8th Pay Commission: Crores of central employees and pensioners across the country are asking only one question at this time—what happened to the 8th Pay Commission? The government had definitely announced it in January 2025, but even after a year, the direction and structure of the commission have not been clear. Neither the chairman has been appointed, nor the members have been selected, nor the rules have been finalized on the basis of which the future salary will be decided. This is the reason why it now seems almost impossible to implement the commission from January 2026.
Learning from the 7th Pay Commission
If we recall the process of the 7th Pay Commission, it is clear that such big decisions are not implemented immediately. Last time it took about three years for the commission’s report to be prepared and then implemented. Experts believe that if the same pace remains this time too, then the employees and pensioners will get their real benefit only by 2028. However, technically, the effect of the commission will be considered only from January 1, 2026; that is, even if the implementation is delayed, the salary will be calculated from the same base date.
Increasing restlessness of employees
About one crore central employees and pensioners are most upset with this delay. Employee organizations have written letters to the government several times demanding clarification of the situation. They say that when the announcement has been made, then why so much slowness in the process? Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has definitely said that suggestions are being taken from the states, ministries, and employee organizations, and the notification will be issued soon. But when will “soon” come? This question is still hanging in the balance.
How much will the salary increase?
The biggest question is how much the salary of the employees will increase with the 8th Pay Commission. Many people are assuming that the salary will double, but experts dismiss this possibility. They say that the salary hike will be decided on the basis of the fitment factor, and its estimate is between 1.83 to 2.86. This simply means that the salary can increase by an average of 13 to 34 percent. That is, the expectations are high, but the reality will be a little limited.
Hope till Diwali or a longer wait?
At present, no concrete time frame has been revealed by the government. Employee organizations believe that the government can take some positive steps before Diwali, so that the confidence of the employees remains intact. But if the process continues to drag on like this, then it is possible that the employees may have to wait for many more years to come.
Why is the 8th Pay Commission necessary?
In a country like India, where inflation is constantly increasing, it is very important to maintain the balance of the income of the employees. Last time, the 7th Pay Commission improved the economic condition of millions of families and also increased the spending capacity in the market. This time too, it is expected that the increase from the commission will not only give relief to the employees and pensioners, but will also give a new impetus to the economy.