Big update on 8th Pay Commission
8th Pay Commission: Lakhs of central employees and pensioners across the country are eagerly waiting for the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission. Meanwhile, many speculations were being made regarding changes in pension rules and Finance Bill, 2025. The situation on this issue has become completely clear in the Lok Sabha during the budget session of Parliament on February 9, 2026. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary, in reply to a question, has made it clear that the government has no intention of changing the existing pension structure nor is there any discrimination being done among the pensioners.
Government’s blunt answer on pension rules
The question was raised in the Lok Sabha whether through the Finance Bill, 2025, the Central Government has acquired the right to establish any distinction between pensioners or to make changes in the existing rules. On this, the Finance Ministry said in clear words that the pension of central government employees will continue to be governed under the ‘Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021’.
The government clarified that Part IV of the Finance Act, 2025 has only validated the existing pension rules and principles. This means that the rules already in place for pension payments and liabilities from the Consolidated Fund of India will remain the same. The government has not made any changes or cuts in the existing civil or defense pension.
When will the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission be implemented?
In the reply given in Parliament, important information was also given on the functioning and timeline of the 8th Pay Commission. The government informed that the 8th Central Pay Commission has been constituted on November 3, 2025. The commission has been given 18 months from the date of formation to give its recommendations.
Since Pay Commission is an expert body, it is preparing its recommendations for pay scales, allowances and pension for different categories of employees. The Finance Ministry also made it clear that any revision in pension will be done only after the recommendations of the Commission come and they are accepted by the government.
What will happen to those who retire before December 31, 2025?
Will the employees who have retired on or before December 31, 2025 also get the benefit of the 8th Pay Commission? Explaining the process on this, it was told that the revision of pension is done through General Orders. Once the 8th Pay Commission report comes and the government approves it, only then the process of pension revision will start.