8th Pay Commission : Millions of central government employees and pensioners across the country are eagerly waiting for updates regarding the 8th Pay Commission. According to the latest reports, employees’ salaries may increase by up to 80%, based on the proposed fitment factor.
Approval and Current Status
The Central Government had approved the formation of the 8th Pay Commission in January 2025. However, even after more than ten months, the names of the commission members and its Terms of Reference (ToR) have not been officially announced yet.
Who Will Benefit from the 8th Pay Commission
The commission will review the salary structure of around 50 lakh central government employees and the pension benefits of 65 lakh pensioners. Once implemented, it is expected to bring a significant salary hike, providing substantial financial relief to government staff and pensioners.
Expected New Salary Structure
As per media reports, the government is considering implementing a 1.8 times fitment factor. This means that the basic salary of central employees could increase by approximately 80%. However, this is still under consideration, and the final decision is yet to be made.
Discussions Underway in Ministries
The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that discussions are ongoing with key departments such as the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Once the commission is officially formed, preparing the report and implementing the recommendations may take 2 to 3 years.
Previous Pay Revisions
The 7th Pay Commission was established in February 2014, and its recommendations came into effect from January 2016. Similarly, the 6th Pay Commission had been implemented roughly 10 years before that.
Employees’ Expectations
Government employees and pensioners are hopeful that the new salary structure will be implemented from January 2026. The 8th Pay Commission will play a crucial role in determining the salary and allowance structure for central government employees for the next several years.
