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Discussions surrounding the 8th Pay Commission are intensifying as employee organizations across India continue presenting their demands related to salaries, pensions, allowances, retirement benefits, and service conditions.

In a major development, the All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) has reportedly submitted several important proposals before the commission, including a demand that employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) should be given an option to switch to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) after completing a certain number of years in service.

The federation has also reportedly sought:

• An increase in retirement age for teachers
• A standardized leave structure for employees
• Uniform implementation of government orders across departments

These proposals were reportedly discussed during a meeting held on April 30, 2026, with commission chairperson Ranjana Prakash Desai.

Demand for OPS Option for NPS Employees

One of the biggest demands raised by the federation relates to pension reforms.

According to reports, AINPSEF proposed that employees currently covered under:

National Pension System

should be allowed to shift to:

Old Pension Scheme

after completing a specified period of service.

The federation believes such a system could provide employees with greater retirement security while limiting additional financial pressure on the government.

Federation Suggests Balanced Financial Formula

According to federation representatives, the government could retain:

• Its own NPS contribution
• Returns earned on that contribution

while employees could receive:

• Their own contribution
• Accumulated returns

before shifting to OPS benefits.

Employee leaders reportedly argued that this approach may reduce the financial burden on the government while still offering pension certainty to workers.

Reports also suggest the federation had earlier demanded complete scrapping of the NPS system, though that proposal did not receive support from the commission.

Proposal to Increase Retirement Age of Teachers

Apart from pension reforms, the federation has also reportedly sought an increase in retirement age for teachers working in central government institutions.

The demand includes increasing retirement age from:

60 years to 65 years

for teachers in:

• Union Territories
• Central autonomous bodies
• Other central government institutions

The federation argues that teachers covered under:

University Grants Commission (UGC)

already receive similar retirement benefits, and the same rule should apply to other categories of government educators as well.

Demand for Standard Leave Structure

AINPSEF has also reportedly recommended a uniform leave policy for employees across departments.

The proposed leave structure includes:

• 14 days Casual Leave (CL)
• 30 days Earned Leave (EL)
• 20 days Medical Leave annually

In addition, the federation reportedly suggested introducing:

45 days of “Social Obligation Leave”

at the beginning of service for employees.

Employee representatives say a standardized leave system could improve work-life balance and bring greater consistency across government departments.

Concern Over Delay in Government Orders

The federation has also highlighted delays in implementation of central government orders in:

• Union Territories
• Central autonomous bodies

According to reports, employee groups want all departmental instructions and policy updates to be issued simultaneously across institutions to avoid confusion and delayed implementation.

8th Pay Commission Continues Consultations Nationwide

The 8th Pay Commission is currently conducting consultations with:

• Employee unions
• Government departments
• Pensioner organizations
• Staff associations

across multiple states and sectors.

The commission is reviewing demands related to:

• Salary revision
• Fitment factor
• Promotions
• Allowances
• Pension structure
• Retirement benefits

before preparing its final recommendations.

Growing Expectations Among Employees and Pensioners

With major employee bodies now actively presenting their proposals, expectations among central government employees and pensioners are rising rapidly.

The final recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission are expected to impact:

• Salaries
• Pension benefits
• Service conditions
• Career progression
• Retirement policies

for millions of employees across India.

No Official Approval Yet

Although multiple demands have now been formally submitted, there has been:

• No official approval for OPS restoration
• No confirmation on retirement age increase
• No final decision on leave reforms

Experts say all proposals are currently under review, and the final recommendations will only be finalized after consultations with different stakeholders are completed.

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