The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Pay Commission, which is likely to be implemented from January 1, 2026.
The forthcoming Budget could think of maintaining public capital expenditure at 3 per cent so that domestic resources are available for private investments, points out N R Bhanumurthy.
The operating performance of the country's largest passenger carmakers, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) and Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), in the July-September quarter (Q2) of 2025-26 (FY26) outpaced brokerage expectations.
The small sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment - comprising models less than 4 metres in length - could witness the "maximum" growth among all categories in the coming months following the recent goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalisation, Tarun Garg, chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), said.
'You've got to understand it is not easy to die by suicide.' 'People commit suicide only when they lose everything and find no other way to live.'
The setting up of the Commission, whose recommendations will benefit about 50 lakh (5 million) central government employees, including those in defence and railways, and about 30 lakh (3 million) pensioners, comes ahead of the Assembly elections in 5 states in November and the general elections next year.
The government may defer the implementation of the sixth Pay Commission award by a year or even two to reduce the fiscal burden of the recommendations that proposed a 28 per cent across-the-board salary increase for an estimated 4.5 million central government employees. The report of the commission headed by Justice BN Srikrishna was submitted to the government on March 24 this year, nearly a fortnight before its 18-month tenure was to end.
The January-March quarter (Q4) results for 2024-25 (FY25) from the country's largest passenger vehicle (PV) maker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), were a mixed bag, with revenues broadly in line but operating profit missing Street expectations. Given cost pressures, margins at the operating level were the lowest in the past seven quarters.
There shall be two dates for grant of increment - January 1 and July 1 every year
Participants are keenly awaiting the rollovers to the next series ahead of the expiry of June F&O.
Banking system liquidity will experience transient frictional tightness ahead of the payment of arrears
The 7th Pay Commission has recommended more than doubling the 'Military Service Pay' to defence personnel, and suggested that Short Service Commissioned Officers should be allowed to exit the Armed Forces at any point in time between 7 and 10 years of service.
India Inc has welcomed the Sixth Pay Commission report that suggested an average increase of 40 per cent in salaries of central government employees and said the move will not lead to a rise in inflation and revenue deficit of the government. Industry body Ficci said the pay hike would not add to inflationary conditions and revenue deficit due to buoyant revenue collections. Also, Ficci said the hike would reduce the problem of governance and attract talented personnel.
'The high court notice could go some way in easing the vitiated civil-military relationship, and the trust deficit between civil servants and the military.'
An increase in the farmer income support scheme PM Kisan Nidhi, the introduction of a 'robot tax' to fund reskilling of people who lose their jobs to artificial intelligence (AI), and a reduced income-tax (I-T) to bring relief to the middle classes - these are some of the items in the Budget wish list submitted by Sangh Parivar affiliates to Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman. Representatives of the affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), such as the farmer organisation Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS); trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS); Laghu Udyog Bharati, which works for micro and small industries; and Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), which works on economic and policy issues, met the FM and other officials over the last couple of weeks as part of the pre-Budget consultations.
The amount constitutes 45 per cent of the railways' total wage bill.
It also promised financial assistance of Rs 24,000 annually to all dependent widows and single mothers, two free LPG cylinders to all the beneficiaries of the PM Ujjwala Yojana and 24x7 power supply.
Talking to reporters, state medical education minister Girish Mahajan said he has asked resident doctors to engage in a dialogue and urged them not to stretch the matter further.
On a day the Punjab assembly passed a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to the state, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the city will remain the joint capital of both states.
Dearness Allowance for central government employees has been hiked to 31 per cent of the basic pay from 28 per cent with effect from July 1, 2021, the Finance Ministry said. In an office memorandum, the Department of Expenditure, under the Finance Ministry, said the term 'basic pay' means the pay drawn as per the 7th pay commission matrix and does not include any other type of pay like special pay, etc. "....the Dearness Allowance payable to central government employees shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 28 per cent to 31 per cent of the basic pay with effect from July 1, 2021," said the office memorandum dated October 25.
After considering the increase proposed in allowances, the hike in remunerations comes to 23.55 per cent.
There are 1.9 million employees and 650,000 pensioners in Maharashtra.
A slew of sops were announced for teachers, employees of municipalities and others.
Experts said the higher pay out will boost consumption demand.
The proposed hike is in accordance with the accepted formula based on the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission
A demand for raising wages and allowances of MPs was made in the Rajya Sabha on Friday with members demanding that their salaries should be higher than the revised scale of the Cabinet Secretary.
Unions have also demanded raising the income tax exemption limit from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs.
The outgo towards salary will further rise in 2017-18 to over Rs 1.28 lakh crore.
Indian economy grew 7.9 per cent in the March quarter.
The S&P BSE Sensex rose 216 points to end at 26,740 and the Nifty50 gained 76 points to close at 8,204.
Analysts expect earnings to become increasingly relevant given that the stocks have rallied on positive sentiment and the gush of liquidity. Macro factors, they suggest, have already led to a large re-rating in most counters
More incentives will be given to agriculture sector for increasing agriculture production.
The pay panel had in November recommended 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay at junior levels.
'Seven hundred farmers lost their lives.' 'The protesting farmers were demonised and called names like andolanjiwi, Khalistani, anti-national.'
'He is not looking at the interest of farmers. He only wants to do the politics of elections.' 'This Budget is for the new super India. It is exploiting the villages of Bharat.'
All interest free advances stand discontinued with the exception of interest free advance for medical treatment, travelling allowance for family of deceased, travelling allowance on tour or transfer and leave travel concession
Nearly 22 lakh Maharashtra state government employees, including secondary and junior college teachers and non-teaching staff, have decided to go on indefinite strike from Monday demanding implementation of 6th Pay Commission.
While still not as drool-worthy as their private sector counterparts, the hike is quite hefty, and across segments
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances