Central government employees and pensioners will get arrears under the Eighth Pay Commission from January 1, 2026, said National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) staff side's Secretary SG Mishra. "I'm 100% sure of this. If anyone is saying otherwise, we shouldn't believe it," Mishra said. Employees and pensioners had received 6 months' arrears under the Seventh Pay Commission in 2016.