Cabinet approves Terms of Reference of 8th Central Pay Commission headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
The Union Cabinet approved the Terms of Reference of the 8th Central Pay Commission on 28 October 2025; the Commission, headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, must report within 18 months.
Summary
On 28 October 2025 in New Delhi, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Terms of Reference of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The Commission is a temporary body with one Chairperson, one part-time Member and one Member-Secretary, and must make its recommendations within 18 months of its constitution, with interim reports if needed. It is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, with IIM Bangalore Professor Pulak Ghosh as part-time Member and Petroleum Secretary Pankaj Jain as Member-Secretary. Pay commission recommendations are usually implemented every ten years, so the 8th CPC's effect would normally be expected from 1 January 2026. The government had announced the Commission in January 2025.
Key facts
- Approved
- 28 Oct 2025, Union Cabinet
- Chairperson
- Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (former SC judge)
- Member (Part-Time)
- Prof. Pulak Ghosh, IIM Bangalore
- Member-Secretary
- Pankaj Jain, Petroleum Secretary
- Deadline
- Within 18 months of constitution; interim reports allowed
- Expected effect
- Normally from 1 Jan 2026
- Announced
- January 2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Who heads the 8th Central Pay Commission, whose Terms of Reference were approved by the Union Cabinet on 28 October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
Indian Express and BusinessLine report that the Commission is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
Within what period of its constitution must the 8th Central Pay Commission make its recommendations?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 18 months
PIB: the Commission will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution.
Consider the following statements about the 8th Central Pay Commission: 1. It is a temporary body comprising a Chairperson, one part-time Member and a Member-Secretary. 2. Going by the usual ten-year trend, its recommendations would normally take effect from 1 January 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB says the effect of the 8th CPC recommendations would normally be expected from 01.01.2026, not 2027.