New Delhi: The 8th Pay Commission process has gathered momentum with a key update the deadline for submitting employee demands has been extended to May 31, 2026. The extension is expected to give central government employees and their representatives more time to submit detailed proposals that could significantly impact salaries, pensions, and service conditions.
The earlier deadline of April 30, 2026, has now been pushed by a month following initial consultations between the Commission and employee representatives. The move comes amid growing demands for higher pay, better benefits, and changes to the pension system.
Consultation process gains pace
The development follows a crucial meeting held on April 28 between Pay Commission chairperson Ranjana Prakash Desai and representatives of the National Council Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), which represents central government employees.
Such consultations play a key role in shaping Pay Commission recommendations, as employee bodies present their demands through formal memorandums. These documents outline proposals related to salary revisions, pension systems, allowances, promotions, and overall service conditions.
Officials clarified that all submissions must be made strictly through the official online portal in the prescribed format. Proposals sent via email, PDFs, Word documents, or physical copies will not be considered, ensuring a streamlined and uniform evaluation process.
Fitment factor demand takes centre stage
One of the most significant demands raised by employee representatives is an increase in the fitment factor — the multiplier used to revise basic pay.
Under the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was fixed at 2.57, which resulted in a minimum basic pay of Rs 18,000. Now, employees are demanding a revision of this factor to 3.83.
If accepted, this could push the minimum basic salary to around Rs 69,000, marking a substantial increase in take-home pay. Even a small adjustment in the fitment factor can have a wide-ranging financial impact, making it a focal point of negotiations.
Push for Old Pension Scheme revival
Another major demand gaining traction is the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Employee representatives have urged the government to scrap the existing National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), advocating a return to the non-contributory pension model.
The OPS provides assured post-retirement benefits, unlike the market-linked NPS, making it a long-standing demand among government employees across the country.
Additional demands highlighted
Apart from salary and pension-related proposals, the NC-JCM has submitted several other demands aimed at improving employee welfare and career progression.
Key proposals include:
- A 6 per cent annual increment
- Two additional increments upon promotion
- A minimum benefit of Rs 10,000 on promotion
- One month’s wages as gratuity
The employee body has also requested separate hearings for different sectors such as Railways, Defence, Postal, and Tax departments, citing their unique working conditions.
In addition, there is a demand for on-ground visits to hazardous workplaces so that risk-based allowances can be assessed more accurately.
What the extension means
The extension of the deadline indicates that the Commission is allowing more time for comprehensive and well-structured submissions. This could lead to more detailed and impactful recommendations in the final report.
The consultation phase is expected to continue through 2026, with further discussions and evaluations taking place after all memorandums are submitted by the new deadline.
Conclusion
The extension of the memorandum submission deadline to May 31 marks an important step in the 8th Pay Commission process. With major demands such as a higher fitment factor, increased minimum pay, and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme on the table, the coming months will be crucial for lakhs of central government employees. While final decisions will take time, the early signals point towards the possibility of significant changes in pay structures and retirement benefits.