The 8th Pay Commission will revise the salary structure of approximately 50 lakh central government employees and 65–70 lakh pensioners, with January 1, 2026 as the proposed effective date. The revised basic pay will be determined by applying a fitment factor — widely projected between 1.92 and 2.86 — to existing 7th CPC basic pay. Final salary slabs will be confirmed only after the Commission submits its recommendations, expected within 18 months of formal constitution.
What Is the 8th Pay Commission Salary Slab?
The salary slab under any Pay Commission refers to the structured matrix of basic pay values assigned across different pay levels. Under the 8th Pay Commission, each level in the new pay matrix will carry a starting basic pay and a set of annual increment cells, just as the 7th CPC pay matrix did — but recalibrated upward using the recommended fitment factor.
For employees, the salary slab determines not just basic pay but also the base on which allowances such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), and Dearness Allowance (DA) are calculated. A higher entry point in the new slab translates to a compounding effect on total in-hand salary throughout an employee’s career.
The current 7th Pay Commission pay matrix spans 18 levels, from Level 1 (minimum basic ₹18,000) to Level 18 (Cabinet Secretary at ₹2,50,000). The 8th Pay Commission is expected to retain this level architecture while revising every cell value proportionally through the fitment factor.
Current Status of the 8th Pay Commission
The Union Cabinet formally approved the constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission on January 16, 2025. The Terms of Reference (ToR) were subsequently notified on November 3, 2025. The Commission comprises a Chairperson (yet to be appointed as of early 2026), Prof. Pulak Ghosh as a member, and Pankaj Jain as Member-Secretary.
The Commission is mandated to submit its report within 18 months of constitution. This places the likely report submission around mid-2026 to early 2027, after which the government will examine, accept, and formally notify the revised pay structure. Employees and pensioners can expect implementation to follow notification, with arrears payable from January 1, 2026.
Important: The Finance Ministry has explicitly clarified that no decision has been taken on merging Dearness Allowance with basic pay. Several widely circulated fitment factor figures — including 2.86 — are projections based on analytical estimates, not official government positions. Treat all projected salary slabs as indicative until the Commission’s report is formally accepted.
What Is the Fitment Factor and How Does It Shape the Salary Slab?
The fitment factor is the multiplier applied to an employee’s current 7th CPC basic pay to arrive at the revised basic pay under the new structure. It is the single most consequential variable in determining how the entire 8th Pay Commission salary slab is constructed.
Under the 7th Pay Commission, the fitment factor was set at 2.57, which meant every employee’s basic pay was multiplied by 2.57 to establish the new pay matrix entry. The 6th Pay Commission had used a fitment of 1.86. Historical progression shows a steady increase with each revision cycle.
For the 8th Pay Commission, three fitment factor scenarios are in active circulation among analysts and employee unions:
- Conservative scenario — 1.92x: Reflects a more restrained fiscal outlook. Minimum basic pay would rise from ₹18,000 to approximately ₹34,560.
- Moderate scenario — 2.28x: Aligns with the Union of employees’ primary demand and represents a balanced fiscal position. Minimum basic pay would reach approximately ₹41,040.
- Optimistic scenario — 2.86x: Widely discussed in media and union briefings; cited by some analysts as consistent with inflation trends since 2016. Minimum basic pay would rise to approximately ₹51,480.
The final fitment factor will be decided by the Commission after reviewing economic conditions, the government’s fiscal position, DA accumulation since January 2016, inflation indices, and representations from employee federations.
8th Pay Commission Salary Slab: Projected Pay Matrix Across Key Levels
The table below maps the current 7th CPC starting basic pay at each pay level against the projected revised basic pay under three fitment factor scenarios. These figures represent the minimum entry value at each level — actual basic pay for employees already in service will be higher depending on their current cell position within the level.
