7th Pay Commission: Post Independence, salary of senior Central Govt officials’ hiked from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2.50 lakh

New Delhi, January 27: After Independence, the Indian government has announced seven central pay commission on a regular interval. In last 68 years, since India got its Independence there has been an impressive hike in salary of senior central government officials’, which has gone up from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2.50 lakh. Also in last 38 years, the minimum wage has not seen any big changes as it has increased from Rs 55 (1st Pay Commission) to Rs 18,000 (7CPC). Under the 7CPC the high-powered committee had recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in the basic pay of government employees.

In 1947, after India got its Independence, the lowest salary of central government employees was Rs 55 per month while most of the senior central government employees took home a salary of Rs 2000 per month. The 1st Pay Commission continued till 1957 after which the minimum wage was increased to Rs 80 while maximum salary was increased to Rs 3,000. After 6th Pay Commission came into effect the minimum wage came up by Rs 7000 per month whereas the monthly salary of senior government officials rose to Rs 90,000. 

Under the 7th pay commission slab, the salaries of the government employees saw a significant rise. The basic pay under the 7CPC the lowest salary was increased to Rs 18,000 from Rs 7,0000 while the salary of the senior government officials has gone up to Rs 2.50 lakh from Rs 90,000.

According to a rough calculation, in last 68 years, the government has increased the minimum salary of its employees from Rs 55 to Rs 18,000 per month – which is a hike of 32,727 per cent.

While the salary of senior government officials has seen a drastic jump, from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 2.50 lakh per month – which is a hike of 12,500 per cent.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the central government employees who have been waiting for higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission since July last year, will have to wait for three to four months more to get pay bonanza. The central government is likely to delay the payment of the higher allowances as the model code of conduct has been imposed following the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand. The five state polls will begin on February 4 and the results will be declared on March 11.