8th Pay Commission: Central government employees and pensioners who have been waiting for updates on the 8th Pay Commission may finally see progress. Employee unions are now preparing to formally engage in the pay revision process as the commission slowly becomes operational.
The office of the 8th Pay Commission has already been set up in New Delhi, marking the beginning of the groundwork for the next salary revision cycle.
8th Pay Commission: Why the February 25 Meeting Is Important
A crucial meeting has been scheduled for February 25, 2026, in New Delhi. Representatives of major central government employee and pensioner organisations will gather to prepare joint demands related to salaries, pensions and service conditions.
The meeting will be organised under the National Council (Staff Side) of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), which represents central government employees in talks with the government.
The main goal is to draft a common memorandum that will later be submitted to the 8th Pay Commission.
8th Pay Commission: What the NC-JCM Letter Says
In a letter sent to drafting committee members, NC-JCM Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra explained that once the pay commission’s office becomes fully functional, the council may be asked to submit its memorandum on service-related issues.
The letter confirmed that the drafting committee meeting will take place at 13-C, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi, starting at 10:30 am on February 25, 2026.
The purpose of the meeting is to decide how the memorandum will be drafted and what method will be used to reflect employee demands before the pay commission.
Mishra also noted that members will need to stay in Delhi for about one week, as detailed discussions will be held to finalise proposals on each issue.
8th Pay Commission: Who Will Attend the Meeting
According to ET, representatives from several major departments have been invited. These include employee and pensioner associations from:
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Railways
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Defence
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Posts
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Income Tax
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Other central government services
The aim is to ensure that concerns from a wide range of departments are included while preparing the joint demands.
8th Pay Commission: Key Issues to Be Discussed
The discussions will mainly focus on pay revision and related matters. Employee and pensioner bodies recognised by the NC-JCM have been asked to submit their proposals.
These usually include demands related to:
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Basic pay
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Fitment factor
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Minimum wage
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Service conditions
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Various allowances
The meeting may last up to a week, during which all proposals will be reviewed. The idea is to reach a common agreement so that a single, unified set of demands can be placed before the pay commission.
8th Pay Commission: What Happens After the Draft Is Ready
Once the NC-JCM finalises the draft memorandum, the next step is for the 8th Pay Commission to formally begin consultations.
As per ET, the commission will issue a notification inviting inputs from:
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Central government bodies
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State governments
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Other stakeholders
A deadline will be fixed for submissions, and the NC-JCM will send its final memorandum within that timeframe.
8th Pay Commission: What Happens After Submitting Demands
After receiving inputs, the pay commission will hold interviews with stakeholders, asking each group to explain and justify its demands.
This process can take considerable time because hundreds of organisations across India participate. While stakeholder views are important, the commission is not required to accept all demands.
It conducts its own analysis before finalising recommendations.
8th Pay Commission: Why This Matters to Employees and Pensioners
For lakhs of central government employees and pensioners, the February 25, 2026 meeting is an early but crucial step in a long process.
While salary hikes may still be some time away, this meeting signals that discussions around the 8th Pay Commission have officially begun and that employee voices are starting to be heard.