| Pay Level (7th CPC) | Corresponding Post Profile | Current Basic Pay (₹) | Revised Basic @ 1.92x (₹) | Revised Basic @ 2.28x (₹) | Revised Basic @ 2.86x (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Group C, Multi-Tasking Staff | 18,000 | 34,560 | 41,040 | 51,480 |
| Level 2 | Group C (GP 1900) | 19,900 | 38,208 | 45,372 | 56,914 |
| Level 3 | Group C (GP 2000) | 21,700 | 41,664 | 49,476 | 62,062 |
| Level 4 | Lower Division Clerk, equivalent | 25,500 | 48,960 | 58,140 | 72,930 |
| Level 5 | Group C (GP 2800) | 29,200 | 56,064 | 66,576 | 83,512 |
| Level 6 | Upper Division Clerk, Technical Staff | 35,400 | 67,968 | 80,712 | 101,244 |
| Level 7 | Assistant Section Officer, equivalent | 44,900 | 86,208 | 102,372 | 128,414 |
| Level 8 | Group B (GP 4800) | 47,600 | 91,392 | 108,528 | 136,136 |
| Level 9 | Senior Section Officer, equivalent | 53,100 | 101,952 | 121,068 | 151,866 |
| Level 10 | Group A entry (GP 5400 PB-3) | 56,100 | 107,712 | 127,908 | 160,446 |
| Level 11 | Group A (GP 6600) | 67,700 | 129,984 | 154,356 | 193,622 |
| Level 12 | Under Secretary / Deputy Secretary | 78,800 | 151,296 | 179,664 | 225,368 |
| Level 13 | Joint Secretary equivalent | 1,23,100 | 2,36,352 | 2,80,668 | 3,52,066 |
| Level 13A | Additional Secretary equivalent | 1,31,100 | 2,51,712 | 2,98,908 | 3,74,946 |
| Level 14 | Secretary equivalent | 1,44,200 | 2,76,864 | 3,28,776 | 4,12,412 |
| Level 15 | Senior Secretary / DG level | 1,82,200 | 3,49,824 | 4,15,416 | 5,21,092 |
| Level 17 | Chief Secretary equivalent | 2,25,000 | 4,32,000 | 5,13,000 | 6,43,500 |
| Level 18 | Cabinet Secretary | 2,50,000 | 4,80,000 | 5,70,000 | 7,15,000 |
Note: All figures represent revised basic pay only and exclude DA, HRA, TA, and other allowances. These are projections based on the stated fitment factor scenarios and are not official government figures.
How the Revised Gross Salary Is Calculated
The 8th Pay Commission salary slab governs basic pay — but an employee’s gross salary is the sum of multiple components built on top of that revised basic. Once the new structure is notified, a central government employee’s gross salary will be calculated as follows:
Revised Gross Salary = Revised Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance (DA) + House Rent Allowance (HRA) + Transport Allowance (TA) + other applicable allowances
Since DA will reset to zero upon the pay revision taking effect, it will not contribute to gross salary in the initial months. However, DA revisions will resume from January and July thereafter, calculated on the new and substantially higher basic. Over a 2–3 year horizon, the compounded effect makes the new structure considerably more valuable than the basic pay figures alone suggest.
HRA Under the 8th Pay Commission
House Rent Allowance is structured around city classification. Under the 7th CPC framework, metros attracted 24% HRA (later raised to 27% of basic), other Class Y cities received 16%, and smaller Class Z stations received 8%. The 8th CPC is expected to revise these percentages upward — current discussions indicate 30%, 20%, and 10% respectively for X, Y, and Z cities. Applied to a higher revised basic, the HRA component will be meaningfully larger than what employees currently receive.
Transport Allowance Revision
TA is expected to increase by 20–30% over current rates. The revision will also be structured by city category and pay level, consistent with how the 7th Pay Commission structured it. Employees in higher pay levels and X-category cities stand to gain the most in absolute terms.
DA Merger — What the Government Has Clarified
There has been significant speculation about whether accumulated Dearness Allowance will be formally merged into basic pay before the fitment factor is applied — a move that would dramatically inflate the revised basic pay figures. The Finance Ministry has categorically stated that no decision has been taken on DA merger, and this should not be incorporated into salary estimates for planning purposes.
In practical terms, DA will simply reset to zero when the new pay structure is notified. Going forward, biannual DA revisions will be applied to the revised (higher) basic pay, which means the absolute value of each DA hike will be proportionally greater than under the current structure.
Pension Revision Under the 8th Pay Commission
Pensioners are explicitly covered under the 8th CPC mandate, confirmed by the Terms of Reference. The same fitment factor applied to serving employees will be applied to existing pension, with minimum pension expected to rise from ₹9,000 to a range of ₹20,500–₹25,740 depending on the fitment factor finally adopted. Dearness Relief (DR) will similarly reset to zero upon implementation and resume thereafter on the revised pension amount.
The government has clarified that pensioners who retired on or before December 31, 2025 remain eligible for revision, dismissing concerns about exclusion based on retirement date.
Arrears — What to Expect and When
Since January 1, 2026 is the effective date and the Commission’s recommendations are unlikely to be implemented before mid-to-late 2026 at the earliest, employees will accumulate arrears from the effective date to the date of actual notification and disbursement. Depending on the delay, this could represent 12–18 months of the difference between existing and revised salary — a substantial lump-sum amount for employees across all levels.
Past precedent supports this expectation. The 7th Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1, 2016, but actual revised salaries and arrears were disbursed only in August 2016. A similar pattern is likely under the 8th Pay Commission.
Which Employees Are Covered?
The 8th CPC covers all central government civilian employees across ministries, departments, and central agencies. Defence personnel — Army, Navy, and Air Force — are also covered, with defence-specific allowances reviewed separately. Railway employees come under the same pay matrix framework. State government employees are not directly covered but most states traditionally adopt the central pay structure with minor modifications, subject to their own fiscal decisions.
Employees governed by separate pay structures — such as those in autonomous regulatory bodies or public sector undertakings — are generally not directly covered unless their service rules explicitly link their pay to the Central Pay Commission recommendations.
How to Estimate Your Revised Salary
While the exact 8th Pay Commission salary slab remains pending official notification, employees can make a reasonable estimate using the following approach:
- Identify your current 7th CPC pay level and the actual basic pay you draw (not the level minimum — your current cell value).
