Pensioners demand ₹45,000 minimum pension ahead of eighth pay commission

Pensioner groups have stepped up their advocacy before the eighth pay commission, pressing for substantial improvements to retirement benefits that have remained unchanged for years. The organisations have submitted detailed memoranda seeking to raise the floor pension amount to ₹45,000 monthly, a significant increase from current levels.

Beyond the minimum pension hike, pensioner representatives have also mounted a renewed campaign for the reinstatement of the old pension scheme, which was replaced by the National Pension System in 2004. Pensioners argue that the defined-benefit structure of the earlier scheme provided greater security and predictability in retirement income.

The push by pensioner organisations reflects growing concerns about purchasing power erosion and cost-of-living pressures faced by retirees. Many pensioners have not witnessed meaningful revisions to their benefits despite inflation eroding the value of fixed retirement incomes over successive years.

The eighth pay commission, tasked with examining salary and pension structures for India's public sector workforce, is receiving representations from multiple stakeholder groups including employees, pensioners, and their respective unions. The commission's recommendations are expected to influence government spending on personnel costs and retirement liabilities significantly.

While the government has not yet indicated its position on the pensioners' demands, the commission is expected to balance fiscal sustainability concerns with legitimate demands for improved retirement security as it formulates its recommendations.