8th Pay Commission: Will Govt Merge Pay Scales For Level 1-6 Employees? Check Reports

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on 23 January 2025, invited suggestions from the Staff Side of the National Council JCM for finalising the the Terms of Reference (ToR) 8th Central Pay Commission.

"As you are aware, it has been decided to set up the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the 8th CPC are now to be finalized. It is therefore requested that suggestions of the Staff Side in this regard may please be sent to the undersigned at the earliest," Parveen Jargar, Deputy Secretary (JCA) wrote.

Responding to the above, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, NC-JCM Staff Side, submitted a proposal, outlining the details of demands, consisting 15 proposals altogether. Among the major recommendations from the Staff Side for government employees, the significant one was demand for merger of pay scales under 1-6 pay levels.

 

 

In a letter dated 3 February 2025, Terms of Reference – Staff Side proposals was forwarded to JCA & JCM Secretary. It mentioned, the 8th CPC should consider the merger of non-viable Pay scales such as Level-1 with Level-2 and Level- 3 with Level-4 and Level 5 with Level-6.

Under the current pay scale, the structure ranges [Pay Matrix (Civilian Employees)] from level 1 to level 18. Under the 7th Pay Commission, s fitment factor of 2.57 is was proposed to be applied uniformly for all employees, bringing the minimum monthly pay at Rs 18,000 for level 1 employees, while the maximum monthly pay was Rs 2,50,000 per month for level 18 employees.

The Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 January 2025 approved setting up the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and allowances of 65 lakh pensioners. 

 

Meanwhile, Questions regarding Constitution Of 8th Central Pay Commission was asked on 4 February 2024 in the Rajya Sabha. Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan and Ramji Lal Suman posing the question to the Minister of Finance asked, "By when the Chairperson and Members of the 8th CPC would be appointed and by when notification for it’s constitution would be issued?". The MPs also enquired regarding the timeline for 8th CPC for submission of it’s report to the Government.

 

Responding to the questions, Minister Of State In The Ministry Of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said, "The Government has approved constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission...(the constitution of chairperson and submission of report) will be decided in due course".

 

Since 1947, seven pay commissions have been formed. The 7th Pay Commission came into effect in 2016. Its tenure will conclude in 2026.

 

The process will involve wide consultations with state governments, the Central government, PSUs and different stakeholders. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav had previously said that a chairman and two members will also soon be appointed for the commission.