The three-day consultations of the Eighth Pay Commission in Chandigarh conclude today. The group is holding meetings with eligible central government employees, their unions, associations and other stakeholders from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.
Although no specific agenda was announced for the meetings, accommodation ratio, review of pensions and benefits figured among other demands raised during previous consultations in other cities.
Another demand that has remained prominent throughout the Pay Commission deliberations is a review of the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGEGIS). Employee unions have consistently argued that coverage under the scheme has not kept pace with inflation and the financial needs of families.
Here what trade unions and employee associations are demanding from the 8th wage commission.
CGEGIS: What workers’ unions demand
CGEGIS provides insurance coverage to eligible central government employees and savings allowance. According to the aspects discussed in the memorandum of prominent employee unions, the insurance slabs have remained unchanged for decades; for example, the cover of group C is on ₹1.5 lakh, according to the Federation of National Postal Organizations (FNPO).
This figure needs to be updated to reflect current inflation rates and economic realities. This highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the scheme. Below are the basic requirements workers’ unions.
Note. Full details of the requirements can be found in the official memorandum of the relevant workers’ union.
Why the CGEGIS revision is important
FNPO has also proposed to change the existing insurance to savings ratio from 3:7 to 70:30 in favor of insurance protection. It proposed an automatic increase in insurance coverage of 25% whenever the damage allowance (DA) exceeds 50%.
These proposals highlight the gap between the insurance protection employees seek and the existing scheme.
As of now, the 8th Pay Commission, headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, has not made any official statement on revising CGEGIS or other demands on wages and pensions. Prof. Pulak Ghosh is a part-time member and Pankaj Jain is a member-secretary.
The eighth wage commission since its inception on November 3, 2025 is expected to complete its 18-month schedule by approximately May-June 2026 and submit its report. final recommendations to the Center.
For now, the Commission continues its consultative phase, concluding its meetings in Chandigarh. The next scheduled visit will be to Bangalore on October 7-8. As consultation proceeds, the revision of CGEGIS is likely to remain an important issue for staff.
