/financial-express-hindi/media/media_files/yaMWq6jn9CtiNazGUNOw.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,656&ssl=1 "8th Pay Commission: Will the 8th Pay Commission be announced this month? Will central employees get a gift in the budget?")
Budget 2024: 8th Pay Commission update: As the time for presenting the next full budget of the Government of India is getting closer, the organizations of central government employees are again raising the demand for the 8th Pay Commission. This commission will revise the salaries, pensions and allowances of central government employees and pensioners. Despite these demands, the government has not made any official announcement in this regard so far. But the question is being raised again and again whether the government can really give them any gift in this budget?
Who is demanding 8th Pay Commission?
The Confederation of Central Govt Employees and Workers and the National Council of JCM (Employees) are jointly pressing for the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. Confederation General Secretary S B Yadav has written a letter to the Cabinet Secretary demanding the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. He has also called for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the release of 18 months of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) withheld during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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7th Pay Commission was formed in February 2014
Usually, pay commissions for central employees are constituted every ten years. The previous 7th Pay Commission was constituted on 28 February 2014 by the government of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It presented its report on 19 November 2015. The recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission came into effect on 1 January 2016. According to this pattern, the recommendations of the next 8th Pay Commission should be implemented from 1 January 2026. But its formation has not been announced yet. This is the reason why the employees union is urging the government to take action soon. More than one crore employees and pensioners of the central government are eagerly waiting for this announcement.
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Can it be announced in Budget 2024?
The upcoming budget will be the first budget of the third consecutive term of PM Modi’s government. The deadline for the new pay commission is also approaching, so the government can at least give indications of starting preparations for it. Implementing it immediately can boost the economy, but will also put pressure on the government treasury. In such a situation, most experts believe that the 8th Pay Commission is needed, but it is unlikely to be announced in Budget 2024.
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Other demands of employees and pensioners
Central government employees and pensioners are demanding many more demands besides the 8th Pay Commission. Some of the major demands of the Employees Federation are:
1. Restoration of OPS by abolishing NPS:Employees want the National Pension System (NPS) to be abolished and the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to be implemented.
2. State whether DA/DR should be released:Central employees are demanding the release of 18 months’ DA/DR which was withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Compassionate Appointments : Employees want the 5% limit on compassionate appointments to be abolished.
4. Recruitment for vacant posts:The employees union is also demanding the filling of all the vacant posts in various departments.
5. Casual workers should be regularized:Employees want that casual, contract and GDS workers should be regularized and the employees of autonomous bodies under the central government should also be given equal status as central employees.
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Only a few days are left for the presentation of the budget. Central government employees and pensioners are eagerly waiting for any announcement regarding the 8th Pay Commission. But it is not clear at the moment what decision the government will take on these demands in this budget. Any decision of the government in this regard will depend on its priorities and the state of the government treasury.
