AIRF Presents Oral Evidence Before 8th Pay Commission: Key Demands of Railwaymen
The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) met the 8th Central Pay Commission on 30 October 2026 and pressed for higher pay scales, special allowances and better promotional prospects for Railway employees.
The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) has appeared before the 8th Central Pay Commission (8th CPC) to present its oral evidence. In a circular dated 30 October 2026 addressed to General Secretaries of all affiliated unions, AIRF General Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra shared a brief of the interaction. The Federation argued that Railway working conditions are unique, that Railwaymen deserve higher pay scales, and that Risk & Hardship, Hazardous Duty, Hill and Dress Allowances should be considered for every category.
- Overview of the AIRF–8th CPC interaction
- Who was present: Commission and AIRF delegation
- How the two hours were divided
- General issues and the case for Railway uniqueness
- Special allowances demanded
- Loco & Traffic Running Staff
- Track Maintainers and Allied P. Way categories
- Technicians of all departments
- Women representatives' submission
- Frequently Asked Questions
Overview of the AIRF Interaction With the 8th CPC
Following an invitation from the Pay Commission, AIRF appeared before it to put forward the Federation's Memorandum orally. The meeting took place in the presence of the Commission's Chairperson, Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, Prof. Pulak Ghosh (Member) and Shri Pankaj Jain (Member-Secretary).
AIRF described the interaction as "very fruitful and convincing" and expressed hope that the Commission will consider its submission seriously while deciding pay scales and other perks for Railwaymen. The Federation also observed that the Chairperson appeared fully convinced by the submission made by women Railway representatives.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF), New Delhi (Estd. 1924) |
| Circular No. | AIRF/8th CPC |
| Circular Date | 30 October 2026 |
| Signed by | Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF |
| Addressed to | General Secretaries of all Affiliated Unions |
| Time allotted by 8th CPC | Two hours (11:30 to 13:30 hrs) |
| Mode | Oral Evidence with PowerPoint presentations |
Who Was Present: Commission and AIRF Delegation
8th Pay Commission
- Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai – Chairperson
- Prof. Pulak Ghosh – Member
- Shri Pankaj Jain – Member-Secretary
AIRF Delegation
| Name | Position in AIRF |
|---|---|
| Shiva Gopal Mishra | General Secretary |
| J.R. Bhosale | Working President |
| Mukesh Mathur | Asstt. General Secretary |
| Amit Kumar Ghosh | Asstt. General Secretary |
| S.K. Tyagi | Asstt. General Secretary |
| K.V. Raghavendra | Asstt. General Secretary |
| L.N. Pathak | Zonal Secretary |
| Pijush Chakraborty | Asstt. General Secretary |
| Smt. Preeti Singh | National Youth Convener |
How the Two Hours Were Divided
Since the Commission allotted two hours, AIRF split the time into four half-hour segments so that every major category could present its case.
1st Half-Hour
General issues from the Memorandum, such as Minimum Wage and Railway-Specific Allowance.
2nd Half-Hour
Issues of Loco & Traffic Running Staff.
3rd Half-Hour
Issues of Track Maintainers and Allied Categories of P. Way.
4th Half-Hour
Issues of Technicians of all departments of Indian Railways.
General Issues: Why Railways Cannot Be Compared With Other Departments
AIRF emphasised that the working of Indian Railways is unique and cannot be compared with any other department of the Union Government. Railways operate round-the-clock, 24x7, throughout the year, in all weather and climatic conditions, across regions with distinct geographical and environmental conditions.
The Federation further argued that, considering working conditions and the fast pace of modernisation, Railwaymen deserve placement in higher pay scales. According to AIRF, employees in almost all categories are skilled workers who must either maintain assets such as rolling stock, signalling and track, or operate them.
Special Allowances Demanded by AIRF
Citing the number of casualties and grievous injuries suffered by Railwaymen in the course of employment, AIRF asked the 8th CPC to consider a "Special Allowance" for each and every category of Railway employees. The allowances mentioned in the circular are:
| Allowance | Demanded For |
|---|---|
| Risk & Hardship Allowance | Every category of Railwaymen; specifically adequate allowance for Technicians |
| Hazardous Duty Allowance | Every category of Railwaymen |
| Hill Allowance | Every category of Railwaymen |
| Dress Allowance | Every category; specifically adequate allowance for all Technicians |
| Certain Specific Allowances | Track Maintainers, Patrolman, Keyman and Gateman of the Civil Engineering Department |
Loco & Traffic Running Staff
The issues of Loco and Traffic Running Staff were highlighted through a PowerPoint presentation by Com. P. Ganesan (SRMU). Representatives from the particular categories were nominated to discuss the issues with the Pay Commission, and the presentation was supplemented by the Office-Bearers of the Federation.
