8th Central Pay Commission: Highlights of the Personal Interaction with Pay Commission and Call of Action for Branches

No. CHQ-04/MSA(2026-27) Dated: 28 ^th April, 2026

To,

The Member, DC (JCM) / Co-Ordinator (CHQ) / Advisor (CHQ) The President / Vice Presidents / Joint Secretary General / Org. Secretary General / Dy. Secretary Generals / Finance Secretary General / The Branch Presidents / Secretaries of MSA.

Sub: Briefing on the Personal Interaction with the 8th Central Pay Commission held on 24.04.2026 at Welcome Hotel, Madhuban, Dehradun.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is a matter of immense pride that, for the first time in our history, the members of the Ministerial Staff Association (MSA) secured the opportunity for a personal interaction with the Central Pay Commission. The Association expresses its sincere gratitude to the 8th CPC for their proactive approach in personally interacting with stakeholders and establishing a transparent system for receiving memorandums. We are highly optimistic that the Commission will consider the genuine demands of the employees on a larger scale and deliver recommendations in our best interests.

2.As the meeting was scheduled at 12:00 hrs on 24.04.2026, the Vice President (CHQ), Shri Ujjawal Kumar Sinha and the undersigned attended the meeting at the Phoolwari Hall of Welcome Hotel, Madhuban, alongside office-bearers of sister associations of the Survey of India. We were the first to be invited by the Member Secretary of the 8th CPC. Following his welcome address, he inquired about our Online Submitted Memo-ID. He clearly guided us that since common issues (Pay, Allowances, etc.) are being taken up by the NC JCM Staff Side and the Confederation, we should focus exclusively on our departmental and cadre-specific grievances.

3.We initiated the discussion by highlighting the core role of the Ministerial Cadre in managing the accounts and administrative duties of the organization. We strongly raised the long-pending issue of parity with the Secretariat Cadre, which remains unresolved despite the recommendations of previous pay commissions. We brought to their attention the AFHQ Ministerial setup, where posts like LDC, UDC, and above enjoy Secretariat Pay Scales even when distributed in subordinate (non-secretariat) offices. The Member Secretary acknowledged that parity with the Secretariat Cadre is a crucial issue in the civilian establishment and assured us it would be considered.

4.A detailed discussion took place regarding the pay scales of the Establishment & Accounts Officer (E&AO) and the Office Superintendent (OS). The following key facts were presented, which the Member Secretary actively noted:

Upgradation of E&AO Pay Scale: We briefed the Commission that under the 5 ^th CPC, the posts in the pre-revised 4 ^th CPC scale of Rs. 2375-75-3200-100-3500 (pertaining to office staff outside the secretariat) were upgraded to the scale of Rs. 7500-250-12000. We further highlighted that the E&AOs were granted scale of Rs. 7450-11500 through the Recruitment Rules of 2001. Keeping in view that E&AOs held the highest Group "B" pay scale in the 4th CPC and in light of their significantly expanded duties, we strongly justified the demand for placement in Level 9. The Commission responded positively to this submission.
Pay Scale of Office Superintendent: We apprised the Commission about the merger of the OS post with the Assistant cadre and the assignment of supervisory duties to the senior-most OS, as per the Cadre Restructuring Order of 2023. In view of these enhanced responsibilities, we formally proposed the grant Level 8 with Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) for the Office Superintendent. The Member Secretary gave a positive assurance to look into this matter.
Grant of NFSG to UDCs: The demand for Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) for UDCs was raised, citing parity with the Secretariat Cadre and Subordinate Organizations of AFHQ. The Commission assured us they would review this as per our submitted memorandum.
Creation of Higher Posts: We emphasized the severe stagnation in the Ministerial Cadre and underscored the urgent need to create higher promotional avenues. The Member Secretary assured us that this would be examined thoroughly.

5. Call to Action for Branches: The sympathetic hearing granted by the Commission has raised our hopes. However, to solidify our case, I urge all Branch Secretaries to seize this opportunity and strongly raise these matters from their respective branches. Please take the following immediate actions:

A. Submit Structured Memorandums Online: Every branch must submit a memorandum on the Commission’s website. A draft common memorandum is attached, focusing on:

Flawed Cadre Restructuring: Highlight how the recent Group B & C restructuring ignored DoP&T guidelines. Technical staff (Group B) are being burdened with non-technical duties (Store, Estate, Motor Vehicle, Administration, and even Hostel Warden), which should rightfully be handled by the Ministerial Staff. Correcting this will create more posts in the OS hierarchy.
Severe Stagnation: Emphasize that currently, an Office Superintendent has only one promotional opportunity in their entire career, causing massive stagnation.
UDC & OS Pay Scales: Demand the grant of NFSG to UDCs and Level 8/9 for Office Superintendents who supervise sections. Attach the present work distribution and cite the AFHQ Service Rules.
E&AO Upgradation: Demand higher pay scales for E&AOs by attaching extracts of the 5th CPC resolution, RR 2001, and details of the heavy workload in the PFMS environment, including their financial and controlling powers.
Hierarchical Expansion: Recommend the creation of a complete Ministerial Cadre hierarchy from LDC up to the SAG level, integrating Store/Estate/Ministerial posts with Secretariat parity. This will free up the technical cadre to focus on mapping and geospatial operations, directly contributing to national development.

B. Special Task for Hyderabad Branch: The Hyderabad Branch is specifically requested to raise the matter of the Ministerial Training Cadre at NIGST. Please attach the NIGST Training Programme and demand structured training (Induction, Foundation, and Refresher courses) for Ministerial staff on service matters and crucial digital platforms like PFMS, SPARROW, Bhavishya, e-HRMS, e-Office, and MS Office.

C. Request Personal Interactions: All branches should formally demand personal interaction time slots whenever the 8th CPC visits their respective or nearby cities.

6. Conclusion: A unified and coordinated effort by the CHQ and all Branches is the only way to secure a bright future for the Ministerial Staff of the Survey of India. If we present our demands correctly and promptly, our aspirations will undoubtedly be fulfilled.

Thank you for your unwavering support and future cooperation in this historical endeavour.

Long Live MSA! Long Live Staff Unity!

Yours fraternally,

(Mithilesh Kumar Karn)
Secretary General
Ministerial Staff Association (CHQ)
Survey of India, Dehradun

8th Central Pay Commission: Highlights of the Personal Interaction with Pay Commission and Call of Action for Branches