Pay commission: 8th

The 8th Pay Commission is set to significantly revise salaries and pensions for over 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners. This commission will evaluate the salary structure, allowances, and pension benefits for these individuals.

Key facts:

• The 8th Pay Commission will impact approximately 50-55 lakh central government employees and 65-70 lakh pensioners.
• Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai serves as the chairperson of the commission.
• Pulak Ghosh is a part-time member, while Pankaj Jain acts as the member secretary.
• The fitment factor proposals range from 1.8 to 3.833, which could lead to substantial salary hikes.

The Cabinet approved the Terms of Reference for the commission on October 28, 2025. The commission’s primary goal is to analyze and recommend changes to allowances, salaries, pensions, and associated benefits. The last pay revision occurred under the 7th Pay Commission.

Currently, the minimum basic pay stands at ₹18,000 for central government employees, while the maximum basic salary reaches ₹2,50,000 for apex positions such as Cabinet Secretary. The proposed fitment factor could increase salaries by up to 283% depending on its final determination.

The commission plans visits to various regions including Ladakh, Srinagar, and Hyderabad to gather insights from stakeholders. These efforts aim to enhance field outreach and ensure comprehensive recommendations.

The implementation of the recommendations is expected by January 1, 2026. However, no specific timeline has been shared regarding when details will be finalized or released publicly.