Official status only · No forecasts
8th Pay Commission (8th CPC): Official Status
What the Government of India has formally notified about the Eighth Central Pay Commission, and what that does and does not mean for Armed Forces pay today. Every statement links to a Gazette notification, PIB release or Government reply in Parliament.
Last verified against the official sources listed at the end of this page.
Direct answer
The 8th Central Pay Commission was constituted on 3 November 2025 under Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and has 18 months from that date to report. Its Terms of Reference expressly cover personnel of the Defence Forces. As of the Government's latest reply in Parliament (10 August 2026) it had not submitted recommendations, and no implementation date, revised pay matrix or fitment factor has been announced. Until then, pay and DA continue under the existing 7th CPC structure and Ministry of Finance DA orders.
Status
Official status at a glance
| Item | What is officially on record |
|---|---|
| Constituted | Yes. Appointed by Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) Resolution F. No. 01-01/2025-E.III(A) dated 3 November 2025, published in the Gazette of India the same day. [1] |
| Terms of Reference | Approved by the Union Cabinet on 28 October 2025 and notified in the 3 November 2025 Resolution. [2], [1] |
| Defence Forces covered | Yes. "Personnel belonging to the Defence Forces" is one of the employee categories named in the Terms of Reference. [1] |
| Report deadline | Recommendations within 18 months of the date of constitution. Interim reports are permitted on any matter as recommendations are finalised. [1], [2] |
| Report submitted | No. The Government told the Lok Sabha on 10 August 2026 that the Commission has not yet submitted its recommendations. [5] |
| Implementation (effective) dateNot announced | Not announced. PIB noted that, going by the ten-year trend, the effect of the recommendations "would normally be expected from 01.01.2026". That is a stated expectation, not a notified date. Asked for the effective date on 10 August 2026, the Government replied that the recommendations have not been submitted yet. [2], [5] |
| Revised pay matrix, fitment factor or new allowance ratesNot announced | Not announced. No official source has published revised pay, a fitment factor, or new allowance or pension rates under the 8th CPC. [5] |
| Merger of DA with basic pay | No proposal under consideration, according to the Government's Lok Sabha reply of 1 December 2025. DA continues to be revised every six months. [4] |
Constitution
Who is on the Commission
The Commission was appointed by Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) Resolution F. No. 01-01/2025-E.III(A) dated 3 November 2025, published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), Part I, Section 1, No. 322. It has its headquarters in Delhi.
- Chairperson: Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
- Member (Part-Time): Prof. Pulak Ghosh
- Member-Secretary: Shri Pankaj Jain
Terms of Reference
What the Commission has been asked to do
In summary, the Terms of Reference ask the Commission to:
- Examine and recommend desirable and feasible changes in emoluments, including pay, allowances and other facilities or benefits in cash or kind, for the listed categories of employees. The list includes personnel belonging to the Defence Forces.
- Work out an emolument structure that attracts talent to Government service and promotes efficiency, accountability and responsibility.
- Examine existing bonus schemes and recommend principles and parameters for a productivity- and performance-linked incentive scheme.
- Review existing allowances and the conditions for drawing them, and recommend their rationalisation in view of their multiplicity.
- Review Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity for employees under the National Pension System (including the Unified Pension Scheme), and gratuity and pensions for employees not under NPS.
- Keep in view the economic conditions and fiscal prudence, resources for development and welfare, the unfunded cost of non-contributory pensions, the impact on State finances, and emolument structures in Central PSUs and the private sector.
The Commission devises its own procedure and may appoint advisers, institutional consultants and experts. Ministries must furnish the information it requires.
Source: Gazette Resolution dated 3 November 2025, paras 2 and 3; PIB, 28 October 2025Timeline
Dates as officially stated
January 2025
The Government announced the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission (as recorded in the PIB release of 28 October 2025). [2]
28 October 2025
Union Cabinet approved the Terms of Reference. [2]
3 November 2025
Resolution constituting the Commission and notifying its Terms of Reference published in the Gazette of India. The 18-month reporting period runs from the date of constitution. [1]
1 December 2025
Government told the Lok Sabha that no proposal to merge DA with basic pay is under consideration. [4]
5 March 2026
Commission invited memoranda through a structured online format on 8cpc.gov.in and innovateindia.mygov.in, with submissions announced up to 30 April 2026. Check 8cpc.gov.in for later notices. [3]
10 August 2026
Government told the Lok Sabha that the Commission has not yet submitted its recommendations. [5]
Report deadline: the Resolution allows 18 months from the date of constitution (3 November 2025). The Government has not announced a specific submission date.
Implementation
Implementation date: not yet notified
The Government has not notified a date from which 8th CPC recommendations will take effect. The only official wording on timing is PIB's background note of 28 October 2025: pay commission recommendations have usually been implemented every ten years, and "going by this trend, the effect of the 8th Central Pay Commission recommendations would normally be expected from 01.01.2026".
