63rd NC-JCM Meeting focus on 8th Pay Commission and Employee Concerns

63rd NC-JCM Meeting focus on 8th Pay Commission and Employee Concerns

The 63rd meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) convened in April 2025, addressing vital concerns related to employee interests within the central government. A primary focus of the discussions was the formation and Terms of Reference (ToR) for the anticipated 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

On April 23, 2025, representatives from the NC-JCM gathered to deliberate on crucial elements regarding the 8th CPC. While the government has officially announced the establishment of the commission, it has yet to provide formal directives concerning its ToR or the appointments of its members and chairperson. The staff side of the NC-JCM emphasized the urgency for the government to expedite these announcements to facilitate timely progress.

Additionally, the meeting revisited longstanding demands for the payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) that were frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically from January 2020 to June 2021. Unfortunately, the Department of Expenditure reported that due to the ongoing economic repercussions of COVID-19 and existing welfare measures, the disbursement of these arrears remains unfeasible.

Another significant topic discussed was a revised proposal for the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGSIS), which the Department of Expenditure intends to share with the staff side for input and feedback.

Concerns were raised regarding potential delays in the implementation of the 8th CPC. Despite the issuance of a notification for the appointment of several employees to the commission, there is growing apprehension among employees about whether the commission’s recommendations will be implemented on time. The current 7th Pay Commission is set to conclude its term in 2026, and new pay commissions are established every decade to review salaries, pensions, and allowances for government employees. The expected implementation date for the 8th CPC is January 1, 2026; however, if there are delays in official announcements, it is anticipated that its recommendations will be applied retroactively from this date.

The formation of the 8th Pay Commission holds significant implications for over 1.1 crore government employees, making it a critical matter for both the staff and the government as they navigate the complexities of compensation and benefits in the public sector.