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Employee Union Presses 8th Pay Commission for HRA Hike as Rents Surge
NC-JCM demands HRA revision citing 80-120% rent surge since 2017. Two other unions propose tiered HRA rates. Commission report expected by early 2027.
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The National Council – Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), one of three major employee groups representing central government workers, has told the 8th pay commission that house rent allowance (HRA) rates must be revised. In a memorandum, the union pointed out that rents in Delhi and Bengaluru have surged 80% to 120% since 2017. HRA was last set under the 7th pay commission and has not changed since.
A level 1 employee earning ₹18,000 in basic pay currently receives ₹4,860 a month as HRA at a 27% rate. Rent in most towns and cities is far higher than that amount, the union said.
NC-JCM is also pushing for a minimum basic pay of ₹69,000, a simplified salary structure, a 6% annual increment instead of the current 3%, and merged employee pay scales.
Two other employee bodies have submitted their own HRA proposals. The All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) proposed a three-tier structure: 36% for X-category cities, 24% for Y-category cities, and 12% for Z-category cities. It also recommended that HRA be raised every time dearness allowance is hiked. The Pragatisheel Shikshak Nyaya Manch (PSNM), which represents central government teachers, asked for HRA of up to 36% and a fitment factor in the range of 2.62 to 3.83.