The 8th Pay Commission has been officially approved by the Union Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16, 2025 . This commission will review the salaries of 50 lakh central government employees and allowances for 65 lakh pensioners .
Key Updates on the 8th Pay Commission
The National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) – Staff Side has submitted several proposals regarding salary structures, merger of DA with basic pay, and pension increases. A crucial meeting is scheduled today, February 10, 2025, between the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Standing Committee of the National Council JCM to discuss these recommendations.
Major Changes Proposed in 8th Pay Commission
✅ Merger of Pay Scales from Level 1 to Level 6
Currently, the pay scale structure ranges from Level 1 to Level 18. The 7th Pay Commission set the minimum salary at ₹18,000 (Level 1) and the maximum salary at ₹2,50,000 (Level 18).
Proposed salary changes if pay scales are merged:
- Level 1 (₹18,000) + Level 2 (₹19,900) → New Salary: ₹51,480 (Fitment Factor: 2.86)
- Level 3 + Level 4 → New Salary: ₹72,930
- Level 5 + Level 6 → New Salary: ₹1,01,244
This merger aims to simplify salary progression and remove disparities between different pay levels.
✅ Integration of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) with Basic Salary & Pension
The staff side has proposed an automatic DA/DR merger to protect employees and pensioners from rising inflation. If accepted, this would mean higher take-home salaries and pensions.
Next Steps: When Will the Pay Commission Be Implemented?
The government is expected to form a three-member Pay Commission panel within this month, with a chairman leading the committee.
The commission will submit its report within 12 months, after which the government will take a final decision on salary revisions and pension hikes for 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners.
Stay tuned for updates on the 8th Pay Commission and its impact on government employees and pensioners!