With assembly elections right around the corner, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav approved the recommendations of the seventh pay commission on 13 December 2016.
●    The decision is expected to benefit around 24 lakh government employees and pensioners, who will see a 15-20% hike in their income. 
●    The hike will be effective starting January 2017.
●    Yadav in his announcement stated that though the decision will put a heavy burden on the state exchequer, it was taken to benefit lakhs of government employees and these people will then help him form the government again with a complete majority so that they continue to get the benefits. 
●    He also added that the upcoming UP Assembly election will be historic.
●    A report recommending the same decision was submitted to the Uttar Pradesh CM earlier by a committee constituted by the state government. 
●    The committee was headed by retired IAS officer GB Patnaik.

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