The demand for fitment factor – which decides how much salary will increase – has taken center stage in the 8th Pay Commission process. Employee representatives are now pushing for a fitment factor of up to 3.25, due to which the minimum basic salary of central government employees can increase from Rs 18,000 to more than Rs 54,000. This means that the salary of government employees may see an increase of more than 3 times. With discussions formally beginning this week, the focus is clearly on the minimum wage and how much relief workers should realistically expect. Let us try to understand it in detail…
Drafting process started
The 8th Pay Commission process has gained momentum as the National Council (Staff Side) of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) is convening its drafting committee on February 25, 2026 in New Delhi. The purpose of this meeting is to prepare a unified memorandum of demands for central government employees and pensioners. The discussion is expected to continue for about a week. The office of the 8th Pay Commission has already been set up in Chandralok Building in Janpath, which shows that the formal review process is now moving forward.
Why does fitment factor matter most?
In all matters – pay revision, allowances, service conditions and pension – the fitment factor is most important. Fitment factor is the multiplier used to revise the basic pay. For example:
The 7th Pay Commission had used a fitment factor of 2.57.
Due to this, the minimum basic pay increased from Rs 7,000 (6th CPC) to Rs 18,000.
Now, employee representatives argue that inflation and rising cost of living justify the very high multiplier under the 8th Pay Commission.
What is being demanded?
NC-JCM staff side is emphasizing on these things:
Minimum fitment factor of 2.86
Some employee organizations are demanding Rs 3.00 to Rs 3.25, and in some discussions even more has been demanded.
Minimum salary proposed between Rs 54,000 and Rs 58,500
5 percent annual increment
If the factor of 3.0 to 3.25 is assumed, then the minimum basic pay will increase significantly from the current Rs 18,000.
Employee unions have clearly stated that anything less than 2.86 will be “not acceptable”, especially when compared with the 2.57 multiplier used in the 7th CPC.
Minimum salary: what is the expectation
Currently, Central Government employees get a minimum basic pay of Rs 18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission.
If 8th Pay Commission accepts:
Fitment Factor 3.0 → Minimum salary may cross Rs 54,000
Fitment factor 3.25 → Minimum salary may go closer to Rs 58,500
Employee unions are justifying the increase on the following grounds: inflation, rising housing costs, stagnant real wages, and the rising cost of living in the city.
For pensioners also, higher fitment factor will mean better revised pension.
What about allowance and DA?
The fitment factor is the biggest issue, but other issues are also under discussion:
-Rationalization of House Rent Allowance (HRA)
-Future structure of Dearness Allowance (DA)
-Pension Revision Formula
-Terms of Service
Meanwhile, under the current 7th CPC structure, dearness allowance is expected to increase by about 63 percent in March 2026. However, until the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission are accepted and notified, the existing rules will continue.
Timeline and what will happen next
The 8th Pay Commission was created with a timeline of 18 months to submit its report. Once NC-JCM finalizes the memorandum of its demands, it will submit it to the official commission. The government will then examine the recommendations keeping in mind the budget constraints, fiscal deficit target and larger economic conditions. The final decision on fitment factor will be taken by the government.
big picture
For central government employees and pensioners, the 8th Pay Commission is not just about pay revision — it is about fixing what unions call wage stagnation.
The coming weeks will be very important. If the government agrees to a fitment factor of 3.0 or more, it could be one of the largest increases in minimum basic salary in recent Pay Commission history.