In a monumental decision for over 8 lakh active state government employees and 5 lakh pensioners across West Bengal, the state government has officially constituted the Seventh Pay Commission. On July 22, 2026, the administration formally issued gazette orders appointing a high-level 4-member expert committee tasked with reviewing pay structures, Dearness Allowance (DA) parity, pension benefits, and general service conditions.
Official Composition of the 7th Pay Commission Panel
The 4-member expert panel brings together veteran administrative leadership, economic policy researchers, academic scholars, and treasury finance officers. Below are the official details and profiles of the committee members:
Atanu Chakraborty
Former 1985-batch IAS officer and former Union Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. As Chairperson, Shri Chakraborty leads the panel with extensive expertise in macroeconomic policy, state budget allocation, and public finance management.
Dr. Partha Mukhopadhyay
Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi. Dr. Mukhopadhyay is an eminent economist specializing in public sector governance, urban economics, infrastructure financing, and institutional labor regulations.
Dr. Partha Pratim Pal
Professor of Economics at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta. Prof. Pal brings academic rigor to the panel, focusing on macro-econometric modeling, fiscal sustainability, and pay scale comparative frameworks.
Devi Prasad Karanam, IAS
Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Finance Department. Acting as Member-Secretary, Shri Karanam coordinates secretarial support, department data submissions, treasury statistics, and inter-departmental logistics.
Terms of Reference & Mandatory Timelines
The state government has issued clear Terms of Reference (ToR) directing the committee to examine all aspects of state employment compensation:
- 6-Month Submission Deadline: The committee has been directed to complete consultations and submit its final recommendations report within 6 months.
- Pay & DA Restructuring: Evaluating the merger of cumulative Dearness Allowance (DA) into basic pay scales and closing the gap with Central Government pay scales.
- Pension & Gratuity Enhancements: Re-evaluating basic pension computation matrices, commutation percentages, and medical allowance structures for state retirees.
- Fiscal Year Implementation: The administration has expressed intent to consider and implement the commission's recommendations within the current fiscal year (2026-27).
Expected Impact on ROPA 2027 Pay Matrix
With the committee formally active, discussions regarding the projected ROPA 2027 Fitment Factor have intensified across employee federations. The panel is expected to model revision scenarios ranging between 2.08× (conservative DA merger baseline) and 2.86× (union parity demand).
You can calculate your estimated revised basic pay, gross salary, and pension projections using our interactive tools on the portal:
Calculate Your Projected 7th Pay Commission Salary
Use our interactive 7th Pay Commission Calculator to estimate your ROPA 2027 basic pay and allowances.