8th Pay Commission: Indian government employees seek major salary revisions

India's 8th Pay Commission, constituted on November 3, 2025, is currently undergoing a consultation process to revise salary structures for central government employees and pensioners. Led by a three-member panel headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, the commission is working under an 18-month mandate, with a target to submit its final report between May and June 2027.

Employee unions, including the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), have presented several significant demands to the commission. These include increasing the minimum basic pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 69,000 by applying a proposed 3.833 fitment factor. Additionally, unions are requesting that the annual increment rate be doubled from 3 percent to 6 percent to combat inflation.

Other proposals include restructuring family unit calculations from three units to five units—to include the employee, spouse, two children, and dependent parents—to better align minimum wages with living expenses. The commission has been conducting nationwide hearings in cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Puducherry to gather input from stakeholders.