Central Government employees might have to wait a bit longer for the 8th Pay Commission. Despite the Union Cabinet’s approval in January 2025, there’s been a noticeable delay in officially setting up the commission and appointing its key members.
Why the Hold-Up?
The biggest sign of a snag is the repeated extension of the application deadline for four crucial Under Secretary posts within the 8th Central Pay Commission. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has pushed back the last date to July 31, 2025, marking the third extension since May. This suggests they’re having trouble finding suitable candidates for these vital roles, which involve handling administrative and analytical tasks for the commission.
Adding to the delay, the Terms of Reference (ToR) and the appointment of the Chairman and other members haven’t been formally notified yet. These are essential steps before the commission can even begin its work.
What Does This Mean for Employees?
The ongoing delays are creating a lot of uncertainty for Central Government employees and pensioners. The anticipated implementation date of January 1, 2026, for the 8th Pay Commission’s recommendations seems increasingly unlikely. The delay is already longer than what was experienced with the 7th Pay Commission, which had its leadership and ToR in place much quicker.
Many experts and employee unions are concerned that if things don’t pick up soon, the revised salaries and pensions might not be implemented until late 2026 or even early 2027.
Who Can Fill These Posts?
The DoPT is looking for officers from the All India Services or other Organized Group ‘A’ Services of the Government of India. These candidates need to be eligible for an Under Secretary-level appointment under the Central Staffing Scheme.
Preference will be given to those with experience in handling government pay matters and strong data analysis skills. The chosen officials will serve for the entire tenure of the 8th Central Pay Commission.
The continued extensions clearly show a challenge in staffing these critical positions, which in turn holds up the entire process of setting up the 8th Pay Commission.