8th Pay Commission: The Center revealed the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission in January of this year. Since this announcement, central government employees and pensioners have been eagerly anticipating the appointment of the chairman and two committee members.
Members of the panel
The government is expected to disclose the names of the panel members next month. With the current 7th Pay Commission’s term set to conclude on December 31, 2025, employees are left wondering whether the new pay commission will be implemented starting January 2026. Historical trends suggest that it is improbable for the new pay commission’s recommendations to be enacted by January, as previous commissions have typically required over a year to finalize their reports. Given the delay in announcing this pay commission compared to its predecessors, it is likely that the implementation of its recommendations will not occur until the financial year 2026-27.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said…
In response to inquiries, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the timeline for the report’s submission and the progress regarding the terms of reference “will be determined in due course.” One inquiry pertained to the estimated number of central government employees and pensioners at the 7th Pay Commission level who are expected to benefit from the 8th Pay Commission, which is anticipated to enhance consumption and stimulate economic growth nationwide, including in Odisha.
The Finance Minister indicated that the estimated number of Central Government civilian employees and pensioners/family pensioners stands at 36.57 lakh (as of March 1, 2025) and 33.91 lakh (as of December 31, 2024), respectively. She also noted that “Defence personnel and pensioners will also receive benefits.”