Written by, April 23 -- Kashmira Gogoi

Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai has been appointed as the chairperson of the 8th Pay Commission. The commission is currently in the consultation stage, with the Government of India having issued the Terms of Reference in November 2025.

Separately, the government approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR), effective from January 1, 2026. This increase is independent of the commission's recommendations, which are still under discussion.

Among the major issues being debated are pension reforms, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), revision of the fitment factor, and a substantial increase in minimum basic pay. Reports and employee union demands suggest that the f...