8th Pay Commission Big Update: Drafting Panel Meet On April 13; Salary Hike Hopes Rise Ahead First Field Visit

8th Pay Commission latest news: A major update is here for lakhs of central government employees and pensioners eagerly waiting for a salary hike. The National Council (Joint Consultative Machinery) (NC-JCM) drafting committee is set to hold unimportant meeting on April 13,, where discussions will take place on the final memorandum to be submitted to the 8th Central Pay Commission (8th CPC).

This is a big development especially when expectations around 8th Pay Commission salary hike, fitment factor, and pension revision are gaining a lot of traction. The main agenda of the April 13 meeting is expected to be finalising demands related to pay, allowances, and retirement benefits.

8th Pay Commission Dehradun Visit on April 24

As per an official notice released by the commission dated March 30, 2026, the 8th Central Pay Commission will undertake its first official visit to Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on April 24.

The notice states that stakeholders, including central government organisations, unions, and associations, who wish to interact with the Commission can submit their requests via email before April 10, 2026. The meeting schedule and venue details will be shared later.
This outreach initiative is similar to the previous 7th Pay Commission, which had conducted 76 meetings during its tenure to understand employee concerns.

NC-JCM Drafting Committee Focus Areas

The NC-JCM drafting committee is currently working on consolidating employee demands into a common memorandum, which will be submitted to the 8th CPC. Key issues under discussion include Salary revision and pay structure, Pension updates for retirees, Employment conditions and allowances

Earlier, on March 12, 2026, members had already met to deliberate on key points for the memorandum.

8th Pay Commission Progress So far:

The 8th CPC timeline shows steady progress over time. According to updates:

The memorandum submission window opened on March 5, 2026
Questionnaire deadline extended till March 31, 2026
First official tour announced on March 30, 2026
Final report expected within 18 months

The government had already notified the formation of the 8th CPC on November 3, 2025, along with its Terms of Reference (ToR). The Commission has been tasked with recommending revisions in salary, allowances, pension, and other benefits.

8th Pay Commission Fitment Factor in Focus

One of the most awaited aspects of the 8th Pay Commission salary hike is the fitment factor, which will directly impact the increase in basic pay. There are various expectations doing rounds like 2.57, 2.87, 3.5 etc. However, the final decision on the fitment factor by the 8th CPC will determine the actual salary revision for employees.

Central government employees and pensioners can expect more clarity in the coming months as discussions progress.