NEW DELHI : Even as over eight months have passed since the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission, expectations are building over when the new pay panel will submit its final report to the government. So far, the Commission has completed nine rounds of regional stakeholder consultations across different states and Union Territories, with the latest round held in Kolkata on July 9 and 10.
Through consultations across different cities, the pay panel meets various stakeholders and seeks their suggestions on salary revisions, pensions, allowances and other matters covered under its mandate.
8th Pay Commission: When Will It Submit Its Report To Govt?
According to reports, the Commission is expected to submit its final report by mid-2027. Once submitted, the recommendations will be examined by the central government before a final decision is taken on implementation.
The 8th CPC was approved by the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in January 2025. Subsequently, it was constituted on November 3, 2025, with an 18-month mandate to submit its report. As of mid-July, over eight months have already passed, and nearly 10 months are left.
The decision will impact nearly 50 lakh employees and about 70 lakh pensioners of the central government.
How Much Will Salaries Increase Under 8th Pay Commission?
Though it is still under discussion, employee unions are demanding a fitment factor of 3.83, restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS), and higher house rent allowance (HRA).
If the Commission also recommends a 3.83x fitment factor and the Centre accepts it, it will increase the minimum monthly salary for central government employees to Rs 69,000, compared with Rs 18,000 currently. It is a jump of 283 per cent in minimum salaries.
The employee unions are also seeking revision of HRA rates to 40%, 35% and 30% for employees posted in X, Y and Z category cities, respectively. Currently, central government employees receive HRA at 30%, 20% and 10% of their basic pay in these categories.
Employees To Also Get DA Hike Arrears
According to an employee union source, employees are also expected to receive DA hike arrears, as the 8th Pay Commission is expected to be implemented retrospectively from January 1, 2026.
“Normally, when a new pay commission is implemented, the first DA instalment is reset to 0%. DA revisions start after six months, and employees later receive arrears for the gap between due and drawn DA. Therefore, no DA arrears would remain pending for the January-June 2026 period. However, from July 2026 onwards, any DA hike under the 7th CPC may translate into arrears once the 8th CPC is implemented,” the source said.
This means that barring the first six months of 2026, employees will likely receive DA arrears for the rest of the period once the new pay panel gets implemented.
