8th Pay Commission: The Eighth Central Pay Commission is continuing its consultations with employee associations, unions, institutions and other stakeholder groups to gather their views on salaries, allowances and service-related matters. The Commission’s Chandigarh consultation concluded on September 18 after meetings held from September 16 to 18. Its next regional consultation is scheduled in Bengaluru on October 7 and 8.
During the Chandigarh discussions, representatives of the Nurses Welfare Association (NWA) and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), associated with the All India NPS Employees Federation (AINEF), presented a range of demands concerning pay, allowances, insurance and pension benefits.
Nurses Seek Level 10 Entry Pay
The nursing associations have sought Level 10 entry-level pay for nursing officers. According to the NWA, the demand is linked to the shift in eligibility requirements from GNM to B.Sc. Nursing and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s guidance concerning the alignment of nursing officers with the Military Nursing Service.
The associations have also sought a separate Night Duty Allowance for nursing officers, along with a Risk and Hardship Allowance under the R1H1 matrix. They have highlighted the demanding nature of nursing duties while seeking comprehensive term insurance and health insurance coverage for healthcare workers.
The NWA has also demanded that Chandigarh be placed in the A1 city category for calculating House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance (TA). Other demands include changes to nursing, dress and special allowances, as well as restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
Demands Could Cover More Than 3 Lakh Nurses
Nurses’ associations under AINEF have said that their proposals could benefit more than 3 lakh nurses working in Central Government hospitals, PGIs, ESIC hospitals, AIIMS and other government healthcare institutions.
The NWA described its interaction with the Pay Commission as productive and said it was hopeful about the outcome. However, these proposals are currently demands submitted by the associations and should not be treated as approved changes in salary or allowances. The Commission has not yet finalised the revised pay structure.
PGIMER Nurses Demand 3.25 Fitment Factor
PGIMER nurses have separately sought a 3.25 fitment factor, compared with the 2.57 factor used under the Seventh Pay Commission.
The association has argued that a higher fitment factor is needed because of increasing expenses related to living costs, housing, healthcare and education. Along with this, PGIMER nurses have demanded that the annual increment be increased from 3% to 5% of basic pay.
The association has said that the existing increment does not adequately address rising expenses and the increasing responsibilities associated with nursing work, including clinical care and other professional duties.
Bengaluru Consultation Scheduled for October
After completing its Chandigarh consultation, the 8th Pay Commission is scheduled to hold its next stakeholder meetings in Bengaluru on October 7 and 8, 2026. These consultations are part of the Commission’s broader process of collecting representations from employees, unions, associations and other stakeholders before preparing its recommendations.
At present, the 3.25 fitment factor, Level 10 entry pay, higher annual increment and other nursing demands remain proposals. No final decision on these demands has been announced by the 8th Pay Commission.