8th Pay Commission 2026: Fitment Factor, Pay Matrix, Salary Structure & Hike

The 8th Pay Commission is expected to revise the salary structure, pay matrix, and pension framework for central government employees and pensioners. The government has launched a public consultation on the MyGov portal, inviting suggestions for the 8th Pay Commission. The government has clarified that pension revision, including eligibility of retirees up to 31 December 2025, will be decided only after the 8th Pay Commission is formally constituted.

Key Highlights

• The Finance Ministry has clarified that the 8th Pay Commission has not yet been constituted, and all proposals remain under consideration.
• Pension revision, including eligibility of retirees up to 31 December 2025, will be decided only after the Pay Commission is formally set up.
• Salary hike projections currently range between 30–34%, based on expert estimates and past Pay Commission trends.
• The fitment factor is expected to range between 1.83 and 2.46, which will determine revisions in basic pay and allowances.

What is 8th Pay Commission?

The 8th Pay Commission, announced by the government, will assess the current salary structure of central government employees. Before the 8th Pay Commission, the 7th Pay Commission introduced a structured pay matrix that replaced the previous grade pay system with levels. Over the years, the pay structure of central government employees has evolved significantly.

8th Pay Commission Implementation Date

Although 1 January 2026 is widely cited as the reference date, the 8th Pay Commission has not yet been formally constituted. If it is implemented retrospectively from 1 January 2026, arrears would apply for the intervening months until the revised pay structure is officially notified. 

The government has officially opened a public consultation process for the 8th Pay Commission by launching a dedicated feedback module on the MyGov portal. 

8th Pay Commission Consultation 

The public consultation process for the 8th Pay Commission includes a dedicated feedback module on the MyGov portal. This marks the first formal step towards stakeholder engagement, even though the 8th Pay Commission has not yet been constituted.

Eligible stakeholders can now submit their suggestions and views on pay structure, fitment factor, allowances, pension revision, and service conditions. The consultation initiative allows employees and pensioners to raise key salary-related concerns and expectations directly with the government. 

Who can Submit Suggestions for the 8th Pay Commission?

As per the government notification, the following stakeholders are eligible to submit feedback through the MyGov portal:

• Serving central government employees (civil and defence)
• Central government pensioners and family pensioners
• Defence personnel and ex-servicemen
• Recognised employee unions and associations
• Other concerned stakeholders and citizens

There is no restriction on pay level or department, and inputs can be submitted individually without routing them through departments or unions.

How to Submit Feedback on 8th Pay Commission?

Stakeholders can submit their suggestions online by following these steps:

• Visit the MyGov portal and navigate to the 8th Pay Commission consultation section.
• Log in using a registered mobile number or email ID.
• Enter suggestions related to salary revision, allowances, fitment factor, pension structure, or service conditions.
• Submit the response online.

Note:

• No supporting documents are required
• Multiple suggestions can be submitted separately
• Inputs are advisory in nature and do not guarantee inclusion

8th Pay Commission and Pension Revision

The central government has clarified that pensioners who retired on or before 31 December 2025 will be eligible for pension revision only if and when the 8th Pay Commission is implemented.

However, the government has also confirmed that:

• No decision has been taken yet on constituting the 8th Pay Commission.
• Pension revision eligibility, cut-off dates, and methodology will be decided only after the Pay Commission is formally set up.
• Existing pension rules under the 7th Pay Commission will continue until further notification.

This clarification addresses concerns raised by pensioners regarding exclusion based on retirement date. As of now, no pension revision framework exists for the 8th Pay Commission.

Finance Ministry Clarification on DA Merger and Pay Panel

Recent government statements have clarified that there is no proposal to merge Dearness Allowance (DA) with basic pay, and no decision has been taken to set up the 8th Pay Commission. 

The Finance Ministry has confirmed that DA will continue to be revised twice a year as per the existing system, and no committee or Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Pay Commission has been formed yet. These clarifications indicate that all projections about salary revisions, DA merger, or pay matrix changes remain speculative until an official notification is issued.

