The first round of 8th Pay Commission consultations has begun, but the viral salary figures doing the rounds are still proposals, not final government decisions.

For central government employees and pensioners, the 8th Pay Commission has moved from “wait and watch” to “now pay attention.” The Commission has formally begun consultations with employee unions and associations, with meetings scheduled in Delhi from April 28 to April 30. Business Today reported that the Commission received a large number of requests for interaction, meaning not every group may get a seat in the first round.

The official 8th Central Pay Commission website says the Commission was constituted through a Government of India notification dated November 3, 2025, and is based at Chanderlok Building, Janpath, New Delhi. Its “What’s New” section also lists notices on Delhi interactions and upcoming meetings.

What Changed Now

The big change is procedural, but important. The Commission is now collecting views, demands and memorandums from stakeholders. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance had said employees, pensioners, unions, organisations and interested individuals could submit memorandums online through 8cpc.gov.in and innovateindia.mygov.in until April 30, 2026. It also said paper copies, emails and PDFs may not be considered.

So, this is the paperwork-and-meetings stage. Not glamorous. But this is where salary revision stories begin.

The ₹72,000 Buzz, Explained

The number grabbing attention is ₹72,000 minimum pay. But here’s the catch: it is not an official Commission recommendation yet. India Today reported that discussions around ₹72,000 are circulating widely, but this figure is not part of any official proposal submitted to the Commission.

The more structured demand currently on record is from the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery Staff Side, which has proposed a minimum basic pay of ₹69,000 and a fitment factor of 3.83.

Separately, the Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh has demanded a ₹72,000 minimum basic salary and a 4.0 fitment factor, along with a 6% annual increment. That is a demand from an employee body, not the final word. Big difference.

What It Means for Your Salary

For employees, the practical meaning is simple: salary revision is being discussed seriously, but no revised pay matrix has been approved yet. The final impact will depend on the fitment factor, allowances, pension rules and government acceptance of the Commission’s recommendations.

Until then, don’t plan EMIs, loans or big purchases around viral salary charts. Keep service records updated, follow the official Commission website, and treat WhatsApp forwards like weather rumours in April, maybe interesting, but not enough to carry an umbrella.

The 8th Pay Commission process has started, but salary changes are not final. Employees should track official notices, ignore inflated claims, and wait for confirmed recommendations before making financial decisions.