The 8th Pay Commission has extended the deadline to submit memoranda and suggestions to May 31, 2026, giving central government employees, pensioners and associations more time to share their demands. The earlier deadline was April 30. The move follows a request from the National Council Joint Consultative Machinery, which highlighted difficulties faced by stakeholders in completing submissions through the online system.

The 8th Pay Commission is a panel set up by the Government of India to review and recommend changes to the salary structure, allowances and pension benefits of central government employees and pensioners.

Pay Commissions are typically constituted every 10 years to revise pay scales in line with inflation, economic conditions and employee expectations. The 8th Pay Commission is expected to play a key role in deciding the next round of salary hikes for lakhs of employees across sectors like defence, railways and central services.

The extension comes after consultations held in New Delhi between April 28 and April 30, 2026, where employee representatives flagged technical issues and time constraints.

The Commission aims to ensure wider participation so that all stakeholders – including ministries, departments, unions and pensioners can submit detailed proposals that will shape salary and pension reforms.

The Commission has made it clear that submissions will be accepted only through the official online portal.

• No submissions via PDF, MS Word, email or physical copies
• Ministries, departments and Union Territories must use a structured format
• Individual employees, unions and pensioners can also submit suggestions online

The last date to submit is May 31, 2026 (Sunday).

If stakeholders fail to submit their memorandum by May 31, their suggestions may not be considered in the consultation process. Since inputs received during this phase will influence final recommendations, missing the deadline could mean losing the chance to shape future pay, allowances and pension structures.

One of the most discussed demands under the 8th Pay Commission is the proposed 3.83 fitment factor submitted by the National Council Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM). At present, the minimum basic pay is Rs 18,000, which could rise to around Rs 69,000 if this proposal is accepted. The fitment factor is a multiplier used to calculate revised salaries, and even a small increase in this number can lead to a significant jump in basic pay for central government employees.

Apart from the fitment factor, the NC-JCM has proposed several key changes in its memorandum. These include a 6 per cent annual increment, two additional increments at the time of promotion with a minimum benefit of Rs 10,000, and one month’s wages as gratuity. These proposals are part of broader demands submitted by employee representatives and are yet to be finalised by the Pay Commission.

The Commission will continue consultations with stakeholders before finalising its recommendations. The Government of India has asked the panel to submit its report within 18 months, after which decisions on salary hikes, allowances and pensions will be taken.