The Kolkata meetings follow a similar round of discussions held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on July 6, where the Commission interacted with employee and pensioner groups and other stakeholders as part of its nationwide consultation process.
Representatives from central government organisations, institutions, unions and associations are expected to participate in the Kolkata consultations. However, the meetings are not expected to result in any immediate announcements on pay revisions. Instead, they will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to present their demands and suggestions, which will help shape the Commission’s final report.
What to expect
While the 8th Pay Commission has not released a detailed agenda for the Kolkata meetings, employee unions and pensioner associations are expected to reiterate several long-standing demands during their interactions with the panel.
Among the key issues likely to be raised is the fitment factor, with employee federations seeking a multiplier of between 2.86 and 3.25, compared with 2.57 under the 7th Pay Commission. The fitment factor is a key component in determining revised basic pay.
Unions are also expected to press for a revision in the minimum basic pay, currently set at ₹18,000 per month. Several employee associations have advocated raising it to around ₹26,000 or higher, depending on the fitment factor eventually approved.
The restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is also likely to feature prominently. Although the government has introduced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), several employee bodies continue to demand a return to OPS.
Other issues that may be raised include the reclassification of cities in West Bengal and the Northeast into higher House Rent Allowance (HRA) categories, concerns over Dearness Relief (DR) parity, medical reimbursement and equal treatment for pensioners, as well as reforms to the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme to address career stagnation.
For the Kolkata consultations, the Commission had asked applicants seeking appointments to submit a unique memo ID generated after filing their memorandum on the official 8th Pay Commission website. The last date for submitting memoranda was June 15, 2026.
The 8th Pay Commission was constituted by the Government of India to review the salary structure, allowances and pension benefits of central government employees and pensioners. In November 2025, the Commission was given an 18-month deadline to submit its recommendations.
According to the Commission’s Terms of Reference (ToR), it will examine India’s economic conditions, fiscal discipline, the availability of resources for welfare and development spending, the financial implications of pension schemes, the impact on state government finances, existing pay structures in Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and the private sector, and service conditions and employee benefits across sectors before finalising its report.
The Commission’s recommendations are expected to impact lakhs of central government employees and pensioners across the country.
