Central Govt Employees Strike 2026 | 8th Pay Commission | OPS | NPS | DA Merger
In a major development, the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has officially announced a nationwide one-day strike on 12 February 2026, escalating pressure on the Government of India over long-pending demands related to the 8th Central Pay Commission (8th CPC), pension reforms, pay revision, and labour rights.
The formal strike notice dated 23 January 2026 has been submitted to the Cabinet Secretary, confirming that employees of affiliated unions across central government departments will participate in the nationwide protest action
Why the Strike Has Been Called
The strike follows prolonged inaction on a detailed Charter of Demands submitted by employee federations. At the core of the agitation are unresolved issues surrounding pay revision, pension security, DA arrears, and the structure of the upcoming 8th CPC.
Major Flashpoints
- Demand to modify Terms of Reference of the 8th Pay Commission
- Merger of 50% DA/DR with Basic Pay/Pension
- 20% Interim Relief from 1 January 2026
- Scrap NPS/UPS, restore OPS
- Release of 18 months DA arrears frozen during Covid
- End outsourcing and corporatisation
- Fill all vacant posts in central departments
- Equal pay for equal work
- Minimum pension ₹9,000/month
These demands reflect growing discontent not only among serving employees but also pensioners, contract workers, and unorganised sector workers
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8th Pay Commission at the Center of Protest
One of the biggest triggers for the strike is the 8th Central Pay Commission. Employee unions have demanded immediate changes to the Terms of Reference of the 8th CPC to include key proposals of the Staff Side of the NC-JCM.
Major 8th CPC & Pay-Related Demands:
- Modify 8th CPC Terms of Reference as per Staff Side & Confederation inputs
- Merge 50% DA/DR with Basic Pay/Pension
- 20% Interim Relief (IR) from 1 January 2026
- Release of 18 months DA/DR arrears frozen during Covid
- No discrimination among pensioners based on date of retirement
- Restore commuted pension after 11 years instead of 15
These demands are being positioned as critical for protecting real income amid rising inflation.
Big Demand: Scrap NPS, Restore Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
Another flashpoint is the pension system. The Charter of Demands calls for:
- Scrapping of NPS and UPS
- Full restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all Central Government employees
This issue has become a major mobilising factor among both serving employees and future retirees.
Vacancies, Outsourcing & Corporatisation in Focus
Unions have also raised strong objections to:
- Large-scale vacancies in government departments
- Increasing outsourcing of regular work
- Corporatisation and privatisation of government services
They have demanded immediate filling of sanctioned posts and regularisation of contractual, casual, and GDS employees.
Wider Labour & Public Welfare Demands
The strike charter also includes wider labour and economic issues:
- Scrap four Labour Codes
- Equal Pay for Equal Work for contract employees
- Minimum pension of ₹9,000 per month
- Remove ceilings on bonus, PF, and gratuity
- Control price rise and remove GST on essentials
- Stop privatisation of PSUs
- Withdraw Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Guarantee Right to Work, Health, Education, Housing & Social Security
What This Means for Employees & Government Services
With the strike date officially announced, the coming weeks are crucial. If conciliation talks fail, 12 February 2026 could see widespread participation across central government offices, PSUs, and allied services.
Employee unions have termed this a warning strike, indicating that stronger actions may follow if the government does not respond positively—especially on 8th CPC, OPS, and DA arrears.
Why This Breaking Development Matters
- Comes amid early administrative steps for 8th Pay Commission
- Directly impacts salary revision and pension reforms
- Reflects nationwide unrest among Central Govt employees
- Could disrupt government services across India
All eyes are now on whether the Centre opens negotiations before the strike date.
What Happens Next?
With the strike notice formally served, the government now has a limited window to initiate conciliation talks. If no breakthrough occurs, 12 February 2026 is expected to witness nationwide disruption in central government services, making it one of the biggest coordinated protest actions in recent years.
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