New DELHI, Jan 17 :Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved setting up the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of nearly 50 lakh central Government employees and allowances of 65 lakh pensioners.
The chairman and two members of the Commission will be appointed soon, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters here.
“Prime Minister has approved 8th Central Pay Commission for Central Government employees,” the Minister said.
The term of the 7th Pay Commission will end in 2026.
Since 1947, seven Pay Commissions have been constituted, with the last one implemented in 2016.
As the 7th Pay Commission’s term concludes in 2026, initiating the process in 2025 ensures sufficient time to receive and review recommendations before its completion, the Minister added.
He said the setting up of the new Pay Commission in 2025 will ensure that its recommendations are received well before the completion of the term of the seventh pay panel.
Pay Commissions hold extensive consultations with central and State Governments and other stakeholders before giving recommendations to the Government. The pay commission has a key role in deciding salary structures, benefits and allowances for Government employees. Most of the state-owned organisations follow the commission’s recommendations.
The 7th Pay Commission was constituted in 2014 and its recommendations were implemented on January 1, 2016.
Sources said around 50 lakh Central Government employees, including defence personnel, will benefit from the decision.
Also, about 65 lakh pensioners, including defence persons, will also see an uptick in their pensions, they added.
In Delhi alone, about 4 lakh employees will benefit, including Defence and Delhi Government employees, from the recommendations of the Panel. Delhi is going to Assembly polls on February 5, 2025.
In past, salaries of Delhi Government employees increased with the Central Pay commission, sources added.
The 7th Pay Commission saw an expenditure increase of Rs 1 lakh crore for fiscal 2016-17.
Implementation of the pay panel’s recommendations provides a significant boost to consumption and economic growth, along with improved quality of life for Government employees.
Usually, every 10 years, the central Government constitutes a Pay Commission to revise the remuneration of its employees.
The Pay Commission also recommends the formula for the revision of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for Central Government employees and pensioners with a view to compensating them for inflation.
Several State Governments also revise the remuneration of their employees on the lines of the central Pay Commission.
Meanwhile, Government has also approved setting up of a third launch pad at Sriharikota to send heavier spacecraft in orbit as it aims to build a space station, carry out human spaceflight Gaganyaan and land an astronaut on the moon.
The third launch pad will be built at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota and will be capable of putting 30,000 tonne spacecraft in low earth orbit as against the existing capabilities of 8,000 tonnes as India eyes a larger pie in the global space economy.
The Union Cabinet, approved the setting up of the third launch pad at a cost of Rs 3,985 crore in the next four years with maximum participation from the industry, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) which will be 91 m in height, taller than the 72-m tall Qutub Minar.
The launch pad is designed to have a configuration that is as universal and adaptable as possible that can support not only NGLV but also the LVM3 vehicles with a semicryogenic stage.
It will also be able to support scaled up configurations of NGLV with capabilities of hauling 70 tonnes payload to low earth orbit.
The launch pad will be built with maximum industry participation fully utilizing ISRO’s experience in establishing the previous launch pads and maximally sharing the existing launch complex facilities.
The third launch pad is targeted to be established within a duration of four years, the statement said.
The project will boost the Indian space ecosystem by enabling higher launch frequencies and the national capacity to undertake human spaceflight and space exploration missions.
As on date, Indian Space Transportation Systems are completely reliant on the first and second launch pads.
The first launch pad was built 30 years ago for PSLV missions and continues to provide launch support also for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
The second launch pad was established primarily for GSLV and LVM3 and also functions as standby for PSLV.
The second launch pad has been operational for almost 20 years and has enhanced the launch capacity towards enabling some commercial missions of PSLV/LVM3 along with the national missions including the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
