Central Government nursing organisations have placed a major set of pay, allowance and pension demands before the 8th Central Pay Commission during its Chandigarh consultations in September 2026.
The most significant demand from the Nurses Welfare Association (NWA) is to raise the entry pay of Nursing Officers from the existing Pay Level 7 to Level 10, with the association citing the pay position of officers in the Military Nursing Service (MNS) as one of its arguments.
Separately, nursing representatives from PGIMER Chandigarh have reportedly sought a 3.25 fitment factor and an increase in the annual increment from the present 3% to 5%. These are demands placed before the Commission; none of them has yet been accepted or recommended by the 8th CPC.
What happened during the 8th CPC Chandigarh visit?
The 8th Central Pay Commission had officially scheduled its Chandigarh stakeholder interaction for 16, 17 and 18 September 2026.
During these consultations, representatives of employee organisations, institutions, associations and unions were given an opportunity to place their concerns and proposals before the Commission.
Media reports say the Nurses Welfare Association met Commission representatives on 18 September and submitted a series of demands concerning pay levels, allowances, insurance and pension benefits. PGIMER nursing representatives also raised a separate set of financial demands.
Why are Nursing Officers demanding Level 10?
Under the existing 7th CPC structure, a Central Government Nursing Officer is generally placed in Pay Level 7.
Official Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recruitment rules show Nursing Officer at:
Level 7 — ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400
PGIMER’s official recruitment rules also place Nursing Officers in Level 7.
The NWA has now sought Level 10 as the entry pay level.
Under the current 7th CPC pay matrix, the first cell of Level 10 is ₹56,100.
That means the current entry-level comparison is:
Level 7: ₹44,900 basic pay
Level 10: ₹56,100 basic pay
The difference at the first cell is therefore ₹11,200 in basic pay per month.
This is only a comparison using the existing 7th CPC matrix. It does not indicate what 8th CPC pay will ultimately be.
Why is the Military Nursing Service being mentioned?
The association has reportedly argued that Nursing Officers should be brought closer to the pay level of the Military Nursing Service.
Under the Military Nursing Service Pay Rules, 2017, an officer on successful commissioning is placed in the first cell of Level 10.
The MNS rank structure under the 7th CPC begins with:
Lieutenant — Level 10
The rules also provide Military Service Pay of ₹10,800 per month to eligible MNS officers up to and including Brigadier rank. MSP is counted for Dearness Allowance and pension purposes.
This creates an important clarification.
Demanding Level 10 for civilian Nursing Officers does not automatically mean complete pay parity with MNS officers.
An MNS officer is a commissioned military officer and receives military-specific compensation such as MSP under the applicable rules.
Therefore, the present demand is better understood as a request for pay-level parity, rather than automatic equality of the entire salary and allowance package.
What are the eight major NWA demands?
According to reports on the Chandigarh interaction, the Nurses Welfare Association presented eight major demands:
- Level 10 entry pay for Nursing Officers.
- A dedicated Night Duty Allowance.
- Risk and Hardship Allowance, including a demand linked to the R1H1 category.
- Comprehensive term and health insurance for healthcare workers.
- Upgradation of Chandigarh’s classification for HRA and Transport Allowance purposes.
- Higher Nursing, Dress and Special Allowances, with the association seeking a substantial increase in current rates.
- Continuation of Qualification Allowance equivalent to two non-absorbable increments.
- Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
These proposals reflect the association’s case that nursing duties involve round-the-clock work, occupational exposure, increasing professional qualifications and greater clinical responsibilities.
Is the 3.25 fitment factor part of the same Level 10 demand?
Not exactly.
This distinction is important.
According to Moneycontrol, PGIMER nursing representatives separately sought a 3.25 fitment factor for the 8th Pay Commission.
They also sought an increase in the annual increment from 3% to 5% of basic pay.
Therefore, the Level 10 demand and the 3.25 fitment-factor demand should not be presented as though both originated from one single representation.
The clearer position is:
NWA: Level 10, allowances, insurance, OPS and other nursing-specific demands.
PGIMER nursing representatives: 3.25 fitment factor and 5% annual increment among their key proposals.
Has the 8th CPC approved a 3.25 fitment factor?
No.
The 3.25 figure is a demand placed before the Commission.
There is currently no official 8th CPC notification stating that:
- 3.25 has been selected as the final fitment factor;
- Level 10 has been approved for Nursing Officers;
- annual increment will become 5%;
- OPS will be restored;
- or the proposed nursing allowances have been accepted.
The Commission is still in the consultation and data-collection stage.
Therefore, salary projections based on 3.25 should only be treated as illustrative calculations based on a demand, not as confirmed future salary.
Could these demands affect more than three lakh nursing personnel?
Moneycontrol reported that nursing associations affiliated with the All India NPS Employees Federation estimate that these proposals could potentially affect more than three lakh nursing personnel working across Central Government hospitals, PGIMER, ESIC hospitals, AIIMS and other Government healthcare institutions.
However, this figure is an association estimate, not an official 8th CPC beneficiary count.
Demand vs approval: what readers should understand
The Chandigarh meeting is significant because nursing organisations have now formally placed their pay and service-condition concerns before the 8th Pay Commission.
But representation before a Pay Commission is only the first stage.
The Commission must examine demands along with employee data, financial implications, existing hierarchies, recruitment qualifications, comparable cadres and Government submissions before making its final recommendations.
What should employees watch next?
The most important next development will not be another demand figure, but whether the 8th CPC itself records, evaluates or recommends any change in the nursing pay hierarchy.
For Nursing Officers, the Level 7-to-Level 10 demand is particularly significant because it seeks a major change in entry-level placement.
For the wider Central Government workforce, the PGIMER demand for a 3.25 fitment factor will also attract attention—but it remains one stakeholder proposal among many competing submissions before the Commission.
Until an official 8th CPC recommendation is issued, Level 10, 3.25 fitment factor and 5% annual increment should all be treated as demands, not approved decisions.
Sources
8th Central Pay Commission — Official Chandigarh Visit Notice
Official 8th CPC Chandigarh Notice
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare — Nursing Officer Recruitment Rules
Shows Nursing Officer in Pay Level 7.
PGIMER — Official Recruitment Rules
Confirms Nursing Officer at Level 7.
Mint — Eight demands raised by Nurses Welfare Association
Read the Mint report
Moneycontrol — PGIMER and NWA representations
Includes the separately reported 3.25 fitment factor and 5% annual-increment demands. Read the Moneycontrol report
Ministry of Defence / PIB — Military Nursing Service Pay Rules implementation
Official PIB release
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