delay in it.
Not only salary, but pension is also under suspicion.
The biggest concern is about retired employees (pensioners). The letter also mentions that the recently passed Finance Bill states that whether the government wants to give the benefits of the Pay Commission to pensioners or not will depend entirely on the discretion of the government.
This has created a feeling of resentment and insecurity among 65 lakh pensioners. They want that just as the employees in service will get the benefit of salary revision, they should also get the same benefits. It is a big irony that even after serving the country all their lives, they have to struggle for their rights.
Three major demands of employee organizations
Employee organizations are expecting immediate action from the government on these three major demands:
ToR should be made public
So that rumors stop and trust is maintained among the employees. Without ToR, the direction and objectives of the commission’s functioning are not clear.
Pensioners should get equal rights
Both employees and pensioners should get equal benefits of pay revision. It is the moral duty of the government to protect the interests of pensioners.
The commission should be formed soon
So that the report can come on time and it can be implemented before 2026. Due to delay, employees will not be able to get the benefit of the new pay scale for a long time.
What is a Pay Commission and why is it needed
The Government of India constitutes a Pay Commission every 10 years, which reviews the salaries, allowances, and service conditions of central employees and pensioners. After this, it gives recommendations to the government, which the government implements to change the salary.
The 7th Pay Commission was implemented in January 2016. Now the 8th Pay Commission is likely to be implemented in 2026. However if the commission is not formed on time, employees may remain deprived of the new pay scale for a long time, which will affect their financial situation.
Is the government going back on its promise
According to NC-JCM, due to the lack of any clarity from the government, employees fear that the 8th Pay Commission may remain just a political statement. Shiv Gopal Mishra clearly says that if the government does not give clear guidelines soon, it will not only lower the morale of the employees but will also raise questions about the intentions of the government. This situation can create a deep disappointment among the employees, which can also hurt their efficiency.
Who will be affected after all
This uncertainty will affect not only government employees but also their families, spending capacity, and the consumer economy of the country. When millions of employees and pensioners have doubts about their future, everything from markets to morale is affected. This is a macroeconomic and social issue that needs immediate attention.