8th Pay Commission: Delay Continues despite formation of pay committee

The Chairman of the 8th Pay Commission has not yet been chosen. Furthermore, there has been no finalisation of the Terms of Reference (ToR). The creation of the 8th Pay Commission, which will update their pay and benefits, is keenly anticipated by more than 1.2 crore central government workers and retirees. Although the Pay Commission was approved by the government on January 16, 2025, it has not yet been properly established.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's acceptance of the 8th Pay Commission's formation, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw became the first minister to formally declare the commission's approval on January 16, 2025. As stated by Vaishnaw, at a cabinet meeting, the prime minister accepted the 8th Central Pay Commission for central government personnel.

For any pay commission to start working, the ToR is an essential component. It makes decisions about retirement benefits, allowances, and pay scales, among other things, based on the commission's recommendations. The basis for the operation of any pay commission is the ToR. The ToR must be notified before the chairman and commission members can be appointed. The commission cannot begin its work without a ToR because it is not considered formally established.

September 2013 saw the announcement of the 7th CPC, and in February 2014, the chairman and ToR were informed. However, the ToR of the Commission has not yet been finalised since the announcement of the 8th Pay Commission on January 16, 2025 and addition to it, the selection of the 8th pay commission's chairman and other members has not been formally announced by the government . This suggests that the 8th CPC's creation was delayed.

According to the previous commission, the implementation procedure typically takes two to three years from the time of establishment. With more than three months before the end of 2025, the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission appears unlikely before mid 2027 or early 2028, especially if one considers the schedule of past commissions.

According to media sources, government employees may have to wait until mid-2027 or early 2028 for the complete implementation of the Pay Commission. Even if the Pay Commission's report is submitted by the end of next year 2026 or early 2027, compensation increases are exceedingly unlikely before July 2027. This is based on a timetable comparison with the 7th Pay Commission, which was established in February 2014 and gave its findings to the Centre in November 2015.

The 8th Pay Commission will modify the pensions, allowances, and wages of around 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners. It will also modify the Dearness Allowance to reflect inflation. The 8th Pay Commission benefits approximately 50 lakh central government employees, including defence personnel. It will also help approximately 65 lakh central government pensioners, including defence retirees.



Important Points:

Betrayal and Injustice: After first declaring the 8th CPC in January 2025, the government remained silent for seven months, which the author finds unacceptabl


Threat of Additional Delay: The Finance Act 2025 gives the government the authority to arbitrary delay the implementation date, which is viewed as a serious risk that could cause workers and retirees to experience greater financial insecurity.


Pensioner Discrimination: The author expresses concern about another clause in the Finance Act 2025 that authorizes the government to make distinctions among retirees, thereby undermining the idea of equal treatment.
Hypocrisy and Preferential Treatment: There is a stark contrast between the government's delayed action for employees and the immediate, generous modifications of wages and allowances for Members of Parliament, which require no commission or justification.


Call to Action: The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has called for mass agitation, inviting other organizations to participate in demanding dignity, fairness, and prompt justice. The paper concludes that forming the 8th CPC is not a favor, but rather a constitutional and moral obligation.



When millions of government employees and pensioners anxiously wait for justice in their pay and pension revision, the silence of the Government reverberates louder than any official statement. Inflation is burning through household savings, medical costs are skyrocketing, and living with dignity is becoming a daily struggle for pensioners. Yet, while the elected representatives of the people revise their own salaries and allowances without delay or hesitation, the workforce that keeps the administrative machinery of this nation alive is forced to wait indefinitely. The delay in the constitution of the Eighth Central Pay Commission (8th CPC) is not just bureaucratic lethargy—it is a betrayal of trust.Government Job OpportunitiesWage Calculation Software





On December 3, 2024, the Government officially told the Rajya Sabha that there was "no proposal" to form the 8th CPC. However, after six weeks, in a press briefing following the Cabinet meeting on January 16, 2025, it was triumphantly announced that the Hon'ble Prime Minister had approved the constitution. Letter were sent towards the staff side Staff Side of the National Council (JCM)and many other union , and meeting was held in February 2025 . Still its been so many months anouncement has been done still no tor update they are actually unable to decide

Yet, seven long months have passed with little tangible activity. This deliberate slowness is causing agony and resentment among Central Government employees and retirees, who collectively account for crores of citizens across India.Pension Planning ServicesGovernment Job Opportunities



Several additional major considerations explain why the chairman of the 8th Pay Commission has not yet been appointed:

The chairman's nomination has political implications, as compensation recommendations influence millions of employees.




To prevent controversies or over early criticism, the government waits for the right time for the "Anouncement"


In summary, the chairman has not been chosen yet because the government is weighing credentials, economic feasibility, political acceptability, and administrative coordination. This process is taking longer than expected.