7th Pay Commission to increase President’s salary
The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission and the corresponding salary hikes are currently being implemented, with effect from 01.01.2016. The minimum salary has been raised to Rs.18,000 per month, and the maximum salary offered now stands at Rs.2.5 lakhs. The salary of the first Citizen of India, the President, is lower than the maximum wages paid by the Central Government.
All the announcements published by the Central Government are made in the name of the President. He is also the Chief Commander of all the three forces – the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. All the cabinet decisions become law only after the President gives his approval. But, ironically, some employees of the Central Government draw larger salaries that he does!
The President of India currently gets Rs.1.5 Lakhs per month. But the Central Cabinet secretary earns Rs.1 Lakh more than him. The Central Government Secretaries earn Rs.2.25 Lakhs per month. With so many officials drawing higher salaries than the President, therefore, it has now been decided that the President’s salary ought to be raised.
The President shall henceforth be paid Rs.5 lakhs per month, more than three times the salary that he currently makes. This will come into effect from January 2017 onwards. He shall be entitled to a lifetime pension of Rs.1.5 Lakhs. His wife shall draw pension of Rs.30,000 per month. The Vice President currently makes Rs.1.10 Lakhs per month. His salary is going to be increased to Rs.3 lakhs per month.
The President’s salary was previously revised in 2008. It was increased by three times from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1.5 Lakhs. Circumstances have changed so much, necessitating another threefold increase of salary. Usually, the hike in the President’s salary is also accompanied by increase in the salaries of the Prime Minister, ministers, and the Members of Parliament. A demand for salary hikes is expected to be presented soon in the Parliament.