8th Pay Commission: Government Breaks Silence on Implementation Timeline

Central government employees are awaiting the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to revise salaries and pensions for approximately 50.14 lakh serving employees and 69 lakh pensioners.

MoS for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary provided an update on the matter in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session.

Key Details Shared in Parliament

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary confirmed the following points regarding the 8th Pay Commission:

• Commission Constituted: The 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) has already been constituted.
• Terms of Reference (ToR) Notified: The ToR were formally notified via a Ministry of Finance Resolution dated 03.11.2025.
• Implementation Date: The government will decide the exact date of implementation later.
• Funding: The government will make appropriate provision of funds for implementing the accepted recommendations of the 8th CPC.
• Recommendations Timeline: The commission is expected to submit its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution.

Background

The 7th Pay Commission’s 10-year term is ending this month, making 2026 the typical year for a pay structure revision.

• The 8th Pay Commission was announced earlier this year in January.
• It is headed by retired Justice Ranjana Desai.
• The ToR, along with the names of the chairperson and members, were announced in October 2025.

While the natural timeline points to 2026 for revision, reports suggest the final implementation date could be delayed by up to two years due to procedural steps like appointments and ToR clarification.