8th pay commission: The central government gave great news to central employees and pensioners in the beginning of 2025. On 16 January 2025, the government announced the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. But now the month of September is about to end and so far, the Commission’s official notification, terms of reference (Terms of Reference – Tor) and members are waiting for the appointment of members.
This delay is increasing the restlessness between employees and unions. The biggest question is whether the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission will have to wait till 2028 to implement.
Why the question of 2028 is arising
This question is not arising like this. The last time experience suggests that it takes at least 2 to 3 years for any pay commission from formation to implementation. If the same pattern was repeated this time, then it is considered to be fixed to wait by 2028.
Timeline of previous pay commissions
The 6th Pay Commission was set up in October 2006. It submitted its report to the government in March 2008. The government approved the report in August 2008 and implemented it from 1 January 2006 retrospectively. That is, it took about 22 to 24 months from formation to implementation.
The 7th Pay Commission was formed in February 2014 and its Tor was fixed by March 2014. The Commission submitted its report in November 2015. The government approved recommendations in June 2016 and was implemented from 1 January 2016. That is, it took about 33 months (about 2 years 9 months) until the formation of the formation. It is clear from this comparison that both commissions took an average of 2 to 3 years.
The current status of the 8th Pay Commission
It was announced on 16 January 2025. But till now neither TOR has been released nor the names of the members of the Commission have been revealed. That is, the beginning of the real process is yet to begin.
If the commission is formed in the coming months and it takes at least two years to make the report, then this report will be ready by 2027. After this, the government will have to consider the report, amend it and then approve. In such a situation, the implementation in 2028 is the most real possibility. However, whenever the recommendations are implemented, they will be applied retrospectively from 1 January 2026. This means that employees and pensioners will also get arrears.
Why is Pay Commission important
Pay Commission is not just a means of increasing salary for government employees. This directly affects allowances, pension and future economic security. Especially in this era of inflation, employees want the commission to start quickly so that the burden of increasing expenses can be reduced.
The recommendations of the Commission are equally important for pensioners as it affects their pension and dearness allowance (DA).
What is the opinion of experts?
Financial expert says that if the process goes on like the 7th Commission, then the report of the 8th Pay Commission and its approval will take time. Given the current delay, the possibility is that its effect may be drawn by 2028.
Meanwhile, more than 1.2 crore employees and pensioners across the country are eagerly waiting for the appointment of Tor and Commission members. The last time experience witnesses that the 6th and 7th commission took a long time to implement. In view of this, the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission are also difficult to implement before 2028.
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