Bengal constitutes seventh pay commission; IIM prof, CPR researcher in panel

Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari has fulfilled his promise to state government employees and pensioners by constituting the Seventh Pay Commission within two and a half months of assuming office. Following the initial budget announcement of a 20 percent DA hike by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, the state government officially issued the draft Terms of Reference to outline the scope and responsibilities of the newly formed commission.

The Finance Department issued a statement announcing a four-member committee chaired by retired IAS officer and former Finance Secretary Atanu Chakraborty. The other appointed members include CPR researcher Partha Mukherjee, IIM Calcutta professor Partha Pratim Pal, and Finance Secretary Devi Prasad Karnam. The commission is tasked with determining salary and pension hikes, employee promotions, and future DA and DR adjustment rates.

The Pay Commission has been directed to examine the central government's pay structure for equivalent posts before submitting its recommendations within the next six months. The state government aims to review the report and potentially implement the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations by March of next year, providing renewed hope for government staff awaiting pay structure revisions.