The 8th Pay Commission has announced fresh meetings with organisations, unions and associations linked to the defence and railway sectors in Delhi on May 13 and 14, 2026.
The consultations are part of the Commission’s ongoing exercise to gather feedback before finalising recommendations on salary revision, pension changes, fitment factor, allowances and service conditions for central government employees and pensioners.
According to the official notice, stakeholders wishing to interact with the Commission must apply online by May 10, 2026.
8th Pay Commission meetings scheduled in Delhi
The 8th Pay Commission said it will hold meetings with defence and railway organisations, unions and associations registered in Delhi on May 13-14, 2026. Discussions are expected on salary revision, pension changes, fitment factor, DA, HRA, TA and retirement benefits before the Commission prepares its final recommendations.
How to participate in 8th Pay Commission meetings
Interested organisations, associations and unions can seek an appointment with the Commission through the official application process.
Applicants must submit their request before May 10, 2026, along with the unique Memo ID generated after memorandum submission.
Only shortlisted participants will receive details regarding venue and meeting timings.
The Commission has also said more meetings will be organised in Delhi in the coming weeks.
8th Pay Commission fitment factor in focus
The fitment factor is expected to remain one of the biggest issues during the consultations.
Several employee unions have reportedly been demanding a fitment factor of 2.86 under the 8th Pay Commission. If approved, it could significantly increase the basic salary and pension of central government employees and retirees.
However, the government has not yet announced any official proposal regarding the revised fitment factor.
8th Pay Commission salary hike expectations
Central government employees are closely tracking developments related to salary revision under the 8th Pay Commission. Employee groups are expected to seek:
- Higher minimum basic pay
- Better allowance structure
- Revised salary slabs
- Improved retirement benefits
The discussions are likely to shape future recommendations on salary hikes for lakhs of employees across departments.
8th Pay Commission pension revision in focus
Pension revision is also expected to remain in focus during the Delhi meetings. Pensioner associations may raise demands related to:
- Pension parity
- Higher Dearness Relief (DR)
- Family pension benefits
- Revision in retirement benefits
The Commission is currently collecting feedback from various stakeholders before preparing its report.
Railway employees’ key demands
Railway unions are expected to raise demands related to salary revision, running allowance, pension protection, allowance restructuring and staff welfare during the 8th Pay Commission meetings. Employee groups have long been seeking changes in pay structure and service conditions for railway staff.
Defence employees’ major demands
Defence employee associations are also expected to raise issues related to Military Service Pay (MSP), Risk Allowance, pension revision, medical facilities and other service benefits during the 8th Pay Commission consultations. Retirement benefits and pension reforms are likely to remain key discussion points in the meetings.
OPS vs NPS debate in focus
The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) versus National Pension System (NPS) debate may also feature during the stakeholder consultations.
Several employee groups have been demanding restoration of OPS, while others are seeking reforms in the existing NPS framework.
The issue continues to remain a major concern among government employees and pensioners.
8th Pay Commission meeting schedule
The latest Delhi meetings come after the Commission held discussions with the National Council–Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) from April 28 to April 30, 2026.
The Commission has also planned consultations in other regions, including:
- Hyderabad on May 18-19
- Srinagar from June 1-4
- Ladakh on June 8
The outreach programme is aimed at gathering feedback from employee groups across sectors and regions.
What is the 8th Pay Commission
The government constituted the 8th Central Pay Commission on November 3, 2025, to review salaries, pensions and allowances of central government employees and pensioners.
The Commission is currently in the consultation and memorandum submission phase. After completing stakeholder discussions, it will begin drafting its final recommendations report.
The final report is expected to be submitted around 18 months after the Commission’s formation.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet approved a 2 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for central government employees and pensioners.
The increase is expected to benefit more than 50 lakh employees and over 68 lakh pensioners across the country.
Employee groups are now also expecting discussions on HRA revision, TA restructuring and possible allowance changes during the ongoing 8th Pay Commission consultations.
