8th Pay Commission: Terms of Reference differ from 5th, 6th, 7th CPCs for ex-employees; REWA writes to PM

The 8th CPC was constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, through Resolution No. 1/1/2025-E-III(A) dated November 3, 2025. Point 2(e) of its Terms of Reference states that the Commission will "Review the structure of Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity and Pension including NPS/UPS and outside NPS for the employees...". The REWA letter said this statement mentions only serving employees and says nothing about the revision of pension or family pension of those who retired before January 1, 2026.

This is a departure from previous Pay Commissions.

As per REWA, the Terms of Reference of the 7th Central Pay Commission stated, "To examine, review, evolve and recommend changes relating to Pay, Allowances, Retirement benefits including pension structure and other retirement benefits including revision of pre-retirement pension". The letter further noted that in the 6th and 5th Pay Commissions as well, the words "Pensioners and Family Pensioners" were explicitly mentioned in the Terms of Reference.

The omission has created what REWA described as "serious confusion and apprehension" among about 69 lakh pensioners and family pensioners who have retired or are going to retire before January 1, 2026, as to whether the 8th Pay Commission will recommend revision of their pension and family pension.

The letter said that that the association had earlier written to the Finance Minister and the Finance Secretary seeking clarification, but no clarification has been issued so far. This silence, the letter said, has led to discussion on social media and among pensioners' organisations that the government intends to exclude old pensioners from the commission's recommendations.

Two requests

REWA has made two specific requests.

First, the Terms of Reference issued on November 3, 2025 be formally amended to explicitly add that "The 8th Pay Commission shall also make recommendations for revision of Pension / Family Pension of all pensioners and family pensioners retired before 01st January 2026".

Second, until the formal amendment is issued, the government should release a clarification or press release to remove the confusion prevailing among pensioners.