8th Pay Commission: Interim relief to revised PPOs, 4 big changes on pensioners' wish list

Ahead of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), Central Government employees and pensioners are expecting the new pay panel will address some of the major issues faced by them after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.

In a letter dated March 16, 2025, the Railway Senior Citizens Welfare Society (RSCWS) urged the Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of India, Dr Jitendra Singh, to take care of the following points for the "all-round betterment" of Central government pensioners.

Discontinue Aykroid's 2700 calorie model

Sat Pal Singh, Secretary General, RSCWS, stated in the letter: "The Aykroyd’s 2700 Calorie Model has lost its relevance in this era of gender equality, and its use while deciding the modalities of 8th CPC to be discontinued. Senior citizens, especially pensioners, are meaningfully contributing to the civil society vis-a-vis promoting the policies of the government, hence their right to live with dignity to also be considered."

Rationalisation of the multiplier with data-driven fitment factor

The RSCWS further said in the 7th CPC report, "the multiplying factor was 2.57 times of the basic pension, which was not matching to the matrix when the pay was notionally fixed in respective pay bands, and pensioners have to run from pillar to post to get their revised PPO issued and this ordeal lasted for more than five years since the implementation of the recommendations of the 7th CPC."

"The fitment factors this time should be data-driven instead of based on assumptions," it added.

Revised PPOs for retirees

Despite the utmost care, if there is still a need for revised PPOs, then this should not be left at the mercy of the departments/ministries.

"This must be delegated to the Pension Disbursing Authorities with a Ready Reckoner of entire range of Pay Bands and respective Grade Pays so that fixation is quick and without the flood of grievances," RSCWS said.

Interim relief before 8th CPC

The RSCWS also requested that the report of the 8th CPC should be implemented on 01-01-2026. If a delay happens in the implementation, then there should be a provision of Interim Relief conforming to the projected hikes in the minimum pension.