8th Pay Commission: Central Govt Employees Await New Salary Adjustments
A key aspect of each pay commission is the adjustment of salaries using a "fitment factor," which is a multiplier applied to base pay and pensions
As the 7th Pay Commission nears the end of its term after nearly a decade, central government employees are looking forward to the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission. Anticipation is growing for salary revisions as the 7th Pay Commission, formed in February 2014 by the Manmohan Singh government and implemented in January 2016, approaches its ten-year mark in January 2026.
Pay commissions play a crucial role in reassessing and adjusting the salaries of government employees. Once a new pay commission is constituted, it is tasked with gathering input from various stakeholders before presenting recommendations to the government. Although the formation of the 7th Pay Commission was swift, there has been a delay in initiating the 8th Pay Commission, which is traditionally set up around a decade after its predecessor.
A key aspect of each pay commission is the adjustment of salaries using a "fitment factor," which is a multiplier applied to base pay and pensions. Under the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was set at 2.57, but employees had pushed for a higher rate of 3.67. According to Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary (staff side) of the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), a fitment factor of at least 2.86 is anticipated for the 8th Pay Commission.
If this recommendation is accepted, the minimum base salary for government employees could rise significantly, from the current ₹18,000 to ₹51,480. Similarly, pensions might increase from ₹9,000 to ₹25,740, reflecting the updated fitment factor. Previously, the 7th Pay Commission had elevated the minimum salary from ₹7,000 to ₹17,990 using a fitment factor of 2.57. Should the 8th Pay Commission endorse the suggested factor of 2.86, the minimum salary could reach approximately ₹51,451.
