The 49th annual meeting of the National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) addressed several pressing issues faced by central government employees. Key among these was the demand for the 8th Pay Commission, where the staff side presented a memorandum detailing their expectations regarding minimum pay, fitment factors, and promotion policies. They also urged the cabinet secretary, TV Somanathan, to amend the terms of reference to include the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and pension revisions for existing retirees. Another significant concern was the rising number of service-related court cases, which the staff claimed demoralizes employees and violates the National Litigations policy. The meeting also highlighted delays in implementing government orders for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) employees, the non-implementation of Arbitration Awards, and promotion-related issues that hinder employee increments. Lastly, the staff called for hiring additional personnel to manage increasing workloads, particularly in departments like Railways, to improve project quality and reduce pressure on current employees.