WB 7th Pay Commission: Will 7th Pay Commission Be Implemented in 2026? Big News for State Govt Employees

WB 7th Pay Commission: Is the long wait for West Bengal government employees finally coming to an end? Speculation is rife regarding potential moves by the state government ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. As the new year begins, a glimmer of hope has emerged within administrative circles and employee unions regarding the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission (WB 7th Pay Commission).

Although no official announcement has been made yet, employee organizations believe that the state government might make a significant declaration targeting the 2026 Assembly elections.

Assembly Elections and Employee Expectations

With the Assembly elections scheduled for 2026, political analysts and employee unions suggest that the state government might take major steps to win over government employees. Malay Mukhopadhyay, General Secretary of the ‘Confederation of State Government Employees’, believes that the government might announce a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) in the upcoming vote-on-account budget.

The speculation is that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might announce the formation or implementation of the 7th Pay Commission effective from January 1, 2026. Historically, pre-election budgets often contain good news for employees. For instance, before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a DA hike was announced in the budget, which was implemented from April of that year.

The Gap Between Central and State Pay

Currently, central government employees receive DA at a rate of 58% under the 7th Pay Commission and are moving towards the 8th Pay Commission. In contrast, state employees are still under the 6th Pay Commission, receiving only 18% DA. This massive disparity has fueled resentment among the workforce. Employees hope that this gap will be somewhat bridged before the upcoming elections.

Letter to the Governor and Five-Point Demands

To press for their demands, the ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ (Joint Forum) recently wrote a letter to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose. The letter highlighted five key demands:

• Immediate Implementation of 7th Pay Commission: Revision of the salary structure on par with central standards.
• Clearance of Arrear DA: Rapid payment of pending Dearness Allowance in accordance with the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI).
• Recruitment for Vacancies: Transparent and swift initiation of the recruitment process for approximately six lakh vacant posts.
• Regularization of Contractual Staff: Regularization of temporary and part-time workers who have been serving for a long time.
• Settlement of Dues: Clearing all outstanding financial dues within a specific timeframe.

Warning of Agitation

Beyond sending letters, the Sangrami Joutha Mancha has warned of broader agitation if their demands are not met. The organization has set a deadline for the state government and has called for a ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’ (March to the Secretariat). A section of the employees believes that the combination of the Governor’s intervention and electoral pressure might break the long-standing deadlock and lead to a positive decision regarding the 7th Pay Commission.

It remains to be seen whether the state government will accede to these long-standing demands of the employees before the 2026 elections.