With state visitations continuing for the 8th Central Pay Commission through the months of September and October 2026, work for Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai's led committee seems to be intensifying, with state officials and representatives of the unions calling for and meetings taking place across states that central government employees/pensioners are a part of.
The Commission, in a meeting in Chennai from 7th September to 8th September, had discussions with South Indian employee and pension organizations, and a meeting was held in Puducherry on 9th September.
Prior to this, on August 31 and September 1, meetings were held in Jaipur for similar purposes and employee concerns.
Next up on the schedule are visits to Chandigarh (September 16-18) to receive representation from Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, followed by a session in Bengaluru during October 7-8.
As far as employee and manpower data submissions from departments are concerned to the commission through its website, the last cut-off dates have already passed with the extend deadline July 31.
Employee unions have raised demands for a higher fitment factor and increased annual increment since living costs have increased since the 7th Pay Commission Award was decided upon by 5-7% in salary hikes.
Pensioner groups had independently requested to change the terms of reference and to review the terms of reference for pension and family pensions, and also some had presented a figure of 58,000 rupees as the minimum pension.
Employee groups have repeatedly reasserted for the old pension scheme to be reintroduced; however, the government assured that this has been reintroduced only as an option in some selected cadres.
No decision/announcement has been made regarding fitment factor or percentage increase in salary or revised pay matrix with numerous fake information spread online in this regard.
However, it is confirmed that the constitution notification by the Government of India, Gazette, was passed on November 3, 2025, and had completed 18 months on May 3, 2027.
If the new payscale comes into effect from 1 January 2026, the employees get arrears between January 1, 2026, and the day when it is notified. However, it is already beyond the implemented date, which was supposed to be implemented on 1 January 2026, and a fixed date of notification has not been announced yet.
Another distinct matter is that a Dearness Allowance increase for central government employees will be announced in September that could be announced separately from the review of the pay by the Pay Commission.
The increase in DA will apply immediately, but the overall pay review can happen only after the report.
Currently, one of the most awaited policy events among India's 55 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners across the country is the 8th Pay Commission.
As this consultation exercise takes longer, and the difference between confirmed facts and rumors continues to widen, it seems the state-level hearing is the only concrete confirmation of any progress in the absence of an official report, so employees need to remain patient.
