8th Central Pay Commission holds consultations on salary and pension revisions

The 8th Central Pay Commission is conducting nationwide consultations with government employee and pensioner organizations to prepare its recommendations. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for Jaipur (August 31 to September 1), followed by sessions in Chennai and Puducherry in September.

A central point of negotiation is the fitment factor, a multiplier used to determine new basic salaries. While the 7th Pay Commission utilized a factor of 2.57, various unions are demanding significantly higher rates. The National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) and the All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) have requested a factor of 3.83, while the Bhartiya Pratiraksh Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS) is seeking 4.0. Experts suggest the final recommendation may fall between 2.0 and 2.57.

In addition to salary hikes for administrative staff in Pay Levels 5 through 8, there are growing calls for pension revisions. Organizations such as the Bharat Pensioners' Samaj are advocating for the interests of those who retired before January 1, 2026, requesting that pension schemes be reset to ensure financial security for retirees and their families.