For government employees and pensioners, the 8th Pay Commission is closely linked to one big question: what could their pay and pension look like after the next revision?
The commission is now in Rajasthan for a two-day visit, where it is scheduled to meet employee unions, pensioner groups and other stakeholders. The discussions could provide more insight into the demands being placed before the panel as it works on its recommendations.
The 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) began its two-day state visit to Rajasthan on Monday, August 31. Official meetings in Jaipur are scheduled for August 31 and September 1.
According to a notice on the commission’s website, appointments were to be requested by August 18. Only those who made a request by the deadline will be allotted meeting slots.
The commission is currently in the consultation stage and has been travelling to different states to hear from employee unions, federations, pensioner associations and other representative groups.
While the commission has not announced a specific agenda for the Rajasthan meetings, several issues are expected to feature in the discussions based on demands raised by employee and pensioner bodies.
One of the key issues is likely to be the fitment factor, which is used to calculate the revision of basic pay when a new pay commission is implemented.
Employee groups are also seeking changes to the basic pay structure, along with revisions in dearness allowance (DA) to account for inflation and the rising cost of living.
Allowances could also be discussed. These include House Rent Allowance (HRA) and transport allowance, with employee groups seeking changes to keep compensation in line with current expenses.
Pension is another important issue. Pensioner associations have been seeking reforms aimed at improving retirement security and ensuring better pension benefits.
The discussions could also cover employee welfare, service conditions, morale and ways to make government compensation more competitive.
Amid the discussions about pensions, a separate issue has been causing concern among pensioners — claims circulating on social media that pension payments could be stopped or that only people retiring after 2026 would qualify for pension revision.
Shiva Gopal Mishra, general secretary of the Staff Side of the National Council (Joint Consultative Machinery), has dismissed these claims.
In a , Mishra said pensioners had contacted him after messages began circulating in his name about pension payments being stopped.
“All these claims are completely imaginary and fabricated. Please do not believe them,” Mishra said.
He said discussions on the issue were currently taking place before the commission and expressed hope that pensioners, both those who retired earlier and those who retire in the future, would continue to receive their pensions.
“I am very hopeful that all pensioners, whether they are pensioners from earlier years or those who retire later, will continue to receive their pensions,” he said, adding that he expected continued improvement in the pension system.
The Rajasthan visit is part of the commission’s wider consultation process.
Since March, the 8th Pay Commission has undertaken several state visits to meet employee representatives, unions and other stakeholders. The purpose is to gather views and examine the demands before making recommendations on pay, allowances and pensions.
For now, there is no final decision on the fitment factor, salary hikes, allowances or pension changes. The demands being discussed during these meetings will form part of the wider consultation process before the commission makes its recommendations.