Track Maintainers and Allied Categories of P. Way
Track Maintainers' issues were presented in detail by Com. Manish Dwivedi (NRMU/NR) and Com. Brajpal Singh (NCRMU) using a PowerPoint presentation. Key points made:
- The work of Track Maintainers is very tough and hazardous.
- Drastic improvement in track geometry and precision now requires better know-how and technical knowledge from them.
- Because of this, they should be treated at par with Technicians of other Engineering Disciplines of Indian Railways.
- Specific allowances were demanded for Track Maintainers, Patrolman, Keyman and Gateman of the Civil Engineering Department.
Technicians of All Departments
The case of Technicians of all Engineering Disciplines was discussed at length with PowerPoint presentations by Com. Mukesh Singh (ECRKU), Com. Arif Hussain (NERMU), Com. Imran (NRMU/NR) and Com. L.N. Pathak, Zonal Secretary (AIRF/RCFMU/MCF/RBL). AIRF's demands for Technicians:
- Fair treatment by the 8th CPC and placement in better pay scales.
- Merger of certain intermediate pay scales into one, to facilitate better promotional prospects.
- Adequate Risk & Hardship Allowance in view of the hardship and risk involved in their duties.
- Adequate Dress Allowance for all Technicians of Indian Railways.
Women Representatives' Submission
Female representatives of AIRF, Ms Ashima and Ms Dolly Kumari (NRMU/NR), who belong to the Loco & Traffic Running Staff and Track Maintainer categories, explained the problems of Female Loco Pilots, Assistant Loco Pilots, Train Managers and Track Maintainers. As per AIRF, the Chairperson of the 8th CPC was fully convinced with their submission.
- Higher pay scales for Railwaymen given their skilled, 24x7 work
- Minimum Wage and Railway-Specific Allowance
- Special Allowances: Risk & Hardship, Hazardous Duty, Hill and Dress Allowance
- Parity of Track Maintainers with Technicians of other engineering disciplines
- Specific allowances for Track Maintainers, Patrolman, Keyman and Gateman
- Merger of certain intermediate pay scales for Technicians
- Attention to issues of women Loco Pilots, Asstt. Loco Pilots, Train Managers and Track Maintainers
What Happens Next?
The circular records AIRF's submission and its hope that the Commission will consider it seriously. It does not state any decision or recommendation by the 8th CPC. Pay scales, allowances and other benefits will only be known once the Commission completes its work and submits its report, and the Government accepts its recommendations. Railway employees should therefore treat these points as demands placed before the Commission, not as approved benefits. Keep following CCS Diary for official updates on the 8th Pay Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When did AIRF present its oral evidence before the 8th CPC?
According to the AIRF circular dated 30 October 2026, the Federation appeared before the 8th Pay Commission and presented its oral evidence on that day.
Who headed the 8th CPC panel during the AIRF interaction?
The interaction was held in the presence of Chairperson Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, along with Member Prof. Pulak Ghosh and Member-Secretary Shri Pankaj Jain.
How long was the AIRF interaction with the Pay Commission?
The Commission gave two hours, from 11:30 to 13:30 hrs. AIRF divided it into four half-hour segments covering general issues, Loco & Traffic Running Staff, Track Maintainers and Allied P. Way categories, and Technicians.
Which allowances did AIRF demand?
AIRF demanded Special Allowances such as Risk & Hardship Allowance, Hazardous Duty Allowance, Hill Allowance and Dress Allowance for every category of Railwaymen, along with certain specific allowances for Track Maintainers, Patrolman, Keyman and Gateman.
What did AIRF demand for Technicians?
AIRF sought better pay scales, merger of certain intermediate pay scales to improve promotion prospects, adequate Risk & Hardship Allowance and adequate Dress Allowance for all Technicians.
Has the 8th CPC accepted these demands?
No. The circular only reports the Federation's submission and its hope for serious consideration. No decision by the Commission is mentioned.
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