After months of anticipation, movement is finally visible on the 8th Pay Commission as its office has been set up in New Delhi and formal consultations are set to begin. According to a report by The Economic Times, leading central government employee and pensioner organisations will meet on February 25, 2026, to consolidate their demands ahead of submissions to the pay commission.

The meeting, convened under the National Council (Staff Side) of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), will bring together representatives from major departments such as Railways, Defence, Posts, Income Tax and other central government services. The objective is to prepare a unified memorandum covering key issues like basic pay revision, fitment factor, minimum wage, allowances and service conditions.

NC-JCM Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra has indicated that drafting committee members may remain in Delhi for nearly a week to hold detailed discussions and finalise proposals. Once the draft memorandum is ready, the 8th Pay Commission will formally invite inputs from stakeholders, following which consultations and interviews will take place.

While employee bodies play a critical role in shaping discussions, past experience suggests that final recommendations may differ from demands. During the 7th Pay Commission, for instance, the minimum basic pay was fixed at Rs 18,000 against the Rs 26,000 proposed by the NC-JCM. Still, the February 25 meeting is seen as a key milestone in the long process that will ultimately determine salary hikes and benefits under the 8th Pay Commission.