If you or someone in your family works for the government, you’ve probably heard people talk about the “Pay Commission” — especially when salaries or pensions change. But what is it really all about?
In this post, we’re breaking down everything from the 1st to the upcoming 8th Pay Commission in a simple, no-jargon way — so anyone can understand how government salaries are decided in India.
What is a Pay Commission?
A Pay Commission is basically a team set up by the Indian government to decide if the salaries, allowances, and pensions of government employees need to be changed or improved.
It’s like a big review that usually happens every 10 years to make sure employees are getting fair pay based on the current cost of living and other factors.
A Quick Look at All 8 Pay Commissions
| Pay Commission | Year Formed | Minimum Salary | Max Salary (Approx) |
| 1st | 1946 | ₹55 | ₹2,000 |
| 2nd | 1957 | ₹80 | ₹3000 |
| 3rd | 1970 | ₹196 | ₹3500 |
| 4th | 1983 | ₹750 | ₹8,000 |
| 5th | 1994 | ₹2,500 | ₹30,000 |
| 6th | 2006 | ₹7,000 | ₹90,000 |
| 7th | 2014 | ₹18,000 | ₹2.5 lakh |
| 8th | Expected | ₹26,000+ | N/a |
1st Pay (1946)
- Chairman: Justice Srinivasa Varadachariar
- Report Submitted: 1947
- Minimum Salary: ₹55/month
- Introduced the first proper salary structure for Indian government employees post-independence.
2nd Pay (1957)
- Chairman: Justice Jagannath Das
- Report Submitted: 1959
- Minimum Salary: ₹80/month
- Focused on improving productivity and fairness in salaries.
3rd Pay (1970)
- Chairman: Justice Raghubar Dayal
- Report Submitted: 1973
- Minimum Salary: ₹196/month
- Introduced the Dearness Allowance (DA) system more formally.
4th Pay (1983)
- Chairman: P.N. Singhal
- Report Submitted: 1986
- Minimum Salary: ₹750/month
- Reviewed job responsibilities along with pay.
5th Pay (1994)
- Chairman: Justice S. Ratnavel Pandian
- Report Submitted: 1997
- Minimum Salary: ₹2,500/month
- Suggested reducing staff numbers to improve efficiency.
6th Pay (2006)
- Chairman: Justice B.N. Srikrishna
- Report Submitted: 2008
- Minimum Salary: ₹7,000/month
- Introduced Pay Band and Grade Pay system.
- Recommended performance-based incentives.
7th Pay (2013)
- Chairman: Justice A.K. Mathur
- Report Submitted: 2015
- Implemented From: January 2016
- Minimum Salary: ₹18,000/month
- Maximum Salary: ₹2.5 lakh/month
- Introduced a new Pay Matrix and removed Grade Pay system.
8th Pay Commission (Upcoming)
As of now (May 2025), the 8th Pay Commission has not been officially formed. But it’s expected to come into effect from January 2026.
Employee unions are demanding:
- Minimum salary to be raised to ₹26,000
- Fitment factor of 3.68
- Revisions in pension and retirement age
Final thoughts
Pay Commissions play a big role in shaping the lives of government employees in India. With the 8th Pay Commission expected soon, there is hope for better salaries and working conditions for lakhs of employees.
Stay tuned for official updates as the government moves closer to announcing the 8th Pay Commission!
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