Government plans salary hike of President, Vice-President, Governors

NEW DELHI: Salary of President and Vice-President may go up to three times as the Union Home Ministry has prepared a proposal for raising the emoluments of the country's two top functionaries.

The move comes following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations which has created an anomalous situation in which the salary of the President is Rs 1 lakh less than that of the country's top-most bureaucrat, the Cabinet secretary.

The proposal is expected to be placed before the Union Cabinet for its approval soon, official sources said.

At present, the President gets Rs 1.50 lakh per month, the Vice-President Rs 1.25 lakh and Governor of a state Rs 1.10 lakh.

As per the proposal the President's salary may go up to Rs 5 lakh and Vice-President's up to Rs 3.5 lakh, sources said.

After the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission's awards, the Cabinet Secretary, who is the top-most bureaucrat in the country, gets Rs 2.5 lakh per month and a Secretary in the Union government draws Rs 2.25 lakh per month.

After the Cabinet gives its nod, Bills to this effect will be tabled in Parliament, possibly in the coming Winter session, for passage.

Salaries of the President, Vice-President and Governors were last hiked in 2008 when Parliament had approved a three-fold increase.

Till 2008, the President's salary was Rs 50,000, the Vice-President's Rs 40,000 and a Governor's Rs 36,000.

In addition, proposals are also expected to be moved for raising the pensions of former Presidents, spouses of deceased Presidents, former Vice-Presidents, spouses of deceased Vice-President and former Governors.