New Delh: On January 16 of this year, the Central Government had announced the approval to constitute the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees and pensioners. However, despite the passage of considerable time, the commission has not yet been formed. The biggest question now is: when will the 8th Pay Commission actually be constituted?
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier stated that the recommendations of the Pay Commission would be implemented from January 2026. However, experts believe that the formation of the commission and the process of implementing its recommendations may take more time.
Since the tenure of the 7th Pay Commission ends on December 31, 2025, it is being considered that the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission will be applicable from January 1, 2026. But considering the current pace of progress, experts suggest that the implementation could be delayed until April 2026.
According to the Pay Commission, the key basis for salary revision is the fitment factor, a multiplier applied to the existing basic pay to determine new salaries. During the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was 2.57, which increased the minimum salary of central employees from ₹7,000 to ₹18,000.
For the 8th Pay Commission, the fitment factor is expected to be around 2.86. If that happens, the minimum salary of employees could rise to around ₹51,480, and pensions for central pensioners could reach approximately ₹25,740 after implementation.
Around 50 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners are expected to benefit from the 8th Pay Commission. This includes defense personnel, paramilitary forces, and railway employees.
Despite the 2025-26 Union Budget presented in February, no clear roadmap for the 8th Pay Commission was included, which disappointed many employees. However, the Ministry of Finance has given assurances that the official notification, appointment of the chairman, and other procedural steps will begin very soon.
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