Ex-Servicemen Wing Voices Concern Over Delay in Constituting 8th Central Pay Commission. 

United Front of Ex-Servicemen Urges Centre to Expedite Appointment of Chairman and Members Ahead of January 2026 Deadline. 

Shimla:

The United Front of Ex-servicemen (JCOs & OR), Himachal Pradesh, has raised serious concern over the delay in constituting the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), which is scheduled to come into effect from January 1, 2026. Despite the Union Cabinet’s approval in January 2025, the appointment of the Commission’s Chairman and Members, along with the finalisation of its Terms of Reference (ToR), remains pending.

In a press statement issued by Capt Jagdish Verma (Retd), Chairman of the United Front of Ex-servicemen, the organisation expressed its disappointment over the lack of progress in forming the pay commission, which is responsible for revising the pay, allowances, and pensions of nearly 1.15 crore stakeholders — comprising over 50 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners, including 1.4 lakh defence retirees from Himachal Pradesh alone.

“This delay is creating anxiety and uncertainty among beneficiaries. The timely constitution of the Pay Commission is critical to ensure that revisions are implemented by the intended date of January 1, 2026,” Capt Verma stated.

The organisation had previously submitted an appeal to the President of India and the Defence Minister, seeking urgent intervention in the matter. However, with no response or action communicated so far, a formal reminder has now been sent requesting prioritised attention.

Urgent Issues Highlighted by the Ex-Servicemen Body:

• Timely Implementation Essential: The 8th CPC is scheduled to be implemented from January 2026. Delays in its formation could result in postponed salary and pension revisions, causing financial setbacks for millions of beneficiaries.
• Historical Precedents: Previous Central Pay Commissions typically required 2 to 2.5 years to study, consult, and prepare their reports. For example, the 7th CPC, which came into effect on January 1, 2016, was constituted in 2014, providing ample time for its recommendations to be implemented promptly.
• Concerns for Elderly Stakeholders: The organisation also flagged concerns that aged pensioners — particularly those aged 85, 90, or even 95 years — might be deprived of timely benefits due to bureaucratic delays.
• Defence Personnel’s Interests: Capt Verma reiterated that defence retirees, many of whom belong to the junior commissioned officers and other ranks, are often the most impacted by such delays and urged the government to take immediate steps to respect their service and expectations.

Call for Action

The United Front of Ex-servicemen has appealed to the Government of India to constitute the 8th CPC without further delay. “Early action will not only ensure that the recommendations are delivered in a timely manner but also uphold the morale and trust of government employees and defence pensioners across the country,” said Capt Verma.

The ex-servicemen body believes that prompt government action would demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of those who have served the nation and now depend on fair and timely revision of their entitlements.