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8th Pay Commission: The Central Government approved the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission on November 3, 2025. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the commission were also issued simultaneously. The commission will review the salaries, pensions, allowances, and service conditions of approximately 55 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners, subsequently submitting new recommendations to the government.

**Meetings Across Various States**

The commission is currently holding meetings in various states and union territories across the country. Employee organizations, unions, and federations are presenting their demands during these meetings, and the commission is accepting their suggestions and memoranda.

**Upcoming Meetings**

Delhi: August 7 and 10, 2026 (Deadline for appointments: July 31)
Chennai: September 7 and 8, 2026 (Deadline for appointments: August 18)
Puducherry: September 9, 2026 (Deadline for appointments: August 18)

**When Will the Commission's Report Be Released?**

The government constituted the commission in November 2025. It is expected that the commission will submit its report to the government within 18 months.

**When Will the July 2026 DA Increase?**

The Central Government increases Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) twice a year. A 2% hike in DA was implemented for January 2026, bringing the total DA to 60%.

Employees are now looking forward to the DA hike for July 2026. Pension experts state that this is usually announced in September, although delays can sometimes push the announcement to October. The DA for July 2026 will be determined based on the AICPI-IW data for May and June 2026.

**New Pay Commission Constituted in West Bengal**

The Governor of West Bengal constituted the 7th State Pay Commission on July 22. The Terms of Reference for the commission were also issued at the same time. This commission will review the salaries, allowances, pensions, and other benefits of state government employees.

Who has been appointed as the commission's chairperson?

The government has appointed Atanu Chakraborty (a retired IAS officer) as the chairperson of the commission. He has previously served as a Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. The commission will be headquartered in Kolkata and is required to submit its report within six months of its constitution.

What aspects will be determined?

The commission will examine the employees' pay matrix, fitment factor, the financial burden on the government, and the modalities for implementing the new pay structure. Following this, the government will issue detailed orders.

Significant hike in DA as well

Recently, the West Bengal government announced a 20% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for its employees and pensioners. Consequently, the total DA and DR for state employees rose to 38% of their basic salary.

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