The federation said that 69 lakh central pensioners and family pensioners appear to have been left out of the 8th Pay Commission’s scope. (AI Generated Image)
The government recently released the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission (8th CPC). Following this, the All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) raised objections, claiming that 6.9 million central government pensioners and family pensioners have been excluded from the commission’s purview. AIDEF termed this move “unfair and discriminatory.”
AIDEF’s Objection
The AIDEF has strongly objected to the ToR issued by the government, according to a report by Financial Express. The federation said that 69 lakh central pensioners and family pensioners appear to have been left out of the 8th Pay Commission’s scope. In a letter to the Finance Ministry, AIDEF argued that those who have served the country for over 30 years deserve full pension rights and should not be discriminated against.
Why Pensioners Aren’t Explicitly Mentioned in the ToR
The government released the ToR on November 3, 2025, but it did not explicitly mention the words “pensioners” or “family pensioners.” However, it stated that the Commission would review “pay, allowances, and other facilities” of employees — a category that also covers retirement benefits such as pension and gratuity.
Technical Interpretation
Technically, this means that pensioners are not excluded from the ToR. However, the absence of a clear mention of pensioners in the document has created confusion among employee and retiree groups.
Who Falls Under the 8th Pay Commission
As per the ToR, the 8th CPC will review the pay structure of:
Industrial and non-industrial employees of the Central GovernmentMembers of the All India ServicesDefence forces personnelEmployees of Union TerritoriesEmployees of the Indian Audit and Accounts DepartmentStaff of statutory and regulatory bodies (excluding the RBI) created by Acts of ParliamentEmployees of the Supreme Court, and High Courts and subordinate courts under UTs
Pension and Retirement Benefits
The 8th Pay Commission has also been tasked with reviewing the entire framework of pension and gratuity. This includes two categories of employees:
Those under the National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme, for reviewing Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) provisions.Those outside NPS, whose pension and gratuity terms are governed by older non-contributory schemes.
Financial Implications
When making recommendations for the second category, the government will need to consider the fiscal cost of non-contributory pension schemes. This indicates that pension and gratuity both remain part of the Commission’s mandate, even though the term “pensioners” is not specifically used in the notification.
When Will the 8th CPC Report Be Submitted?
The government has granted the commission 18 months to submit its final recommendations — roughly one and a half years from its formation. Once submitted, the report will serve as the basis for future decisions on pay, pensions, and employee benefits for central government staff and retirees alike.