As the 7th Central Pay Commission approaches the end of its term this month (on 31st December, 2025), central government employees are eagerly waiting for the 8th Pay Commission to usher in the next pay revision.
While many expected salaries to be revised from January 1, 2026, history shows that pay commissions never result in instant hikes — their recommendations usually take two to three years before implementation. The current progress of the 8th Pay Commission suggests the same.
Looking back: How long did earlier commissions take?
The timelines of past commissions reveal a clear pattern of delays mixed with procedural requirements:
The 5th Pay Commission began in April 1994, submitted its report in January 1997, and its recommendations were implemented in October 1997 — a 3.5-year cycle.
The 6th Pay Commission was formed in October 2006 and completed its journey in roughly 22–24 months before being implemented retrospectively from January 2006.
The 7th Pay Commission too took about 26 months — from February 2014 to June 2016 — before its impact was reflected in salaries.
So while the 5th commission took longer, both the 6th and 7th clearly show that two years is the average pace for pay commission execution.
Where does the 8th Pay Commission stand now?
The 8th Pay Commission was announced on January 16, 2025, but it took the government almost ten months to finalise its Terms of Reference, which were approved on October 28, 2025. The three-member panel headed by Justice Ranjana Desai now has 18 months to submit its report, meaning it is due around April 2027.
Even after the report lands on the government’s table, implementation will not be immediate. Based on earlier trends, at least 6–8 months will be required to scrutinise, modify and approve the report. This pushes likely implementation to late 2027 or early 2028.
This delay fuels anxiety among employees, especially after the government recently reiterated in Parliament that while the commission is constituted, the implementation date “shall be decided by the government”. For unions that hoped for a January 2026 rollout, this uncertainty has become a major concern.
Why does it take so long? The 10 steps behind every pay commission
What looks like a delay is actually a multi-layered process involving financial assessment, consultation, policy review and cabinet approval. Here is the journey in simple words:
- Formation of the commission
The government issues a notification, names its members and gives them the mandate to study pay structures and recommend revisions.
- Collection of data
The commission gathers salary, pension and allowance details from ministries and departments to understand current structures.
- Consultations and meetings
Employee unions, pensioners, economists and experts present demands and concerns. The commission holds hearings and discussions to capture ground realities.
- Internal study and drafting
After reviewing all submissions, the panel analyses anomalies and designs new pay levels, pension formulas and allowances.
- Financial impact assessment
Before proposing anything, the government calculates how much the revised pay structure will cost. This step ensures fiscal responsibility.
- Submission of the final report
The commission submits its detailed recommendations — a large document covering pay, pension and allowances.
- Formation of an Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECoS)
A high-level committee studies the report, seeks clarifications and suggests modifications.
- Inter-ministerial consultations
Different ministries — finance, defence, home affairs, railways — examine the recommendations and provide feedback based on sector needs.
- Review by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
This committee takes the final economic view — considering budget constraints and political implications.
- Final Cabinet approval and notification
Once the Cabinet approves, official government orders are issued and revised pay rules start rolling out.
Many state governments and autonomous bodies follow central recommendations, which means their own process of approval and rollout begins.
Two years is not a delay — it is the norm
From consultation to financial approval, each of these steps takes months — and this is why pay commissions naturally take 2–3 years before employees see new salaries credited to their accounts. The system may look slow, but it touches over one crore employees and pensioners, and impacts national finances — making caution unavoidable.
What it means for the 8th Pay Commission?
Based on past cycles and current progress, the 8th Pay Commission is unlikely to be implemented before late 2027 or early 2028. While this timeline disappoints employees, history also shows that the government applies recommendations retrospectively and pays arrears along with DA/DR adjustments.
In simple words, the wait may be long — but it is built into the system. The 8th Pay Commission’s timeline is moving along the same familiar path, proving once again why pay commission recommendations always take time before landing in salary accounts.