8th Pay Commission: FM Nirmala Sitharaman to Answer 3 Crucial Questions on December 2 - Will Pensioners Get Relief?

Central government employees and pensioners are waiting with bated breath. On December 2, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will face three direct questions in Rajya Sabha that could decide whether millions

of pensioners get immediate relief — or another long wait, said a report by Jagran. The questions, raised by Rajya Sabha MPs Javed Ali Khan and Ramji Lal Suman, cut straight to the heart of the confusion created after the 8th Pay Commission’s Terms of Reference (ToR) were notified on November 3, 2025:

1. Has the government issued the formal notification for the 8th Central Pay Commission? If yes, what are the exact Terms of Reference (ToR)?
2. Will the government immediately merge existing Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) into basic pay/pension to give instant relief to employees and pensioners? If not, why?
3. Why has pension revision for existing pensioners been completely left out of the 8th Pay Commission’s mandate? What is the reason behind this omission?

Why Pensioners Are WorriedThe ToR notified earlier this month is silent on revising pensions of those who retired before January 1, 2026. Employee unions and pensioner bodies are furious — they fear this means:

• No automatic pension hike when the 8th Pay Commission is finally implemented (expected 2026–27)
• No merger of the current 53%+ DA/DR into basic pension — a step that would have given instant 30–40% relief

“If DA is merged into basic pay for serving employees but not into pension for retirees, it will create permanent injustice,” said a senior leader of the National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations (NCCPA).What Happens on December 2? Monday’s replies from the Finance Minister will clarify:

• Whether the government intends to bring pension revision under the 8th CPC through a supplementary notification
• If DA/DR merger is on the table as interim relief before the full commission report (due in 12–18 months)
• Or whether pensioners will have to keep surviving on the 7th CPC formula till further orders

Unions are furious: The ToR notified on November 3, after Cabinet approval on November 16, completely excludes pension revision for pre-2026 retirees and stays silent on merging the current 53%+ Dearness Allowance/Relief, a step that would instantly boost pay and pensions by 30–40%. Federations have already issued strike notices for December 10 if the ToR is not amended.With protest calls ringing out from NC-JCM, Confederation, and pensioner bodies, December 1 has become make-or-break: a clear yes on DA merger and pension inclusion could calm the storm; any dodge or denial risks the biggest central government agitation since 2008.