8th Central Pay Commission Officially Confirmed: Full Details from Government's Lok Sabha Reply (Unstarred Question No. 3571)
8th Central Pay Commission Officially Confirmed: Full Details from Government's Lok Sabha Reply (Unstarred Question No. 3571)
The Ministry of Finance has, for the first time in a formal Parliamentary reply, confirmed the constitution date, leadership, timeline and coverage of the 8th Central Pay Commission. Here is a complete breakdown of the official answer.
What Happened in Parliament
On Monday, 10 August 2026, the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, responded to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3571, titled "Approval for Constitution of the Eighth Central Pay Commission." The question was raised by Dr. Manna Lal Rawat and answered by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary.
The reply is significant because it is an official, on-record Parliamentary confirmation of facts that were previously known mainly through press reports — including the exact constitution date, the names of the Chairperson and Members, and the prescribed timeline for submission of the report.
8th CPC Composition: Who Is Leading the Commission
In response to parts (a) and (b) of the question, the Government confirmed that the 8th Central Pay Commission has been constituted vide Resolution dated 3 November 2025, with the following composition:
8th CPC Leadership
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai |
| Member (Part-Time) | Prof. Pulak Ghosh |
| Member-Secretary | Shri Pankaj Jain |
Timeline: When Will the Report Be Submitted?
In response to part (c), the Government stated that the Commission will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution — that is, within 18 months of 3 November 2025.
8th CPC Timeline
How Many Employees and Pensioners Will Be Covered?
Responding to part (e), the Government provided the following estimates:
Estimated Beneficiaries (Excluding Defence Pensioners)
| Category | Estimated Number | Reference Date |
|---|---|---|
| Central Government civilian employees | ~35.77 lakh | As on 01.03.2026 |
| Pensioners / family pensioners | ~33.76 lakh | As on 31.12.2025 |
The reply notes these figures exclude Defence pensioners and does not provide a State-wise breakup in the answer as tabled.
Terms of Reference: What the Commission Will Examine
In response to part (f), the Government confirmed that the Terms of Reference of the 8th Central Pay Commission were notified vide the Resolution dated 3 November 2025, and are enclosed as Annexure-I to the Lok Sabha reply. The main question (part f) specifically referenced subjects relating to:
- Pay revision
- Dearness Allowance
- Other allowances
- Pension
- Family pension
- Service conditions
Question-by-Question Summary of the Government's Reply
| Part | Question Asked | Government's Answer |
|---|---|---|
| (a) & (b) | Has approval been given; constitution date, Chairperson & Members | Constituted vide Resolution dated 03.11.2025; Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, Member Prof. Pulak Ghosh, Member-Secretary Shri Pankaj Jain |
| (c) | Time-frame for submission of report | Within 18 months of constitution |
| (d) | Date from which recommendations will be effective | Not applicable yet — recommendations not submitted |
| (e) | Estimated employees/pensioners benefited, State-wise | ~35.77 lakh employees, ~33.76 lakh pensioners (excl. Defence); no State-wise data given |
| (f) | Subjects in Terms of Reference | Notified vide Resolution dated 03.11.2025; enclosed in Annexure-I |
| (g) | Additional welfare provisions being considered | Not applicable yet — recommendations not submitted |
| (h) | Advisory/guidelines proposed for States | Not applicable yet — recommendations not submitted |
Why This Reply Matters for Central Government Employees
- It is the first official Parliamentary confirmation of the exact 8th CPC constitution date and leadership
- It clarifies that the 18-month clock for the report started from 3 November 2025
- It confirms that, as of August 2026, no recommendations have been submitted — so any effective date, arrears, or implementation timeline speculation remains premature
- It gives an authoritative estimate of the number of employees and pensioners who will be affected by the Commission's eventual recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the 8th Central Pay Commission constituted?
It was constituted vide Government Resolution dated 3 November 2025.
Who is the Chairperson of the 8th CPC?
Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is the Chairperson, with Prof. Pulak Ghosh as Member (Part-Time) and Shri Pankaj Jain as Member-Secretary.
By when must the 8th CPC submit its report?
Within 18 months from the date of its constitution, i.e., from 3 November 2025.
Has the 8th CPC submitted its recommendations yet?
No. As confirmed in the Lok Sabha reply dated 10 August 2026, the Commission had not submitted its recommendations at that time.
How many employees and pensioners will the 8th CPC recommendations cover?
An estimated 35.77 lakh Central Government civilian employees (as on 01.03.2026) and 33.76 lakh pensioners/family pensioners (as on 31.12.2025), excluding Defence pensioners.
What will the 8th CPC's Terms of Reference cover?
Based on the question raised, the Terms of Reference relate to pay revision, Dearness Allowance, other allowances, pension, family pension and service conditions; the full clause-wise text is in Annexure-I of the official Resolution.
Is there a confirmed effective date for 8th CPC recommendations?
No. The Government has stated this is not yet applicable since recommendations have not been submitted.
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