8th Pay Commission News: In an important update for Central employees who have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 8th Pay Commission the Union government has addressed major questions regarding the matter during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament. What did the government say? In a written reply to queries raised by TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose about the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the House that the Central government has decided to constitute the 8th CPC and has sought suggestions from major stakeholders including Ministry of Defense Ministry of Home Affairs Department of Personnel and Training and the States who will give their recommendations within the timeframe prescribed in the Terms of Reference (ToR). An official notification announcing the formation of the 8th CPC will be issued in due course Chaudhary said. What are ToR suggestions for 8th CPC? According to the government the ToR suggestions for the 8th Pay Commission include examining the existing pay structure allowances and other benefits /facilities retirement benefits like pension / gratuity and other terminals benefits etc. to the following categories of employees:- Central Government employees (industrial and non-industrial) Personnel belonging to All India services Defence Forces and Para Military Forces personnel Grameen Dak Sewaks of the Postal Department Personnel of Union Territories Officers and employees of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department Officers and employees of the Supreme Court Members of Regulatory bodies (excluding RBI) set up under Act of Parliament Employees of Central Government Autonomous Bodies and Institutions Additionally the Staff Side NC(JCM) has suggested that the 8th Pay Commission should consider the merger of non-viable Pay scales such as Level 1 with Level 2 Level 3 with Level 4 and Level 5 with Level 6. It also suggested that 7th CPC Anomalies which it had raised in the Anomaly Committee meetings and JCM meetings should be settled in the ToR. When will 8th Pay Commission be implemented? If we go by the implementation of previous pay commissions it usually takes about 18 to 24 months for the government to implement the recommendations. Thus its unlikely that 8th Pay Commission would be implemented before mid-2027. Currently 7th Pay Commission recommendations are in force and will remain so till December 2025. A new pay commission is constituted every 10 years which tenders suggestions for revision of salary and pension of central government employees and pensioners in wake of the prevailing economic scenario in the country. The 8th Pay Commission was announced by the Union government in January this year.