Recommendation about 7th Pay Commission
Group ‘X’ pay for JCOs/ORs and equivalent has been sought to be enhanced by four times from the existing rate of ₹1,400 per month. In the context of change in nature of warfare the requirement of a higher technological threshold has been emphasised by the Services.
Analysis and Recommendations
The Commission has taken due note of the emphasis being placed on skilled manpower with higher educational and technological thresholds. While determining X pay for X group of JCOs/ORs the VI CPC considered the relativity of some of the grades of JCOs/ORs in Group X with diploma holders in engineering on the civil side. In case of civilians, posts requiring minimum qualification of diploma in engineering are placed in GP 4200 and in defence forces, some of the posts in X group whose minimum qualification held equivalent to diploma in engineering are placed in GP 2800. The element of X group pay was therefore fixed at 1,400. The Commission has examined the existing educational and training requirements of X pay personnel and has already noted the wide variation that exists in the three Services in this regard. It has therefore recommended that all X trades should mandatorily involve obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of a diploma in engineering (recognized by AICTE).
The approach adopted by the VI CPC in determining X pay is agreed with. At the same time the incentive structure needs to have a bearing with the qualifications.
Accordingly, this Commission recommends:
i. X pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at 6,200 per month for all X trades which involve obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of a diploma recognised by AICTE. This amount is the difference in the minimum of the Pay level 6 (corresponding to Grade Pay of 4200 in VI CPC), and Pay level 5 (corresponding to Grade Pay of 2800 in VI CPC).
ii. X pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at 3,600 per month (standard fitment of 2.57 on the existing X pay of 1,400), for those currently in X pay, but not having a technical qualification recognised by AICTE.
Conclusion:
The commission has recommended X pay for Technician staff of Armed forces @ 6200 as corresponding difference pay GP 4200 in VI CPC and pay level 5. It tried to justified by equal pay with civilian counter part with same qualification but the pay commission is silent , about 3% annual increment on this element where as civilian counterpart get the annual increment.
Technician, Radio telephone Operator in Indian Air Force will be granted X Pay @ 6200 PM and similar trades and Branch in Army and Navy get the X pay. Let see what our defence boss will decide further.
Tag: X Pay, Army, Navy, Air Force, Group pay, Technical allowance, JCO, Others Ranks
