As the much-awaited 8th Pay Commission rollout inches closer, anticipation among government employees is growing. Recently, the Central Government indicated that the process of setting up the Commission is in the works. The move, if cleared, would impact close to 50 lakh employees and around 65 lakh pensioners across India.
According to reports, the rollout could happen in 2026, while some reports claim it could be delayed to 2027. A meeting was held between Union Minister Jitendra Singh and the Government Employees National Confederation (GENC), sparking the latest indications. The minister said talks with state governments are still going on, and an official announcement could come soon.
8th Pay Commission: Increase in minimum basic pay expected
The 8th Pay Commission rollout is expected to raise the minimum basic pay for government employees, which would be one of its biggest highlights. Reports suggest the current pay of Rs 18,000 could increase to Rs 26,000.
If approved, this would bring major relief to employees struggling with rising prices and living costs. With the 7th Pay Commission dating back to January 1, 2016, many employees feel the revision is long overdue.
DA hike expected during the festive season
Employees are also expecting a revision of Dearness Allowance (DA) for the June-December 2025 period under the much-awaited 8th Pay Commission. Considering current inflation rates, government employees have already received a 2 per cent hike in DA.
According to experts, the next DA revision, likely to be announced in October or November 2025, could raise the allowance by 3 per cent. If announced around the festive season, it would be a big Diwali gift for employees and pensioners. At present, the DA rate stands at 55 per cent of the basic pay for both government staff and retired employees.