- Apply the fitment factor scenario most relevant to your planning: 1.92x for a conservative baseline, 2.28x for a moderate estimate, or 2.86x for an optimistic projection.
- Add revised HRA (using expected rates of 30% for X cities, 20% for Y, 10% for Z) to the revised basic.
- Add revised TA based on your pay level and city category.
- Keep DA at zero for initial months post-implementation, then factor in 3–4% biannual increments going forward.
For a detailed interactive estimate including all allowances, the 8th Pay Commission Salary Increase breakdown at HR Calcy covers level-wise projections with allowance components. For employees comparing how the new structure differs from the existing framework, the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix guide provides the current baseline data needed for accurate comparison.
Historical Comparison: Fitment Factors Across Pay Commissions
| Pay Commission | Effective From | Fitment Factor | Minimum Basic Pay (₹) | Minimum Pension (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th CPC | January 1, 1996 | ~1.40x | 2,550 | 1,275 |
| 6th CPC | January 1, 2006 | 1.86x | 6,660 | 3,330 |
| 7th CPC | January 1, 2016 | 2.57x | 18,000 | 9,000 |
| 8th CPC (projected) | January 1, 2026 | 1.92x–2.86x | 34,560–51,480 | 17,280–25,740 |
The trend shows a consistent upward revision in fitment factor with each cycle. The jump from 6th to 7th CPC (1.86x to 2.57x) was significant; a comparable or slightly higher movement is plausible for the 8th CPC given decade-long inflation accumulation.
Key Factors the Commission Will Weigh
The fitment factor and salary slab design will not be arbitrary — the Commission reviews a defined set of economic and administrative variables before arriving at its recommendations:
- Inflation since 2016: The All India Consumer Price Index trend since the 7th CPC base will be a primary input. Over the 10-year cycle, accumulated DA has crossed 50%, which strengthens the case for a higher fitment factor.
- Fiscal deficit and government expenditure: The Finance Ministry will present the Commission with revenue and expenditure projections. A combined salary and pension revision is estimated to inject ₹3 to ₹3.15 lakh crore into the economy, which the government must accommodate within fiscal targets.
- Pay parity and relativity: Differentials between junior and senior grades, between civilian and defence pay, and comparisons with state government and public sector salaries all feed into the structure design.
- Representations from employee bodies: The government opened a public consultation via the MyGov portal, inviting input from employees and pensioners. Federation submissions and union memoranda carry weight in shaping the Commission’s recommendations.
What Remains Officially Unconfirmed
Several elements circulating widely in media and analyst commentary remain without official backing as of early 2026:
- The fitment factor — no figure has been officially announced by the government or the Commission.
- DA merger into basic pay — explicitly ruled out by the Finance Ministry.
- The exact revised pay matrix — the Commission has yet to submit its report.
- A confirmed implementation date beyond the January 1, 2026 effective date reference.
Employees should plan finances using projected ranges rather than treating any single figure as confirmed. The Commission’s formal report will be the definitive reference document when it is published.
Next Steps for Employees and Pensioners
Until the Commission publishes its report and the government notifies the revised structure, the most practical course of action is to understand the current 7th CPC pay matrix and identify your exact pay level, increment cell, and current basic pay. This gives you an accurate starting point for applying any fitment factor scenario that materialises. It also positions you to verify whether your arrear calculation — once disbursed — is correctly computed by your drawing and disbursement office.
Pensioners should similarly confirm their last drawn basic pay as recorded in their pension payment orders, as this will be the base figure on which the revised pension is calculated once the fitment factor is applied.
Disclaimer: All projected salary figures in this article are based on fitment factor scenarios discussed in public domain analysis and are not official government figures. The 8th Pay Commission has been constituted and is in the process of reviewing the pay structure. Final salary slabs, fitment factor, DA merger decisions, and allowance revisions will be determined by the Commission’s recommendations and subsequent government acceptance. This article is intended for informational planning purposes only.
FAQ
What is the expected minimum basic pay under the 8th Pay Commission salary slab?
The minimum basic pay under the 8th Pay Commission is projected to range between ₹34,560 and ₹51,480, depending on the fitment factor applied. At a conservative 1.92x fitment factor the minimum rises to ₹34,560, while a 2.86x factor would push it to ₹51,480. No official figure has been confirmed as of early 2026.
What fitment factor is expected under the 8th Pay Commission?
The fitment factor for the 8th Pay Commission has not been officially announced. Analysts and employee unions have projected scenarios ranging from 1.92x to 2.86x, with 2.28x cited as the moderate estimate. The Commission will determine the final fitment factor in its formal report, expected by mid-2026 to early 2027.
From which date will the 8th Pay Commission revised salary be effective?
January 1, 2026 has been established as the reference effective date for the 8th Pay Commission’s revised pay structure. Since actual implementation will follow the Commission’s report and government notification, employees will receive arrears from January 1, 2026 up to the date of actual disbursement.