8th Pay Commission: The Central Government has approved the 8th Pay Commission on 16 January 2025. Under this, the salary of central government employees and pension of pensioners will be amended. This decision will benefit around 50 lakh central employees and 65 lakh pensioners. However, the budget of FY 2025-26 does not include the expenditure from implementing the recommendations of this commission.

How long will the 8th Pay Commission report come?

• The pay panel may take about a year to present and approve the report.
• Manoj Govil, the Expenditure Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, said that after the formation of the commission, the report could come by March 2026.
• There is also a possibility that the report is prepared before this.

What process is being adopted for the 8th Pay Commission?

• The Finance Ministry has written a letter to the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) to suggest on Terms of Reference (Tor).
• After approving these suggestions, the Pay Commission will start its work.
• The chairman of the commission and two other members will be appointed soon.

Travel from 7th Pay Commission to 8th Pay Commission

• The duration of the 7th Pay Commission is ending in 2026.
• Pay Commission is usually set up every 10 years.
• State governments also amend the salaries of their employees based on the recommendations of the Center’s Pay Commission.

What changes are possible from the 8th Pay Commission?

The salaries and allowances of the employees will be amended.
Pensioners can get high pension benefits.
There may be a minimum wage increase and change in fitment factor.
State governments will also revise their salary structure on this basis.