Overview
- The state Finance Department issued a notification on July 22 establishing a four‑member Seventh Pay Commission to review salaries and service conditions for West Bengal employees.
- Former Union economic affairs secretary Atanu Chakraborty will chair the panel and its members include Partha Mukhopadhyay, Partha Pratim Pal and finance secretary Devi Prasad Karanam.
- The commission’s terms of reference direct a comprehensive review of emoluments, dearness allowance, special allowances, pensions and promotion rules and allow it to appoint advisors and hold sittings outside Kolkata.
- The panel has been asked to submit recommendations preferably within six months and the state’s chief minister says the government aims to implement the proposals by March 2027 while gradually closing the DA gap with the Centre.
- Officials warn that a pay overhaul could sharply raise the state wage and pension bill and require new revenue or spending shifts, and the move fulfills a BJP pre‑poll promise that follows a June DA adjustment in the state budget.