8th Pay Commission: Central Govt Employees Await Salary Hike, Retrospective Pay Demanded

• The 7th Pay Commission's tenure ends on December 31, 2025, raising questions about salary increases from January 1, 2026.
• The 8th Pay Commission was notified in November 2025 and is expected to submit its report by May 2027, with implementation likely by late 2027 or early 2028.
• Employee unions demand retrospective salary payments from January 1, 2026, citing past practices, despite the 8th CPC's Terms of Reference lacking an implementation date.
• Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary confirmed no plans to merge Dearness Allowance (DA) with basic pay, as DA/DR is revised every six months based on CPI-IW.
• Estimates suggest the 8th CPC could raise minimum basic pay from ₹18,000 to ₹32,940-₹44,280, benefiting 50 lakh employees and 65 lakh pensioners.

Why It Matters: Central government employees anticipate the 8th Pay Commission for significant salary revisions, with retrospective pay from 2026.