Kolkata: Bengal’s 7th Pay Commission will examine an overhaul of the pay structure of state employees, including raising annual increments from the existing 3% to at least 5%, aligning pay levels with those of central staffers and recommending a standing order on Dearness Allowance (DA) that will ensure any central hike is automatically applied at the state level, officials said. The revised pay structure will come into effect from Jan 1, 2026, after a 100% merger of DA with basic pay.Last month, the state constituted the commission with retired IAS officer Naveen Prakash as chairman.The commission’s terms of reference state that its recommendations should take into account inflation realities, macroeconomic parity and the need to address anomalies in the existing service structure.“The commission will examine parity between the pay levels of state employees and those under Central Pay Commission to establish greater all-India equivalence and reduce litigation over pay structures. For DA, the panel proposes linking the allowance to All-India Consumer Price Index and recommending a standing order for DA disbursement based on the index,” a senior official said.Currently, state employees get 18% DA, while their counterparts at Centre receive 60%. The state recently announced a 20% hike in DA and a corresponding hike in Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners and family pensioners with effect from Oct 1, 2026.In a first for state employees, the commission will examine House Rent Allowance (HRA) in X, Y and Z city tiers, children’s education allowance & hostel subsidy and transport allowance in its efforts to match Central Pay Commission. It has been proposed that existing caps on HRA in certain cases involving spouses employed in govt or private organisations be revoked.The commission will also reassess minimum pay by considering a 5-member family unit instead of the 3.5-member unit used by the 6th pay panel. It also proposes using a nutritional requirement of 3,490 calories as the basis for determining minimum pay, replacing the earlier 2,700-calorie benchmark.Besides, the commission proposes to review promotion and appraisal policies, restoration of commuted pension after 11 years and changes in leave-encashment provisions, among others.West Bengal Health Scheme may see revised rates, full cashless treatment for employees and pensioners and higher doctors’ fees.Sangrami Joutho Mancha convener Bhaskar Ghosh said, “The previous govt had advised those demanding DA and salaries on a par with Centre to shift to Delhi. We have brought Delhi to Bengal. Most of our demands have been accepted and we are satisfied.”Swapan Mondal of the Left-backed Bangiya Shikshak O Shiksha Karmi Samiti said govt employees, teachers and non-teaching staff had faced financial deprivation under the previous govt and expressed hope that the situation will change.Swapan Mondal of the Left-backed Bangiya Shikshak O Shiksha Karmi Samiti, said govt employees, teachers and non-teaching staff had faced financial deprivation under the previous govt and expressed hope that the situation will change.