That sentence describes a past pattern. It is not an order. When asked in the Lok Sabha on 10 August 2026 for the proposed effective date, the Government replied only that the Commission has not yet submitted its recommendations.
Source: PIB, 28 October 2025; Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3571, 10 August 2026Defence pay
What it means for Armed Forces personnel and veterans
- Serving personnel are in scope. "Personnel belonging to the Defence Forces" is one of the categories named in the Terms of Reference, so pay, allowances and other benefits of the Armed Forces fall within the Commission's remit.
- Pensions and gratuity are in scope. The Terms of Reference include gratuity and pensions for employees not covered by the National Pension System, and gratuity for those under NPS (including the Unified Pension Scheme).
- Allowances will be reviewed. The Commission is asked to review existing allowances and recommend rationalisation. No allowance has been changed by the 8th CPC so far.
- Nothing changes in your pay yet. Until the Government accepts recommendations and issues orders, pay, Military Service Pay and allowances continue under the existing rules. DA continues to be revised every six months by Ministry of Finance orders; the latest sets it at 60% from 1 January 2026. See the Dearness Allowance guide for the rate history and an arrears calculator.
- Defence-specific figures are not public. No official source has published the Defence Forces' submissions to the Commission, a revised defence pay matrix, or any change to Military Service Pay. Treat any such figure in circulation as unofficial.
Not announced
What has not been officially announced
The following have not been announced by the Government or the Commission as of the last verification date. The Handbook does not publish estimates for them.
- The date from which recommendations will be implemented.
- A fitment factor or revised pay matrix.
- Revised Military Service Pay, allowances or pension rates.
- Any interim relief.
- The date the Commission will submit its report.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Has the 8th Pay Commission been constituted?
Yes. The Ministry of Finance constituted the Eighth Central Pay Commission by Resolution F. No. 01-01/2025-E.III(A) dated 3 November 2025, published in the Gazette of India.
Source: Gazette of India (Extraordinary) No. 322, 3 November 2025.Who heads the 8th Central Pay Commission?
Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is the Chairperson, Prof. Pulak Ghosh is the part-time Member and Shri Pankaj Jain is the Member-Secretary.
Source: Gazette of India (Extraordinary) No. 322, 3 November 2025.Does the 8th Pay Commission cover the Armed Forces?
Yes. The Terms of Reference name "Personnel belonging to the Defence Forces" among the categories whose pay, allowances and other benefits the Commission will examine.
Source: Resolution dated 3 November 2025, para 2(a)(iii).When will the 8th Pay Commission submit its report?
The Resolution requires recommendations within 18 months of the date of constitution, and allows interim reports. As of the Government's Lok Sabha reply on 10 August 2026, no recommendations had been submitted.
Source: Resolution dated 3 November 2025, para 5; Lok Sabha USQ 3571, 10 August 2026.From what date will the 8th Pay Commission be implemented?
The Government has not notified an implementation date. PIB said on 28 October 2025 that, going by the usual ten-year trend, the effect of the recommendations would normally be expected from 1 January 2026, but no order fixing that date has been issued.
Source: PIB, 28 October 2025; Lok Sabha USQ 3571, 10 August 2026.What is the 8th Pay Commission fitment factor?
No fitment factor has been announced. The Commission has not submitted its recommendations, so any figure in circulation is not an official number.
Source: Lok Sabha USQ 3571, 10 August 2026.Will DA be merged with basic pay before the 8th Pay Commission?
The Government told the Lok Sabha on 1 December 2025 that no proposal to merge Dearness Allowance with basic pay is under consideration. DA continues to be revised every six months.
Source: Lok Sabha USQ 212, 1 December 2025.What DA rate applies until the 8th Pay Commission is implemented?
DA continues under the existing orders. The latest Ministry of Finance order sets DA at 60% from 1 January 2026 (OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B), 22 April 2026).
Source: Ministry of Finance OM 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B), 22 April 2026.Sources
Official sources
- Resolution F. No. 01-01/2025-E.III(A): appointment and Terms of Reference of the Eighth Central Pay CommissionGazette of India (Extraordinary), Part I, Section 1, No. 322 — Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure ·
- Cabinet approves Terms of Reference of 8th Central Pay CommissionPress Information Bureau (Union Cabinet) ·
- 8th Central Pay Commission invites representations from stakeholdersPress Information Bureau (Ministry of Finance) ·
- Constitution of 8th Central Pay CommissionLok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 212 — written reply, Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) ·
- Approval for constitution of the Eighth Central Pay CommissionLok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3571 — written reply, Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) ·
- 8cpc.gov.in — Terms of Reference, notices and memorandum portalEighth Central Pay Commission (official website) · accessed