8th pay commission proposals: Central government employees are urging the 8th Pay Commission to significantly hike House Rent Allowance (HRA) rates, citing soaring urban rents. Employee bodies are proposing increases to 36%, 40%, and even higher for different city categories, with some suggesting HRA be linked to Dearness Allowance (DA) and extended to pensioners. These demands aim to better align payouts with the cost of living, particularly for lower-level staff in major metropolitan areas.