What is the truth behind the rumors circulating about the 8th Pay Commission and pensions? Read the complete fact check..

Since the release of the Terms of Reference for the 8th Pay Commission, there has been some concern among government employees and pensioners regarding salaries and pensions. Several messages went viral on social media claiming that the central government was discontinuing DA hikes and retirement benefits for pensioners. This caused unnecessary fear and anxiety among millions of pensioners.

What was the viral claim?
The viral message claimed that under the Finance Act 2025, the government had discontinued benefits such as DA hikes and Pay Commission revisions for retired employees. It even claimed that pensioners would not receive the benefits of the 8th Pay Commission in the future.

PIB Fact Check makes a major revelation
The government's official fact-checking unit, PIB Fact Check, declared these claims to be completely false. PIB clearly stated that the government has not discontinued any pension benefits related to DA, DR, or the Pay Commission. The government appealed to the public to obtain information related to pensions only from official sources.

What benefits will pensioners continue to receive?
According to PIB, pensioners will continue to receive the following benefits as before:
Pension Revision: Based on the recommendations of the Pay Commission, in the future.
DR Increase: Increase based on inflation every year in January and July.

Where did the actual change occur?
The confusion stems from a minor change in the CCS (Pension) Rules 2021. The change in Rule 37 applies only to employees who have been dismissed from service due to misconduct or wrongdoing after being transferred to a PSU. This change was made after a Supreme Court order and does not affect regular pensioners.

What did the government say in Parliament?
In the Rajya Sabha, the government clarified that pensions fall under the purview of the 8th Pay Commission. This means that pensioners will also receive benefits under the next Pay Commission.

What is the status of the DA-DR merger?
Currently, there is no proposal to merge DA and DR with the basic pay. This decision will be taken only after the 8th Pay Commission report is released, which is expected by 2027. In simple terms, DA, DR, and pension benefits are secure. The viral message is false. Both the government and the PIB (Press Information Bureau) have declared it to be untrue. This means pensioners have no need to worry. Do not pay attention to rumors and rely only on official information.

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