Central government employees and workers’ unions have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking major changes in the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the newly approved 8th Pay Commission. The unions said that the concerns of nearly 69 lakh pensioners and family pensioners have been overlooked in the current framework.
In their letter, the unions welcomed the commission’s formation but flagged gaps, especially on pension revision, pension parity, and clarity on future pension schemes. They demanded that the new pay commission be implemented from 1 January 2026.
The letter criticised the classification of non-contributory pension schemes as a fiscal burden, stating that pensions are a constitutional right under Section 300A and a key pillar of socio-economic justice.
The unions demanded a comprehensive review of pension structures, restoration of parity beyond retirement dates, reinstatement of commutation after 11 years, additional pension every five years for senior citizens, and improvements in CGHS and CGEGIS.
They also reiterated their demand to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), highlighting dissatisfaction among 26 lakh employees under NPS and UPS. Additionally, they requested 20% interim relief to support nearly 1.2 crore employees and pensioners amid rising inflation.
