Overview
- The Finance Ministry told Parliament the 8th Central Pay Commission has an 18‑month window from its November 3, 2025 ToR notification, and the implementation and arrears date will be decided later.
- Indian Railways has begun targeted cost controls in maintenance, procurement and energy, while raising FY26 provisions to Rs 1.28 lakh crore for staff costs and Rs 68,602.69 crore for pensions.
- Internal projections peg the next pay revision’s burden at about Rs 30,000 crore, compared with roughly Rs 22,000 crore after the 7th CPC, as unions press for a 2.86 fitment factor that could lift the wage bill by over 22%.
- Funding plans count on network electrification savings of around Rs 5,000 crore a year, stronger freight receipts by 2027–28 of roughly Rs 15,000 crore, and easing IRFC outflows from FY 2027–28, with no fresh short‑term borrowing.
- Tight operating metrics underscore the push: OR was 98.90% in FY 2024–25 with Rs 1,341.31 crore net revenue, and the FY 2025–26 target OR is about 98.42–98.43% with net revenue projected near Rs 3,041.31 crore.