8th Pay Commission: The new year has begun with disappointment for lakhs of Central government employees and pensioners who were expecting higher salaries and pensions from January 1, 2026 under the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Even though this date was widely seen as the starting point of the new pay structure, no salary or pension hike has happened yet.
This delay has raised many questions about why the increase has not come, when it will happen, and how big the hike could be once it is approved.
8th Central Pay Commission Has Been Formed
The Union government has officially approved the creation of the 8th Central Pay Commission, which means the process has formally started.
The commission has been given the following leadership:
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Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (Retired) – Chairperson
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Pankaj Jain (1990-batch IAS officer) – Member-Secretary
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Professor Pulak Ghosh (IIM Bangalore) – Part-time member
However, even though the panel is in place, it is still working on its report. The new salary and pension structure has not yet been finalised or announced.
Why Salaries Were Not Revised From January 1, 2026
Pay commissions are usually implemented every ten years. Following this pattern, the government had earlier indicated that the 8th Pay Commission recommendations would apply from January 1, 2026.
But salaries can only be revised after two things happen:
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The Pay Commission submits its final report
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The Union government approves those recommendations
Since the commission has not yet completed or submitted its report, the government has no legal basis to change salaries. That is why employees are still being paid under the old pay structure.
Will Employees and Pensioners Get Arrears?
Yes, arrears are expected. Once the new pay scales are officially approved and notified, salaries and pensions will likely be calculated from January 1, 2026. This means employees and pensioners should receive arrears for the months between January 2026 and the date when the new pay structure is actually implemented.
How Much Could Salaries Increase Under the 8th Pay Commission?
There is strong speculation about a big pay hike. Economist Professor Rajneesh Kler said that the minimum monthly salary could rise from ₹18,000 to around ₹50,000. There are also projections that the highest salaries could reach nearly ₹1 crore per year on a gross basis.
If these estimates come true, government pay levels would move much closer to what is offered in the private sector.
When Will the Final Decision Be Taken?
So far, the government and the Pay Commission have not announced any official deadline.
However, experts believe the Centre will try to implement the recommendations as soon as possible. A long delay could create problems because arrears, allowances, and budget planning become more complicated the longer the rollout is postponed.
Until the commission submits its report and the government gives approval, Central government employees and pensioners will have to continue waiting for their long-promised pay revision.
