8th Pay Commission: Pensioners Excluded from ToR? Government Says No

• Pensioners' bodies, led by CGPWA Jammu, claim the 8th Pay Commission's ToR exclude existing pensioners and family pensioners, despite government assurances.
• The CGPWA highlights a mismatch between public statements by ministers and the explicit wording of the ToR, creating ambiguity.
• Concerns raised over retrospective changes to pension rules via Finance Bill 2025, potentially legitimizing differential treatment based on retirement date.
• Objection to the term "unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes" in ToR, arguing it portrays pensions as a fiscal burden, not an entitlement.
• Government maintains pensions and gratuity are within the 8th Pay Commission's purview, covering both NPS and non-NPS employees, citing fiscal sustainability.

Why It Matters: Pensioners and government clash over 8th Pay Commission's scope regarding pension inclusion and terminology.