8th Pay Commission: Central government servants and pensioners are eagerly waiting for the developments taking place regarding the 8th Pay Commission, as it is expected to increase salaries and pensions. Among the biggest concerns of the beneficiaries is the date when the new salary structure will be implemented and when the arrears will be paid.
The central government has already taken some important steps. In November last year, it has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Pay Commission. A chairperson and some members have also been appointed, and they have already started working on their recommendations. But even after this development, the government has not yet announced the final date of its implementation.
8th Pay Commission: When Is It Likely to Be Implemented?
However, so far, the government has not set an implementation date for the 8th Pay Commission. According to previous trends, the new pay structure will be implemented from January 1, 2026. This is because the term of the 7th Pay Commission expired on December 31, 2025.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told the parliament that, as per a resolution issued on November 2, 2025, the 8th Pay Commission has been given 18 months to submit its report to the central government. This means that the recommendations are yet to be prepared and will be implemented only after the report is examined and accepted.
8th Pay Commission: When Will Arrears Be Paid?
Even after the submission of the report by the commission, there is expected to be a delay in the implementation of the new pay scales. After the approval of the recommendations by the government, the arrears will be paid to the employees and pensioners.
According to financial experts, the arrears will be calculated from January 1, 2026, even if the payment is made later. CA Manish Mishra, Founder of GenZCFO, said, “Arrears will be calculated from January 1, 2026, the date that has been set as the end date for the 7th Pay Commission, even if payment is actually made later after the commission's recommendations are cleared.”
What Employees and Pensioners Should Expect
In conclusion, while the preparation for the 8th Pay Commission is underway, the wait for the report and approval from the government continues for the employees and pensioners. Going by the previous pay commissions, the salaries and pensions are likely to be revised from January 2026, and the arrears will be given later in a lump sum payment after the process is completed.