Big update for central government employees. On January 16, 2025, the Central Government gave the thumbs up for the establishment of the 8th Central Pay Commission (8th CPC). The Union Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, approved this initiative. Soon, a chairman and two additional members for the 8th Pay Commission will be appointed. This approval is a huge relief for government employees and pensioners. Everyone is now curious about the conditions the government will set for its implementation and how much of a salary increase it will suggest compared to the 7th Pay Commission.

 

With this announcement, all the chatter and speculation on social media about whether the 8th Pay Commission would actually happen has been put to rest. Now that the government has officially approved it, government employees and pensioners are waiting to see what conditions will be established for the commission and how long it will take to submit its report. It’s expected that the government might give the 8th Pay Commission around 12 months to complete its report.

 

Possible timeline for the 8th Pay Commission (8th CPC):

February 2025: The government is likely to officially set up the 8th Pay Commission by February 15, 2025.

 

November 2025: The 8th Pay Commission could wrap up its report and hand it over to the government.

 

December 2025: The government will review the report from the 8th Pay Commission and decide on the next steps.

 

January 2026: The recommendations from the 8th Pay Commission might be put into action, allowing government employees and pensioners to benefit from the new pay scale.

Let’s take a look at how salary increases have been suggested by the pay commissions over the years.

 

Pay Commission Recommended Increase (%)

2nd CPC 14.20%

3rd CPC 20.60%

4th CPC 27.60%

5th CPC 31.00%

6th CPC 54.00%

7th CPC 14.27%

Average growth 27%

 

When we check out the past pay commissions, the average salary bump stands at 27%. However, the 7th Pay Commission’s increase of just 14.27% left many employees feeling let down. With the 8th Pay Commission now in the works, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of raise the government suggests this time around.

 

Looking ahead to the 8th Pay Commission, there’s talk about the fitment factor and potential salary hikes. With the current Dearness Allowance (DA) possibly rising from 60% to 62% by January 1, 2026, the government might propose a salary increase somewhere between 18% and 24%. If they go for the higher end at 24%, it could mean a significant boost in salaries. But if it’s only a 12% increase, it might really let employees down.