8th Pay Commission-NC-JCM meeting details: Deadline extension; Old Pension Scheme revival; key recommendations from top employee body

The extension of deadline for submission of memorandum to May 31, 2026, separate meeting time slots for different employee bodies, revival of non-contributory pension scheme (Old Pension Scheme), and personal visits to different central government-run industries such as Railways and Defence to notice working conditions of employees were the main discussion points in the meeting between the National Council–Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) and the 8^th Pay Commission officials on Tuesday (April 28, 2026).

In a letter dated April 28, 2026, C Srikumar, secretary, All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF), who was also present in the meeting, highlighted the key points of discussion between the NC-JCM delegation led by its secretary Shiv Gopala Mishra and 8^th Pay Commission chairperson, Ranjana Prakash Desai, and other officials.

Also Read: 8th Pay Commission for postal employees: Rs 1.12 lakh basic pay proposed for postman; what postal employee body wants from 8th CPC


Here are the key areas of discussions-

Memorandum submission deadline extension

NC-JCM has requested the 8^th Pay Commission chairperson to extend the memorandum submission date from April 30, 2026, to May 31, 2026.



The employee body said that the deadline extension was needed since many employee organisations and pensioner associations were not able to submit their memorandum online. NC-JCM also requested the 8 CPC to accept the memorandum from employee organisations both in the PDF as well as MS Word formats.

The memorandum includes proposals of a particular employee body regarding pay, pension, allowance and other working conditions of employees.

Also Read: 8th Pay Commission salary demands: Rs 1.34 lakh basic pay for entry-level central govt teacher among employee body wishlist for 8th CPC

Revival of non-contributory pension scheme

NC-JCM has long been demanding the abolition of the National Pension System (NPS) and Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). It reiterated this demand in the Wednesday meeting.

NC-JCM says the phrase ‘unfunded pension’ given in the 8 CPC terms of reference (ToR) is not correct, since the employees prior to the introduction of non-contributory pension have surrendered the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme in which the government was contributing and had opted for the Pension Scheme.

NC-JCM says it justifies continuing the non-contributory pension scheme for central government employees.

Also Read: 8th Pay Commission latest update: Pensioners flag portal issues, seek deadline extension

Frequent interactions between 8^th CPC and NC-JCM

NC-JCM has requested the 8^th CPC to formulate a time table for regular interactions with it. Highlighting its 60 years of history, NC-JCM pointed out that being the representative body of central government employees at the highest level, all previous pay commissions used to have regular and frequent interactions with it before finalising the recommendations.

Separate time slots for different federations/associations

Another point of discussion was the provision of separate time slots for different employee federations and associations who have also been submitting their respective memorandums to the 8^th Pay Commission.

“Federations and associations of different ministries will be submitting memorandum on the issues specific to a ministry/departments such as Railways, Defence, Income Tax, Postal, Accounts, Audit, etc. All those employees’ organisations may be given separate time slots for oral evidence and for presenting their case before the 8 CPC,” as per the letter.

Visit to industries to notice hazardous/risky conditions of workers

NC-JCM says conditions under which a majority of employees are working mainly in the railways and defence Industries and field units in different remote locations are very risky and hazardous. The key employee body has requested the 8 CPC to visit all those industries and locations to have first-hand information and knowledge of the difficulties faced by such employees and recommend appropriate pay scales, allowances and other benefits for them.