GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONSRecommended date of implementation is January 1, 2016Minimum monthly pay set at Rs 18,000Maximum monthly pay Rs 2.25 lakh (apex scale), Rs 2.50 lakh (Cabinet secretary and equivalent)Pay bands, grade pay abolished, new pay matrix designedRate of annual increment retained at 3%Performance-related pay recommended for all categoriesFINANCIAL IMPLICATIONSTotal financial impact for FY2016-17: Rs 1.02 lakh croreImpact on FY17 Union Budget: Rs 73,650 crore;Impact on Rail Budget: Rs 28,450 croreOverall increase in pay, allowances, pensions: 23.55 per centIncrease in pay: 16%; Increase in allowances: 63%, Increase in pension: 24%Expenditure-GDP ratio to be impacted by 0.65% points vs 0.77% for 6th Pay CommissionDEFENCEMilitary service pay increased across boardShort-service commission (SSC) officers exit at 7-10 years, with terminal gratuity equivalent of 10.5 monthsSSC officers entitled to a fully-funded one year Executive Programme/M.TechRevised formulation for lateral entry/resettlement of defence forces personnelParity recommended between field and headquarters staff for similar functionsSystemic change in cadre review for Group A officers recommendedALLOWANCESRecommends abolishing 52 allowances altogetherAnother 36 allowances abolished as separate identities, but subsumed in existing allowancesAllowances relating to risk and hardship to be governed by the proposed Risk and Hardship MatrixHRA recommended to be paid at the rate of 24%, 16%, 8% of new basic pay for class X, Y and Z cities, respectivelyHRA to be revised to 27%, 18%, 9% respectively, when DA crosses 50%, and further revised to 30%, 20%, 10% when DA crosses 100%Emphasis placed on simplifying the process of claiming allowancesINSURANCE SCHEMES AND MEDICAL FACILITIESSubstantial increase for central government employees group insurance schemes' monthly deduction and insurance amountIntroduction of a Health Insurance Scheme for employees and pensioners recommendedPENSION, COMPENSATION AND GRATUITYRevised OROP-type pension formulation for civil, defence and paramilitary employeesEnhancement in the ceiling of gratuity from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakhRecommends reverting to a slab-based system for disability elementRevision of rates of lump sum compensation for next of kin to be applied uniformly to defence, civil, paramilitary personnelParamilitary personnel to be accorded martyr status in case of death in line of dutyStrong pension grievance redressal mechanism recommended