8th Pay commission News: As the 7th Pay Commission is about to complete 9 years and enter the final phase of its tenure (as past Pay Commissions have typically lasted 10 years), there is a lot of buzz surrounding the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. Around 1.2 crore central government employees and pensioners are eagerly awaiting two key updates: when the government will announce the formation of the 8th Pay Commission and what the expected hike in pensions and salaries will be for central government staff.
As for the timeline for setting up the 8th Pay Commission, the Centre has not made any official commitments so far. However, several media reports have speculated that the 8th Pay Commission will soon be formed, based on the historical trend of governments setting up a Pay Commission approximately every 10 years. According to this assumption, it is expected that the new Pay Commission will be formed after the term of the 7th Pay Commission ends on December 31, 2025.
Similarly, there have been several speculative media reports suggesting a likely new fitment factor, and based on this, projections for the hike in salaries and pensions of employees and pensioners. The pay scales of central government staff are revised under each Pay Commission by applying a fitment factor. For example, under the 7th Pay Commission, employees’ salaries were revised using a fitment factor of 2.57. However, employee unions had demanded a fitment factor of 3.67.
What is expected fitment factor for deciding minimum salary under 8th Pay Commission?
According to a report by NDTV, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary (Staff Side) of the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), is expecting a fitment factor of “at least 2.86” for the revision of salaries and pensions. Based on this fitment factor, the minimum basic salary of a government employee would rise to Rs 51,480, up from the current minimum salary of Rs 18,000. Similarly, pensions would increase to Rs 25,740, up from Rs 9,000, if the fitment factor is set at 2.86.
Salary and pension hikes are calculated by multiplying the fitment factor by the previous minimum salary or pension amount.
Mishra expecting a fitment factor of 2.86 assumes significance as he as a representative of Staff Side of NC-JCM had a meeting with Union Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey. In the meeting, the Satff Side took up the issue of 8th Pay Commission formation demand.
Mishra told the TV channel that he is “looking at a fitment factor of 2.86 at least, considering that this kind of revision happens only once in 10 years.”
The NC-JCM is the apex body in the JCM scheme which deals with various issues affecting central government employees.
Staff Side’s earlier two memorandums to govt
The NC-JCM had submitted two memorandums, seeking setting up of the 8th Central Pay Commission at the earliest. The first memorandum was presented to Rajiv Gauba, then Union Cabinet Secretary, during the Union Budget presentation in July 2024. The second memorandum was submitted to Gauba’s successor, T.V. Somanathan, who became the Cabinet Secretary on August 30.