The Government of India has, in effect, initiated the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries and pensions of the central government employees and pensioners. Earlier, the commission was supposed to come into effect from January 1, 2026, but now it seems that there is likely to be a delay in rolling it out.
Formation and Expected Date of Implementation
The Union Cabinet approved the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission on January 16, 2025. Historically, pay commissions are constituted every ten years to address and adjust the remuneration structure of government employees.
The 7th Pay Commission was implemented from January 1, 2016, while the 6th Pay Commission was put into force in 2006. It had therefore been expected that the 8th Pay Commission would be formed by January 1, 2026.
Current Status and Delays
As of February 2025, the Government has yet to appoint the Chairman and other members of the 8th Pay Commission. Based on information provided recently by Expenditure Secretary Manoj Govil, it is expected that the commission will be appointed around April 2025.
Thereafter, it is going to take the commission months to review existing pay structures, consult widely, and produce recommendations. Following that, the Government would take a further period to consider and apply these recommendations. Thus, other than the original date of January 1, 2026, this also pushes the implementation of revised salaries and pensions into the financial year 2026-27.
Furthermore, there was no provision made in the Union Budget 2025-26 regarding the 8th Pay Commission, hence paving the way for more chances of delay.
Employee Expectations and Fitment Factor
Central government employees and pensioners are expecting a strong increase in their earnings. Among the most expected changes is the fitment factor, which forms the basis for the new basic salary. The coefficient for fitment is currently at 2.57, and it is expected to rise to 2.86 in the new commission.
If it happens, the rise in minimum basic pay would be in a big way and earn the gratitude of millions of employees in various departments.
Conclusion
The Government’s announcement regarding the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission may, however, take much longer than originally thought. It is advisable that central government employees and pensioners continue monitoring official statements for credible updates.