The long-awaited 8th Central Pay Commission has moved into a decisive stage. Today, the Drafting Committee of the National Council Staff Side under the Joint Consultative Machinery met in New Delhi for a week-long session. The goal is clear. Prepare a single memorandum of demands representing more than one crore central government employees and pensioners.
The meeting is chaired by NC-JCM Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra. It comes soon after office space for the 8th Pay Commission was allotted at Chandralok Building, Janpath. The commission, headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, has now begun active functioning. Employee federations are working quickly to align their recommendations into one structured document.
Akroyd Formula and Variable Fitment Plan
The Federation of National Postal Organisations has proposed a multi-level fitment model. Instead of using one common multiplier, it suggests a graded structure ranging from 3.00 to 3.25.
FNPO Secretary General Sivaji Vasireddy stated that the proposal follows the Akroyd Formula. This method calculates minimum wages based on the essential nutritional and living needs of a four-member family.
Proposed fitment structure
• Levels 1 to 5
3.00 factor to strengthen salaries of lower pay bands
• Levels 6 to 12
3.05 to 3.10 factor to reflect higher technical and supervisory duties
• Level 16 and above
Up to 3.25 factor to avoid pay compression at senior ranks
Key Demands Beyond Basic Pay
The fitment factor is central, but it is not the only demand. Major federations such as the Confederation of Central Government Employees and the All India Defence Employees Federation have also placed strong proposals before the committee.
Annual increments
• Increase yearly increment from 3 percent to 7 percent
• FNPO suggests a 5 percent alternative
• Aim is to improve long-term salary growth
Family unit revision
• Expand family unit from 3 to 5 members
• Include dependent parents
• This change could raise basic pay calculations by about 66 percent
Medical and travel benefits
• Raise Fixed Medical Allowance from Rs 1,000 to Rs 20,000 per month for employees outside CGHS coverage
• Allow Leave Travel Concession in cash form
Retirement benefits
• Increase leave encashment ceiling from 300 to 400 days
Pension reforms
• Strong demand to restore the Old Pension Scheme
• Proposal includes scrapping NPS and UPS
The drafting committee is expected to consolidate these points into a unified charter that will shape the direction of the 8th Pay Commission discussions in the coming months.
| Level | Status / Category | 7th CPC Entry Pay (Rs) | Proposed Fitment Factor | Proposed Minimum Pay – 8th CPC (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Entry Level (Group C) | 18,000 | 3.00 | 54,000 |
| Level 2 | Group C | 19,900 | 3.00 | 59,700 |
| Level 3 | Group C | 21,700 | 3.00 | 65,100 |
| Level 4 | Group C | 25,500 | 3.00 | 76,500 |
| Level 5 | Group C | 29,200 | 3.00 | 87,600 |
| Level 6 | Group B Entry | 35,400 | 3.05 | 1,08,000 |
| Level 7 | Group B | 44,900 | 3.05 | 1,37,000 |
| Level 8 | Group B | 47,600 | 3.05 | 1,45,200 |
| Level 9 | Group B | 53,100 | 3.05 | 1,62,000 |
| Level 10 | Group A Entry | 56,100 | 3.10 | 1,74,000 |
| Level 11 | Group A | 67,700 | 3.10 | 2,09,900 |
| Level 12 | Group A | 78,800 | 3.10 | 2,44,300 |
| Level 13 | Senior Administrative | 1,18,500 | 3.05 | 3,61,500 |
| Level 13A | Senior Administrative | 1,31,100 | 3.05 | 3,99,900 |
| Level 14 | Senior Administrative | 1,44,200 | 3.15 | 4,54,300 |
| Level 15 | HAG | 1,82,200 | 3.15 | 5,74,000 |
| Level 16 | HAG+ | 2,05,400 | 3.20 | 6,57,300 |
| Level 17 | Apex Scale | 2,25,000 | 3.25 | 7,31,300 |
| Level 18 | Cabinet Secretary | 2,50,000 | 3.25 | 8,12,500 |
