The National Council (Staff Side) of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) — the body that speaks for lakhs of central government employees — has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting various inconsistencies and faults in the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Pay Commission. The Centre had notified the ToR on November 3, 2025.
NC JCM Staff Side is a representative body for central government employees that engages in dialogue with the government to discuss and resolve matters related to employee service conditions and welfare.
After the 8th Pay Commission was announced in January this year, the government had sought suggestions from the NC JCM Staff Side for the ToR. In March this year, the body had requested incorporating a charter of demands, including the one on bringing down the pension commutation to 11 years instead of 15 years.
8th Pay Commission ToR silent on revising pension commutation period
The Centre recently notified the Terms of Reference (ToR), which don’t have “expectations of shareholders”. One of the expectations was that the ToR would include the pension commutation matter.
Central government employees were expecting a big relief on the pension commutation front under the 8th Pay Commission. It has been a long-standing demand from government employees to reduce the period of commuted pension restoration from 15 years.
NC JCM Staff Side writes to PM over ToR anomalies
It writes,
“We request inclusion of the following pension-related measures within the ToR:
Restoration of commuted value of pension after 11 years (instead of 15 years);
Grant of enhanced pension by 5% every 5 years after retirement, as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee;
Extension of pension revision to all pensioners/family pensioners drawing benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021).”
Restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
The NC JCM Staff Side states that over 26 lakh central government employees including railway employees, defence civilian employees and para military forces recruited on or after 01.01.2004 under the National Pension System (NPS) are fervently demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a non-contributory, assured pension framework under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021).
It further said that this long-standing and justified demand reflects their anxiety for post-retirement security and social dignity.
“It is earnestly requested that this matter be brought within the ambit of the 8th CPC’s ToR, enabling a fair and holistic review by the Commission with the aim of ensuring a decent and dignified retired life to the Government Employees who serve the nation and the people round the clock,” the letter said.
’69 lakh pensioners left outside 8th CPC purview’, says NC JCM Staff Side
“It is deeply concerning that the 69 lakh central government pensioners and family pensioners, who have devoted decades of dedicated service to the nation, have been left outside the purview of the 8th CPC. These senior citizens, many of whom are in the twilight of their lives and battling age-related ailments, rightly deserve the same consideration as serving employees in terms of periodic revision of their pension.”
