UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 8th Central Pay Commission Invites Representations from Stakeholders
Q1. In the context of Central Pay Commissions, the 'Pay Matrix' introduced by the Seventh CPC is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A two-dimensional table of pay levels (horizontal) and progression/increment stages (vertical) that replaced the earlier system of pay bands and grade pay
- B. The single multiplying factor of 2.57 used to convert pre-revised basic pay into revised basic pay
- C. The formula that automatically links Dearness Allowance to movements in the Consumer Price Index
- D. The schedule of House Rent Allowance slabs based on the classification of cities into X, Y and Z categories
Q2. With reference to the Seventh and Eighth Central Pay Commissions, consider the following statements:
1. The Seventh CPC was chaired by Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
2. Every Central Pay Commission is mandatorily constituted exactly ten years after its predecessor under a statutory requirement.
3. The recommendations of the Eighth CPC are expected to take effect from 1 January 2026, replacing the pay structure of the Seventh CPC that took effect from 1 January 2016.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Seventh CPC was chaired by Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
- Every Central Pay Commission is mandatorily constituted exactly ten years after its predecessor under a statutory requirement.
- The recommendations of the Eighth CPC are expected to take effect from 1 January 2026, replacing the pay structure of the Seventh CPC that took effect from 1 January 2016.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. A Central Pay Commission in India is constituted under the authority of which one of the following?
- A. An executive/administrative order (resolution) of the Union Government, without any specific enabling statute
- B. A dedicated Central Pay Commission Act passed by both Houses of Parliament
- C. An order of the Finance Commission constituted under Article 280 of the Constitution
- D. A notification issued by the Union Public Service Commission under Article 320
Q4. With reference to the legal and institutional character of a Central Pay Commission, consider the following:
1. It is a temporary (non-permanent) body.
2. It is a constitutional body established under a specific Article of the Constitution.
3. Its recommendations are advisory and acquire effect only after acceptance by the Union Cabinet.
4. It is a statutory body created under a dedicated Act of Parliament.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?
- It is a temporary (non-permanent) body.
- It is a constitutional body established under a specific Article of the Constitution.
- Its recommendations are advisory and acquire effect only after acceptance by the Union Cabinet.
- It is a statutory body created under a dedicated Act of Parliament.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q5. The Eighth Central Pay Commission functions under the administrative aegis of which one of the following Union Ministries?
- A. Ministry of Finance
- B. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
- C. Ministry of Labour and Employment
- D. Ministry of Home Affairs
Q6. With reference to the online consultation opened by the Eighth CPC, consider the following:
1. Associations and Unions of serving employees and pensioners may submit representations.
2. Individual employees, pensioners and interested individuals may submit representations.
3. Only registered trade unions are eligible; individual citizens are entirely excluded.
4. Representations sent as paper copies, emails or PDF attachments will be duly considered.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Associations and Unions of serving employees and pensioners may submit representations.
- Individual employees, pensioners and interested individuals may submit representations.
- Only registered trade unions are eligible; individual citizens are entirely excluded.
- Representations sent as paper copies, emails or PDF attachments will be duly considered.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q7. Which one of the following is the dedicated official website of the Eighth Central Pay Commission for submission of memoranda/representations?
- A. 8cpc.gov.in
- B. innovateindia.mygov.in
- C. doe.gov.in
- D. 7cpc.gov.in
Q8. As per the Terms of Reference of the Eighth CPC, the Commission is required to keep in view certain considerations. Consider the following:
1. The economic conditions in the country and the need for fiscal prudence.
2. The unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes.
3. The likely impact on State Government finances.
4. A mandatory linkage of pay revision to India's nominal GDP growth-rate target.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified as ToR considerations?
- The economic conditions in the country and the need for fiscal prudence.
- The unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes.
- The likely impact on State Government finances.
- A mandatory linkage of pay revision to India's nominal GDP growth-rate target.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q9. Within the Ministry of Finance, which one of the following is the nodal Department that services the Central Pay Commission?
- A. Department of Expenditure
- B. Department of Economic Affairs
- C. Department of Revenue
- D. Department of Financial Services
Q10. The pay recommendations of a Central Pay Commission directly cover Central Government civilian employees, defence personnel and pensioners. With respect to their adoption by State Governments, which one of the following is correct?
- A. It is not binding — States may adopt them at their own discretion
- B. It is binding on States under Article 280 of the Constitution
- C. It becomes binding through the recommendations of the Finance Commission
- D. It is mandatory under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution
Q11. The recommendations of the Eighth CPC are expected to take effect from 01.01.2026. Following the precedent of earlier pay commissions, their acceptance and implementation is formally approved by which one of the following?
- A. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister
- B. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
- C. Parliament, through a money/finance Bill
- D. The Pay Commission itself through a final notification