8th Pay Commission: The National Council of Joint Consultation Machinery (JCM) is scheduled to meet the government in the first week of November regarding the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. However, it was reported that the meeting could not be held for some reasons. It is expected to take place next month, when some clarity may emerge regarding the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission, which more than 1 million central government employees and retirees are eagerly awaiting.

The Joint Consultation Machinery National Council, headed by the Union Cabinet Secretary and comprising a large number of bureaucrats and trade union representatives, is the apex body of the JCM scheme that deals with various issues affecting central government employees.

The NC-JCM meeting has been postponed until December, according to an NDTV Profit report, citing employee unions familiar with the development.

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Reason for postponing the meeting

The report attributes the postponement of the meeting to the change of Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training.

Vivek Joshi, former Secretary of DoPT, was sent back to his native Haryana in an order issued on October 26. He took over as Chief Secretary of the state in the first week of November.

Union Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey took over as Secretary of DoPT. The additional charge was granted to him through an order issued earlier this month.

Last month, ahead of the November meeting, which was scheduled but later postponed to December, NC-JCM Secretary (Staff Side) Shiv Gopal Mishra reportedly stated that clarity on the composition of the 8th Pay Commission was awaited. The report stated that he said, “We will definitely bring this issue to the agenda.”

The JCM National Council submitted two memorandums asking for the salary commission to be established as soon as possible.

The first memorandum was submitted to Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba during the Union Budget presentation in July. Mishra noted that the second memorandum was presented to his successor TV Somanathan, who assumed the post of Cabinet Secretary, on August 30.

Ahead of the Union Budget 2024-25, which was presented to Parliament on July 23, various media reports speculated that the Center might announce the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission in the budget. However, this did not happen.

Although there was no announcement in the Budget, then Union Finance Secretary TV Somanathan stated in a post-Budget interview that the government may take a decision on the issue in the near future. In an interview to a TV channel, Somanathan said that the next salary commission should be paid in 2026 and we still have time as we are currently in 2024.