New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- The 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) is in its consultation stage and has scheduled more meetings in Bengaluru and Mumbai in October. The panel will discuss suggestions with employee unions, representatives, groups, pensioner associations, federations, and other stakeholders during its visits before releasing its official recommendations.

Overall, the commission's decisions are expected to benefit more than 1 crore people, including around 50 lakh central government employees and nearly 65 lakh pensioners, as well as defence and railway personnel and retirees.

Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, a former Supreme Court judge, is the Chairperson, and other members on the panel include Pankaj Jain, a former IAS officer as...