8th Pay Commission: Will the salaries and pensions of central government employees increase from January 1, 2026?

News related to the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees has been making headlines for almost the entire year. Let's find out what new developments have occurred this year and what changes are expected in 2026.

8th Pay Commission: The year 2025 is coming to an end. The year 2026 is starting this week. This year has brought many changes in many ways. News related to the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees has been making headlines almost all year. Let's find out what new developments have occurred regarding the Eighth Pay Commission this year and what changes are expected in 2026.

What happened regarding the 8th Pay Commission in 2025?

In 2025, the government took some important decisions regarding the 8th Pay Commission. First, it was decided that a new pay commission would be constituted to review the salaries, pensions, and allowances of central government employees and pensioners. This was done to review the existing pay structure.

Subsequently, the government formally constituted the 8th Pay Commission and completed the appointment of its chairman and other members. Along with this, the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the 8th Pay Commission have also been issued.

Uncertainty regarding the 8th Pay Commission in 2026

On December 31, the last day of 2025, the 10-year term of the 7th Pay Commission is coming to an end. However, the central government has not yet clarified whether the 8th Pay Commission will be implemented from January 1, 2026, or not.

Recently, the government indicated in Parliament that the date would be decided when the commission submits its recommendations. Only one day remains before the start of 2026.  Therefore, receiving a new salary is not yet certain.

Why are the chances of the report being released in 2026 low? It is expected that implementing the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission will be challenging in 2026. The commission was recently constituted, and the government has given it 18 months to complete its work.

If the process is completed within the stipulated timeframe, the recommendations could be released in 2027.  Even then, government approval will be required before they can be implemented. However, there is still hope for arrears payments for employees and pensioners.