Under the Seventh Central Pay Commission, the fitment factor was kept at 2.57, due to which the minimum salary was increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000.

Under the Eighth Pay Commission, find out how much the salaries of central employees can increase.

Eighth Pay Commission: Central government employees and pensioners are increasingly anxious about the Eighth Pay Commission. More than 10 million employees and pensioners are awaiting its implementation date. Last year, in November 2025, the central government approved the Pay Commission's terms of reference and formally approved the appointment of the chairperson and members. The commission is now consulting with relevant ministries and various employee organizations to finalize its recommendations.

The government has given the panel 18 months to submit its report. However, it is not yet clear when the commission's recommendations will be implemented and when employees will receive their arrears.

Why the increased expectations?

Many employees were hoping for a new pay structure to be implemented in January, at the start of 2026. However, officials have already clarified that a final decision on pay revisions and fitment factors will be made only after the commission's recommendations.

Under the Seventh Central Pay Commission, the fitment factor was set at 2.57, raising the minimum wage from ₹7,000 to ₹18,000. On paper, this increase appears to be 157 percent, but the actual salary increase was around 14 percent.

How was the fitment factor calculated in the 7th Pay Commission?

The fitment factor under the Seventh Central Pay Commission included two major components: Inflation Adjustment Component (2.25), Real Pay Hike Component (0.32).

How was inflation adjustment calculated?

By January 1, 2016, dearness allowance (DA) had reached 125%. The old basic pay was considered 1.00. Adding 125% DA brought its value to 1.25. When DA was merged into the basic pay, the revised base became 2.25 (1.00 + 1.25). This means that the 2.25 factor simply reflected the cost-of-living adjustment.

Real Pay Hike Component. In addition, the Commission recommended a real pay increase of 14.22%. This increase was implemented at 2.25%, resulting in an additional component of approximately 0.32%.

Fitment Factor Inflation Adjustment: 2.25

Real Hike Component: 0.32

Overall Fitment Factor: 2.57

The minimum wage was raised from ₹7,000 to ₹18,000 using this same fitment factor of 2.57. While this increase appears significant on paper, the actual wage increase was limited because dearness allowance was already included.

When will I get the increased salary?

Groundwork for the Eighth Pay Commission is underway, but the implementation date, the arrears, and the actual salary increase remain uncertain. It's clear that potential salary increases for central government employees will depend entirely on the Pay Commission's final recommendations and the government's decision, not on any speculation or conjecture.