India's 8th Central Pay Commission visits states for salary consultations

The Eighth Central Pay Commission, constituted on 3 November 2025 and chaired by Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai, has begun a series of state‑wide consultations to gather input on salary structures, retirement benefits and service conditions for central government employees.

The commission is scheduled to meet stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir from 1‑4 June 2026, followed by a visit to Ladakh on 8 June. It will then travel to Odisha, holding meetings in Bhubaneswar on 6‑7 July 2026, and has already visited Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 22‑23 May 2026. Participants include senior officials, department secretaries, union representatives and employee associations. The commission is tasked with submitting recommendations within 18 months, balancing demands such as a higher fitment factor (some unions seek up to 3.8) against fiscal prudence and the need to sustain development spending.

The consultations aim to shape the next set of pay recommendations, which will affect central government salaries, pension schemes and potentially the finances of state governments and public sector undertakings.