8th CPC: Centre Assures Interests Of 69 Lakh Pensioners, Families Will Be Protected

Quelling concerns among pensioners, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, in a freewheeling chat with The Secretariat, assured that the interests of every pensioner, as well as family pensioners, will be protected.

“The government is committed to safeguarding the interests of each pensioner and family pensioner under the 8th CPC. As was the case with the earlier pay commissions, the revision of pensions and family pensions would be done automatically, whether or not this has been spelt out in the ToR," Singh said. “The inclusion of every pensioner and family pensioner is automatic, irrespective of the ToR,” he added.

CPC Recommendation Awaited

As many as 69 lakh pensioners in the country are eagerly awaiting the 8th CPC’s recommendation, expected by next year.

The Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers has now written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend the ToR. 

“When the final proposal is submitted, the pensions and family pension modalities will be included in it. There is no reason to be worried,” Singh said.

This time, the contours of ToR have come under the spotlight for the omission of employees’ expectations and for the inclusion of the pension revision for existing pensioners and family pensioners, among other factors.

“There is confusion over this, but the fact is that there is no intention of omitting any pensioner or family pensioners; the fear and apprehension are uncalled for,” the Minister said.

Inclusion Of Pension Revision

The All India Defence Employees' Federation (AIDEF), a trade union for civilian employees working in the Ministry of Defence factories and establishments, as well as the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, has written to the government seeking crucial amendments to the ToR of the 8th CPC, and requesting the explicit inclusion of pension revision and pension parity for nearly 69 lakh pensioners and family pensioners. 

Amendments in ToR

Bharat Pensioners' Samaj, also known as the All India Federation of Pensioners’ Association, has also requested amendments in the ToR of the 8th CPC, particularly regarding the inclusion of pension revision for pensioners and family pensioners and the deletion of the term “unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes”.

Most of these employee organisations have pointed out that the ToR does not address the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which more than 26 lakh employees have demanded.

These organisations have also pointed out that the ToR does not specify the date of implementation, arguing that the 8th CPC must be made effective from January 1, 2026, in line with the 10-year cycle followed by previous pay commissions.

Sources in the government stated that a date of implementation of the 8th CPC is also likely to be finalised soon.

All Eyes On 8th CPC

The formation of the 8th CPC was first announced in January 2025, and its ToR was approved by the Union Cabinet on 28 October 2025.  

The Commission has been mandated to submit its recommendations within 18 months of its constitution. The recommendations are expected to impact around 50 lakh Central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners.

The pay commission is typically constituted once every 10 years to review and recommend changes in the salary structure, allowances, and pensions of government employees. The 7th CPC was constituted in 2014, and its recommendations were implemented from 1 January 2016.