8th Pay Commission Salary Structure

The 8th Pay Commission salary structure is expected to consist of three main components:

• Basic Pay: The revised basic salary will be determined by applying the fitment factor to the current basic pay.
• Allowances: Key allowances, including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Travel Allowance (TA), will be recalculated based on the updated basic pay.
• Gross Salary: The total earnings, consisting of the sum of basic pay and allowances, will reflect the overall remuneration of an employee under the new structure.

8th Pay Commission Salary Hike

The 8th Pay Commission is expected to bring a significant salary hike for central government employees, with an estimated increase in the range of 30-34%, subject to a projected fitment factor of 1.83 and 2.46. 

However, the Dearness Allowance (DA) component, which is revised twice a year under the existing system, will be reset to zero once the 8th Pay Commission is implemented. This reset means that while the fitment factor may increase basic salaries substantially, the effective hike will be slightly lower due to the removal of the DA.

Example:

• For instance, an employee with a basic salary of Rs 18,000 could see their salary rise to Rs 32,940 at the lower end of the fitment factor (1.83) and Rs 44,280 at the upper end (2.46).
• For employees earning a higher base salary, such as Rs 50,000, the revised salary could increase to Rs 91,500 at the lower end and Rs 1.23 lakh at the upper end.

The government has clearly stated that there is no proposal to merge DA with basic pay, and DA will continue to be revised twice a year until a new Pay Commission is implemented.

8th Pay Commission Fitment Factor

Expected to range between 1.83 and 2.46, the 8th pay commission fitment factor will directly impact the basic salaries across all pay matrix levels. 

A higher fitment factor would lead to significant salary hikes, ensuring better compensation for government employees and pensioners. This revision aims to align salaries with current economic conditions, offering a more substantial increase compared to previous pay commissions.

8th Pay Commission Salary Hike Comparison

The following table shows the projected salaries across different pay matrices based on the projected fitment factor range of 1.83 to 2.46.

Note: The Finance Ministry has clarified that no decision has been taken on setting up the 8th Pay Commission Committee yet and that DA will not be merged with basic pay. Therefore, the projected salary hikes based on DA merger are speculative and not officially confirmed.

8th Pay Commission Arrears

If the 8th Pay Commission is implemented after its proposed effective date of 1 January 2026, central government employees and pensioners are likely to receive arrears for the intervening period. Arrears arise when salary revisions are applied retrospectively but paid at a later date.

Based on expert analysis and previous Pay Commission patterns, delays of 12 to 18 months could result in arrears running into several months of revised salary, potentially amounting to Rs. 1 lakh or more, depending on pay level, fitment factor, and allowances.

• Arrears are not guaranteed and depend entirely on the final implementation date.
• Higher pay matrix levels and longer delays result in larger arrear payouts.
• Pensioners may also receive arrears on revised pension amounts.
• All arrear estimates circulating in the media are expert projections, not official figures.
• Employees should rely only on government notifications for confirmed arrear eligibility and calculations.

8th Pay Commission ToR Delay

The table below represents the dates of announcement for previous pay commissions, including the delay between each. 

Note: Despite the long gap since Cabinet announcement speculation, no Terms of Reference (ToR) have been issued. The Finance Ministry has confirmed that no proposal for 8th CPC has been initiated yet.

8th Pay Commission Salary Calculator

The 8th Pay Commission calculator estimates the projected salary and pension hike for central government officials based on basic salary, fitment factor, dearness allowance (DA), and HRA classification. It provides a quick way to assess the potential salary adjustments under the upcoming pay revisions.

The Bottomline

The 8th Pay Commission process has moved to an initial consultation stage, with the government inviting suggestions from employees and pensioners on the MyGov portal. However, the Finance Ministry has clarified that the Pay Commission has not yet been constituted. Any changes to salary, arrears, or pension will depend on future cabinet decisions and official notifications.