So, central government employees of India are set to receive another pay commission. It will definitely increase their salary. Some people are saying that an employee earning ₹18,000 per month, at the pay level, would see their salary go up to ₹42,000 after the 8th Pay Commission is implemented. That’s more than triple the amount!
Is it justified to form the 8th Pay Commission for permanent government employees, who already have all the safety benefits, Dearness Allowance, National Pension Scheme, and so many other perks, while millions of contractual workers—maybe in other words, we can say temporary employees—are still facing so many challenges?
Contractual Workers vs. Permanent Employees
First of all, let’s understand what contractual workers are. Contractual workers are those who work for government employees. Even though they perform similar tasks, if not more, than their permanent counterparts, they are often paid a fraction of the salary and are denied the same benefits. For instance, many contractual workers earn as low as ₹15,000 per month, while permanent employees, who typically earn much higher, are about to get even more lucrative hikes in their pay.
A concerning thing is that we all know about the “babu” mentality — they do not listen, they do not work on time, and they demand all fancy things. Gems of Indian babus! But these contractual workers — many of these employees are far more qualified than their permanent counterparts. In fact, some of them hold higher degrees and certifications that surpass those of the permanent employees who benefit from the pay commission. So, why this inequality? Why are these workers still considered “secondary” to the government machinery despite their qualifications, dedication, and often, harder work?
Who Will Bear the Cost?
We all know, even Arvind Kejriwal has once said that a middle-class man, in his whole lifetime, gives more than ₹1 crore in taxes to the government. But there are also more types of taxes, like GST, so all those things add up. The average Indian taxpayer, many of whom pay hefty amounts of GST and other taxes, is now faced with an uncomfortable reality. How is it justified that the government continues to increase the salaries of permanent employees through Pay Commissions, while millions of vacancies in essential departments like healthcare, education, and law enforcement remain unfilled?
Take a moment to consider the scale of the problem: India has over 3 million vacant posts in central government departments. These vacancies affect critical sectors like the police, military, judiciary, and medical services. Lack of adequate personnel in these fields doesn’t just affect governance — it directly impacts the quality of public services, which in turn harms the very people who fund the government’s wages through their taxes.
If government employees are getting hefty pay rises, shouldn’t the taxpayers see tangible improvements in the services they receive? Shouldn’t more money go into filling these vacancies and addressing the severe lack of infrastructure in public healthcare, education, and law enforcement?
A Bigger Picture: A Nation of 1.4 Billion
Now, understand one more bigger picture. In India, more than 1.4 billion people live. It is not enough to merely pay higher salaries to existing employees — India needs more hands on deck to handle its population size. For a country of this magnitude, especially when the youth population is growing, there is an urgent need for reform in the recruitment process and a better allocation of resources.
Instead of using funds for further pay hikes for those already employed, why not focus on filling vacancies, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that essential services are not hampered by staff shortages? This is what the common man is asking for — and it is not an unreasonable request.
So, What is the Solution?
See, government salaries should be increased; we all know that. The government runs our country, okay? But some relief should be made to improve their lifestyle.
While the Upcoming Eighth Pay Commission may offer some relief to existing government employees, we must question whether this is the best use of taxpayer money. The core of the issue is not about jealousy or resentment — it is about a systemic imbalance that prioritizes pay increases for a select few while ignoring the larger needs of the country. It’s about ensuring that the government serves the people, not the other way around. The Indian government needs to address the needs of its citizens first — a need for more jobs, better public services, and a more efficient bureaucracy. If we truly want to move forward as a nation, it’s time to rethink how we allocate resources, balance wages, and most importantly, create a government workforce that is truly capable of serving 1.4 billion people effectively.