8th Pay Commission: Millions of employees are eagerly awaiting the commission’s report and the government’s approval. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the report will be submitted within the stipulated 18-month deadline or will it be delayed?
8th Pay Commission: The biggest question for central government employees and pensioners is when the 8th Pay Commission will be implemented. In early November 2025, the government approved the Terms of Reference (TOR). Since then, millions of employees have been eagerly awaiting the commission’s report and the government’s approval. The question on everyone’s mind is: will the report be submitted within the stipulated 18-month deadline, or will it be delayed?
How long will the 8th Pay Commission take to implement?
Current circumstances suggest that it could take approximately 1 to 2 years. Many experts say that the government has already progressed significantly in data collection and preliminary preparations. Looking at previous pay commissions, the 7th CPC took approximately 29 months to implement, while the 6th CPC was implemented in just 22 months. This is why it is estimated that the 8th Pay Commission’s recommendations could be implemented by 2027.
Can the government implement it before the 2027 UP elections?
The UP Assembly elections are scheduled for February 2027, one of the most important elections in the country. Many experts believe that if the government wishes, implementing the Pay Commission report before the UP elections could prove to be a major benefit for employees and pensioners. This would directly impact the election environment. However, employee unions say that full implementation before the elections seems difficult, given the 18-month timeframe and subsequent approval process. However, the government may provide interim relief before the elections.
What will happen if the report isn’t submitted on time?
This wouldn’t be the first time a pay commission has failed to submit its report on time. The 5th Pay Commission received two extensions, and employees received three interim reliefs during that time. If the 8th CPC also requests more time, the central government can grant it additional time. In such a case, employees could receive interim relief in the form of a fixed amount or percentage of their basic pay, so that the delay doesn’t directly impact their salaries.
Can the government postpone it until the 2027 Rajasthan elections or the 2029 Lok Sabha elections?
The government is unlikely to postpone it until the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, as the 8th Pay Commission should be considered effective from January 1, 2026. The entire process of preparing the report and implementing it could take approximately two years, so its implementation is likely to be delayed until the end of 2027. Some experts also suggest that the report and its approval could coincide with the Rajasthan elections, i.e., December 2027.
