New Delhi, April 25, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): The 8th Central Pay Commission has begun a series of meetings, raising fresh discussions around the long-pending demand for 18 months of Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears for central government employees.
Recently, a meeting was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and another round of discussions is scheduled to take place in Delhi. During these meetings, central employees and their associated organisations are putting forward various demands, including the issue of pending DA arrears.
Central employees are eagerly awaiting the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission, which are expected to be submitted to the government by May 2027. Keeping this timeline in view, the commission has initiated consultations with stakeholders.
The demand for 18 months of DA arrears dates back to the period between January 2020 and July 2021, when the central government had frozen DA and DR due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, the government stated that the decision was taken due to financial pressure and the need to allocate funds for critical sectors, including healthcare and pandemic management.
The government has clarified multiple times in Parliament that the withheld amount cannot be released, reiterating that the funds were diverted for essential pandemic-related expenditures. The Finance Ministry has also maintained this stance in its responses.
However, central employees and their organisations continue to raise the issue, arguing that the arrears are their rightful dues and should be paid once economic conditions stabilise.
The Pay Commission, in a recent notice issued on Friday, stated that it has received a large number of requests from stakeholders to participate in discussions scheduled in Delhi from April 28 to April 30, 2026. Due to limited time and a busy schedule, it will not be possible to accommodate all requests during these dates.
The government had constituted the 8th Central Pay Commission last year for central employees. The announcement was made in January 2025, and the chairperson along with other members were appointed in November. The commission has been tasked with submitting its recommendations within 18 months. The final decision on implementing these recommendations will rest with the government.
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