The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved revision of pay scales for almost eight lakh teachers and other equivalent academic staff in educational institutions under the purview of the University Grants Commission. The Cabinet took the decision as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

The Centre said the revised pay scale, which would increase salaries by 22% to 28%, would be applicable retrospectively from January 1, 2016. The salary revision will benefit 7.58 lakh teachers and equivalent academic staff in 106 colleges and universities funded by the UGC or the Ministry of Human Resource Development, 329 state-funded universities, and 12,912 private aided colleges.

It is also applicable to teachers employed by 119 Centrally-funded technical institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management. “The measures proposed in the revised pay structure are expected to improve quality of higher education and attract and retain talent,” said the Cabinet.