8th Pay Commission: Has the 8th CPC excluded pensioners? Know what Terms of Reference say

According to a report by The Financial Express, the AIDEF has written to the Finance Ministry, saying, “it is most unfortunate that 69 lakh central government pensioners and family pensioners who have given their sweat and blood to the country for more than three decades while in service are kept out of the purview of 8th CPC”.

It further said that the "revision of pension is a right of the pensioners and they cannot be discriminated."

What does the official ToR say?

The Government formally notified the ToR for the 8th Pay Commission on November 3, 2025. The official notification doesn't specifically mention 'pensioners' or 'family pensioners'. However, it talks about review of emoluments, including pay, allowances, and other facilities/benefits, to the following categories of employees. And retirement benefits, including all types of pensions, are among the various facilities provided to employees after their superannuation.

The following categories of employees are to be covered under 8th CPC:

• (i) Central Government employees — industrial and non-industrial;

• (ii) Personnel belonging to the All India Services;

• (iii) Personnel belonging to the Defence Forces;

• (iv) Personnel of the Union Territories;

• (v) Officers and employees of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department;

• (vi) Members of the regulatory bodies (excluding the RBI) set up under the Acts of Parliament;

• (vii) Officers and employees of the Supreme Court;

• (viii) Officers and employees of the High Courts whose expenditure is borne by the Union Territories; and

• (ix) Judicial officers of the subordinate courts in the Union Territories.

The ToR has also mandated the 8th CPC to review the following:

• Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity of employees borne on the National Pension System (including Unified Pension Scheme) and make recommendations thereon.

• Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity and pensions of employees not borne on the National Pension System (including Unified Pension Scheme) and make recommendations thereon keeping in view "the unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes".

The 8th CPC is expected to submit its recommendations in 18 months.