Confederation Requests Amendment in 8th Pay Commission ToR: Key Demands Explained
The 8th Pay Commission has officially been constituted by the Government of India through the Gazette Notification dated 03 November 2025. While this announcement brought relief and hope to lakhs of Central Government employees, the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has expressed deep concerns over certain omissions in the Terms of Reference (ToR).
Representing nearly 8 lakh Central Government employees across 130 departments, the Confederation has written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji urging necessary amendments so that the Commission truly addresses the needs of both serving employees and pensioners.
In this article, we explain their major demands and why they believe the ToR must be revised.
1. Date of Implementation: Why 01.01.2026 Must Be Included
The Confederation has highlighted that all past Pay Commissions have been implemented on the following dates:
- 4th CPC — 01.01.1986
- 5th CPC — 01.01.1996
- 6th CPC — 01.01.2006
- 7th CPC — 01.01.2016
Since revisions now follow a 10-year cycle, the Confederation argues that the 8th Pay Commission recommendations should automatically take effect from 01.01.2026. However, this crucial detail is missing in the ToR.
They have requested that the date of implementation be clearly inserted to avoid future confusion or delay.
2. Clear Inclusion of Pension Revision Under the 8th CPC
One of the strongest concerns raised relates to the revision of pension and family pension for nearly 69 lakh pensioners.
The current ToR does not specifically mention:
- Pension revision
- Parity in pension
- Commutation restoration period
- Benefits under OPS, NPS, or UPS
Issue with the phrase “unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes”
The Confederation believes that this phrase gives a negative impression, suggesting that pension liabilities are a burden rather than a legal and social obligation.
They argue that:
- Pension is a constitutional right under Article 300A, reaffirmed by various Supreme Court judgments including Vijay Kumar vs Central Bank of India and Deokinandan Prasad vs State of Bihar.
- Pension is not a bounty, but a property right and a recognition of past service.
- No such terminology is used for pensions of MPs, MLAs, Judges, or constitutional authorities—whose pensions are also non-contributory.
What they want added to the ToR
The Confederation requests inclusion of the statement:
“To examine the principles governing pension and retirement benefits, including revision of pension and parity, irrespective of date of retirement.”
They also want deletion of the term “unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes” from the ToR.
3. Demand for Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
Around 26 lakh employees who joined service after 01.04.2004 are under NPS or UPS.
Key points raised:
- Only about 1 lakh employees have shifted from NPS to UPS, showing widespread dissatisfaction.
- Most employees prefer restoration of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972/2021, i.e., the Old Pension Scheme.
- The 8th Pay Commission ToR does not include review of pension schemes.
Confederation’s request
Include in the ToR a mandate to examine all existing pension systems (OPS/NPS/UPS) and recommend the most beneficial option for employees.
4. Extend 8th Pay Commission Benefits to Autonomous Bodies and GDS
The Confederation demands that 8th Pay Commission recommendations be automatically extended to:
- Centrally Funded Autonomous Bodies (CFABs)
- Statutory Bodies
- Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS)
Since these sectors are crucial to public service delivery, the Confederation argues that leaving them out will cause large disparities.
5. Grant 20% Interim Relief Immediately
Due to delays in constituting the 8th Pay Commission, employees have already suffered financial loss.
Thus, they request:
- 20% Interim Relief to be released immediately
- Relief to nearly 1.2 crore employees and pensioners, helping them cope with inflation and boosting morale
6. Improvement in Health Schemes Including CGHS
The Confederation has requested a detailed review of existing health benefits.
Their key demands include:
- Expansion of CGHS Wellness Centres to more districts
- Cashless and hassle-free treatment for all employees and pensioners
- Review of Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations on CGHS
- Extension of health scheme benefits to employees of Autonomous and Statutory Bodies
They emphasize that healthcare must remain accessible and equitable for all categories of employees and pensioners.
Conclusion
The Confederation has appealed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister to consider these amendments sincerely and issue a revised Terms of Reference for the 8th Pay Commission.
Their requests highlight the concerns of lakhs of serving and retired employees who expect fairness, transparency, and inclusion in the upcoming CPC recommendations.
With the 8th Pay Commission scheduled to shape the financial future of millions from 01 January 2026, these demands hold significant national importance.