The West Bengal Finance Department on 6 November 2026 issued a formal notification extending the state's 7th Pay Commission to cover all non-teaching employees across 25 state-aided universities and all employees of three state education boards and councils. The move marks a significant expansion of the commission's mandate beyond core state government employees.

Which Bodies Are Covered

The three education bodies brought under the commission's purview are the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE), and the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education (WBBME). Together, these institutions employ a large number of administrative and support staff whose pay scales had remained outside the commission's original scope.

What the Notification Says

The notification was issued by Prabhat Kumar Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary to the State Finance Department. It states that while the state government had already constituted the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees and certain other categories, Governor R.N. Ravi decided the commission should additionally examine the existing pay structure and service conditions of regular non-teaching staff in state-aided universities and all employees of the three boards and councils.

'The Commission will make necessary recommendations as early as possible,' the notification reads.

Notably, the notification does not specify the rate at which salaries will increase, the new pay structure, the effective date, or how arrears will be settled. According to reports, a decision on these specifics can only follow once the commission submits its recommendations.

Background and Employee Expectations

The 7th Pay Commission extension comes after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had announced its formation to restructure the pay of state government employees. Following that announcement, the state government commenced the initial process of constituting the commission. Employees had been awaiting this move, with many hoping for dearness allowance revisions at par with central government employees — an expectation that remains unresolved pending the commission's report.

This is a notable step in West Bengal's broader public-sector pay reform, though the absence of a timeline or financial quantum in the notification means the actual salary impact remains unknown for now.

What Happens Next

The commission is expected to study current pay structures, compare them against central benchmarks, and table recommendations. Only after that review will the state government determine revised salary structures, effective dates, and arrear settlement mechanisms. Education workers across the covered institutions are expected to follow the commission's proceedings closely.