According to Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary of the NC-JCM, the 8th Pay Commission arrears will be paid from January 1, 2026, even if the implementation of the recommendations is delayed. However, the government has not yet given final approval.
Will employees get 100% arrears?
An important update has emerged for central government employees and pensioners regarding the 8th Pay Commission. These days, the biggest question on the minds of central government employees and pensioners regarding the 8th Pay Commission is when they will receive the benefits of the increased salaries and pensions. Meanwhile, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Staff Side Secretary of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), has made a significant statement regarding arrears, stating that employees and pensioners will receive arrears starting January 1, 2026.
In an interview with NDTV Profit, Mishra stated that even if there is a delay in implementing the new Pay Commission's recommendations, the arrears will be calculated from that date. Expressing confidence in this date, he said that employees need not worry about anything else. However, this is his statement and assurance; the government has not yet given final approval for the arrears.
Will arrears be given from January 2026?
In October 2025, the government announced the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. A press note issued at the time stated that, based on previous pay commissions, the 8th Pay Commission's recommendations are expected to be effective from January 1, 2026. However, the date for payment of arrears is not clearly stated. This is why employees and pensioners have been questioning whether the new Pay Commission will be implemented retrospectively.
Arrears were also received in the 7th Pay Commission.
The 7th Pay Commission submitted its report to the government in November 2015. The new salary was implemented in July 2016, but its effective date was January 1, 2016. During this period, employees and pensioners received six months' arrears.
How much arrears can be received in the 8th Pay Commission?
The 8th Pay Commission is scheduled to submit its report by May 2027. The government will then review the recommendations and, if approved, implement them. However, this process may take longer. Therefore, if the pay revision is implemented from January 1, 2026, employees could receive arrears for more than two years. However, the duration and amount of the arrears will depend on the final government notification.
Demand on fitment factor and increment also
The employee unions, led by Shiv Gopal Mishra, have demanded a fitment factor of 3.833. This could increase the minimum basic salary from ₹18,000 to approximately ₹69,000. Additionally, a proposal has been made to increase the annual increment from the current 3% to 6%.
The 8th Pay Commission is currently taking suggestions from various employee organizations and other stakeholders. Whether these demands will be included in the final recommendations is not yet final.
