8th Pay Commission: AIDEF has demanded that the government include 6.9 million pensioners in the 8th Pay Commission. The organization states that pension revision is their right. It also calls for consideration of issues such as the restoration of the old pension scheme and the restoration of commuted value.
8th Pay Commission: The All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) has raised a major issue regarding the 8th Pay Commission. According to a report in the Financial Express, the union states that approximately 6.9 million central pensioners and family pensioners have been excluded from the commission’s purview, which is a completely wrong and disappointing decision.
AIDEF has written a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stating that it is unfortunate that those who have served the country for more than three decades have not been included in the 8th Pay Commission’s Terms of Reference (ToR). They state that pension revision is a right of pensioners, and depriving them of it is unfair.
Demand for amendments for old pensioners as well
The Federation has demanded that the government amend the ToR so that the pensions of employees who retired before January 1, 2026, can also be revised. He also appealed to consider the recommendation to restore the commuted value of pension after 11 years and increase the pension by 5% every 5 years.
AIDEF also stated that while the 7th Pay Commission had a provision for pension revision, this clause has been removed from the 8th Pay Commission’s Terms of Reference, leading to growing resentment among retired employees.
Demand for the Reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme in Place of the NPS
AIDEF also stated that over 2.6 million central employees with NPS membership want the Non-Contributory Pension Scheme (CCS Pension Rules 1972) to be reinstated. However, this demand was not included in the 8th Pay Commission’s ToR. The organization has requested the government to include it.
Report to be submitted in 18 months
The 8th Pay Commission is now underway. Former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai is chairing it. It is reported that the Commission will take approximately 18 months to prepare its report, after which it will be submitted to the government. This report will determine the new salary, allowances, and pension structure for central employees and pensioners.
Meanwhile, employee unions say that if the government continues to ignore the problems of pensioners, it could lead to growing resentment across the country. Unions believe that the 8th Pay Commission is not just a board for setting salaries, but a decision related to the expectations of millions of families, so the government should take it seriously.
