Priyanka Tiwari
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The Centre has confirmed that there are no plans to merge the Dearness Allowance (DA) with basic pay, as discussions regarding the 8th Central Pay Commission report continue. In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State (Finance) Pankaj Chaudhary clarified that the government has no intentions of merging the 50 percent DA and Dearness Relief (DR) with the basic pay and pensions of central government employees.
Clarification on DA and Basic Pay Merger
The clarification came in response to a question raised by Rajya Sabha member Javed Khan, who inquired about the possibility of merging DA with basic pay as an ‘interim relief’ ahead of the formalisation of the 8th Pay Commission. Chaudhary, in his reply, stated that the preparations for the 8th Pay Commission are underway, but there are no discussions or plans regarding the merger of DA with basic pay.
Ongoing Preparations for the 8th Pay Commission
While the government has announced the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission, it has yet to be officially set up. Key issues, such as the fitment factor and other parameters, are still being considered before the pay commission is formally adopted to revise the salaries of central government employees. The new pay commission will benefit over 50 lakh employees and pensioners, with the current pay commission’s tenure set to end in 2026.
No Fixed Timelines for 8th Pay Commission Terms
On March 17, the Finance Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that the reference terms and other formalities for the 8th Pay Commission would be decided soon, though no definite timelines were provided.
The government’s statement comes amid ongoing discussions around the pay revision process and the possible impact of the upcoming 8th Pay Commission on government employees and pensioners.
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