8th Pay Commission Update: Will Minimum Salary Cross ₹54,000?

Central government employees are closely tracking every update related to the 8th Pay Commission. The biggest discussion right now? The fitment factor. Employee unions are demanding that the fitment factor be fixed between 2.86 and 3.25. If the government agrees to the higher side of this range, the minimum basic salary could see a massive jump. Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What Is the Fitment Factor in 8th Pay Commission?

The fitment factor is the multiplier used to revise basic pay.

Current Basic Pay × Fitment Factor = New Basic Pay

Right now, under the 7th Pay Commission, the minimum basic salary is ₹18,000 and the fitment factor was 2.57.

Now the demand is much higher.

What Happens If Fitment Factor Is 2.86?

If the government fixes the fitment factor at 2.86, here’s how the calculation works:

Example:

₹17,990 × 2.86 = ₹51,451

That means the new minimum salary could go above ₹51,000.

For someone currently earning ₹18,000 basic pay:

₹18,000 × 2.86 = ₹51,480

That’s a significant increase.

What If Fitment Factor Is 3.0 or 3.25?

Now this is where things get interesting. If the fitment factor becomes:

• 3.0 → Minimum salary may cross ₹54,000

• 3.25 → Minimum salary could reach around ₹58,500

• This would be one of the biggest salary revisions in recent years for central government employees.
• And it’s not just employees.
• Pensioners would also benefit because pension revisions are directly linked to the fitment factor.

Important Meeting on February 25, 2026

• The National Council (Staff Side) of NC-JCM has scheduled a key meeting with the Drafting Committee on February 25, 2026 in New Delhi.
• The purpose?
• To prepare a joint memorandum of demands before formal discussions on the 8th Pay Commission begin.
• This meeting is important because it will officially present employees’ expectations to the government.

How Is This Different from the 7th Pay Commission?

• Under the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was fixed at 2.57.
• That revision raised the minimum basic pay to ₹18,000.
• Now, if the 8th Pay Commission approves a factor above 2.86, the salary jump will be much larger compared to the last revision.
• That’s why anticipation is high.

When Will 8th Pay Commission Be Announced?

• Terms of Reference (ToR) may be finalized by end of March

• Official announcement could come in the first week of April, Once the ToR is announced, formal discussions and structure of the commission will become clearer.

Why This Matters for Employees

If approved at higher levels, the new pay structure could:

• Increase monthly take-home salary

• Improve pensions

• Boost allowances linked to basic pay

• Provide financial relief amid rising inflation, For lakhs of central government employees and pensioners, this decision could directly impact their financial planning for the next decade.