8th Pay Commission Fitment Factor: The Government of India has recently announced the establishment of the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to increase the salary and pension of about 50 lakh central government employees and 65 lakh pensioners. This commission is likely to be effective from January 1, 2026, but the process of its formation and implementation is still going on.

Announcement and implementation date of 8th Pay Commission

The 8th Pay Commission was announced on 17 January 2025 and the process of its formation is expected to be completed by April 2025. This commission will be effective from January 1, 2026, which is after the end of the 7th Pay Commission. However, some reports have also expressed the possibility of delay in its implementation.

Possible increase in fitment factor

The fitment factor is an important parameter set by the Pay Commission, which determines the salary increase. The fitment factor in the 7th Pay Commission was 2.57, which led to an average increase of 23.55 percent in salary. According to some media reports, the fitment factor in the 8th Pay Commission may be between 2.28 to 2.86, which is likely to increase the salary by 40-50 per cent.

Possible increase in salary and pension

Based on the fitment factor, the salary of central government employees is expected to increase significantly. If the fitment factor is 2.86, the minimum basic salary can reach around Rs 51,480. Similarly, pensioners will also get the benefit of increase in pension, which will improve their financial condition.

Process for setting up the Commission

A draft proposal for setting up the Commission has been sent to various ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Personnel and Training. After receiving feedback from these ministries, the scope of work (ToR) of the Commission will be finalised and then presented for Cabinet approval.