8th Pay Commission: With the beginning of the new year, expectations are high among central government employees and pensioners. The question on everyone’s mind is when the Eighth Pay Commission will be implemented and from which date the revised salaries and pensions under the 8th Pay Commission are likely to come into effect.
Experts believe this will take a long time. Meanwhile, another question has become increasingly discussed among employees and pensioners: when will the increased arrears (8th Pay Commission arrears) be received? There's talk that this time the arrears may be received in installments. Jagran Business spoke with Dr Manjeet Patel, National President of the All India NPS Employees Federation to gain clarity around the 8th Pay Commission.
8th Commission Is Due From January 1, 2026
Over 5 million central government employees and approximately 6.9 million pensioners are covered under the 8th Pay Commission. According to Dr Manjeet Patel, National President of the All India NPS Employees Federation, the 8th Pay Commission is due from January 1, 2026, according to the rules, meaning the entitlement accrues from that date. However, the government has given the commission 18 months to submit its report. After this, cabinet approval and implementation could take another six months.
When Will Employees Get Increased Salary?
Dr Manjit Patel explains that if the process continues as scheduled, employees could receive their increased salaries by January 2028. However, based on political and administrative signals, the government may also announce implementation starting in July 2027.
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When And How Will Employees Get Arrears?
According to Dr Manjeet Patel, arrears will be paid starting January 1, 2026. Until now, arrears in central government cases have always been paid in one lump sum, not in installments. Therefore, it is likely that the arrears for the Eighth Pay Commission will also be paid all at once.
Had the commission been implemented on time, employees would have received the increased HRA and transport allowance from that date. This is the biggest loss due to the delay. Experts estimate that a Level 8 employee could lose up to Rs 30-35 lakh due to the delay, as HRA and TA arrears are typically not paid retroactively.
On January 1, 2024, DA had crossed 50 per cent and is currently at 58 per cent. According to the rules, it should have been merged with the basic salary (DA merger calculation). If this had happened, employees would have been receiving higher salaries than they have for the past two years. This is why employees are considering the delay as a direct financial loss.