Will salaries and pensions increase every 5 years under the 8th Pay Commission? Demand raised to change the existing 10-year rule..

8th Pay Commission: Lakhs of central government employees are eagerly awaiting an increase in their salaries and pensions through the 8th Pay Commission. Could it be that central government employees and pensioners will no longer have to wait 10 years for a pay or pension hike? Employee unions have urged the 8th Pay Commission to reduce the revision cycle for salaries and pensions to five years. They argue that with inflation rising rapidly, relying on the same pay scale for 10 years erodes the purchasing power of employees. Therefore, they contend that salary and pension revisions should take place every five years.

The Demand for a 5-Year Revision Cycle

It has been one year since the 8th Pay Commission was constituted. It is a three-member temporary commission, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. The commission will submit its recommendations to the central government after considering the inputs from various employee and pensioner organizations.

In a memorandum submitted to the commission on August 7, 2026, the Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) presented 13 key demands, including the request for a revision of salaries and pensions every five years.

Voices from NC-JCM and Railway Pensioners

The Staff Side of the National Council-JCM has also highlighted the need for a salary revision for central government employees every five years. The organization argues that, given inflation and evolving economic conditions, salaries should be reviewed periodically.

Meanwhile, the Railway Senior Citizens Welfare Society (RSCWS) has pointed out that long intervals between successive pay commissions diminish the purchasing power of both employees and pensioners. Furthermore, the Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) has suggested establishing a permanent pay review body instead of forming a new pay commission every 10 years.

Why is this change particularly crucial for pensioners?

This demand holds even greater significance for pensioners. Employees receive annual increments, but pensioners have no such provision. To provide them with relief from inflation, the Dearness Relief (DR) is adjusted twice a year. The 'Bharat Pensioners Samaj' has demanded that the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) be revised quarterly—based on a three-month average—to fully compensate for the impact of inflation. Furthermore, they have proposed that once the Dearness Relief exceeds 25%, it should be merged into the basic pension.

Will the government change the 10-year revision cycle?

Currently, the demand to revise salaries and pensions every five years is merely a proposal put forward by employee and pensioner organizations. The 8th Pay Commission has not yet reached a final decision on this matter. Moreover, the submissions made by these groups do not provide a detailed assessment of the additional financial burden that a five-year revision cycle would impose on the government exchequer.

However, the central government will consider the recommendations once they are submitted by the Commission. Only then will it become clear whether or not the existing 10-year revision system will be altered.

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