8th Pay Commission – Central government employees and pensioners are closely following discussions around the proposed salary revision, particularly the fitment factor that could determine their revised basic pay. Several employee and pensioner organisations have submitted different proposals, ranging from 3.61 to 4.00.
If the highest suggested multiplier of 4.00 is applied to the existing minimum basic salary of Rs 18,000, the revised figure would reach Rs 72,000. Other proposals could take the minimum basic pay to approximately Rs 65,000 or Rs 69,000. However, these figures are based on demands submitted by organisations and have not been approved by the government.
What Is the Responsibility of the 8th Pay Commission?
The 8th Pay Commission is a three-member temporary commission headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. Its other members include Professor Pulak Ghosh as a part-time member and Pankaj Jain as member-secretary. The commission was constituted on November 3, 2025.
Under its Terms of Reference, the panel has been given 18 months to submit its final report to the central government. Its responsibilities include examining salary structures, allowances, pensions, gratuity, pension commutation and other service-related matters.
The commission is expected to consider representations from employee associations, pensioner groups and other eligible organisations before making its recommendations. Among the issues attracting the most attention is the fitment factor, as it directly influences the calculation of revised basic pay.
How Does the Fitment Factor Work?
A fitment factor is a multiplier used to calculate revised basic salary from the existing basic pay. In simple terms, the current basic salary is multiplied by the approved factor to arrive at the proposed new salary.
The calculation follows this formula:
New Basic Salary = Existing Basic Salary × Fitment Factor
Under the 7th Pay Commission, the minimum basic salary of Rs 7,000 was multiplied by 2.57. The resulting amount was Rs 17,990, which was rounded off to Rs 18,000.
For comparison, the 6th Pay Commission used a fitment factor of 1.86, while the 7th Commission adopted 2.57. Employee organisations are now seeking a considerably higher multiplier for the next revision.
BPMS Seeks a 4.00 Fitment Factor
The Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS) has proposed a fitment factor of 4.00, the highest among the demands mentioned in the supplied report.
Applying this multiplier to the current minimum basic salary gives the following calculation:
Rs 18,000 × 4.00 = Rs 72,000
The organisation has reportedly based its demand on factors such as the increase in per capita net national income between 2016-17 and 2024-25, existing salary and dearness allowance, and the financial requirements of a five-member family.
NC-JCM and BPS Propose Around Rs 69,000
The National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) Staff Side and Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) have suggested a fitment factor of 3.833.
Using the existing minimum basic pay, the calculation works out to Rs 68,994, which is approximately Rs 69,000 after rounding.
NC-JCM has reportedly considered the expenses of a five-member household, including food, clothing, housing, fuel and education. BPS has used a different calculation based on a family-unit weighting of 5.2.
NC-JCM has also suggested revised pay-matrix figures, including Rs 69,000 for Level 1 and Rs 1,35,700 for Level 6. For merged Levels 9 and 10, it has proposed an entry-level salary of Rs 2,15,100.
MSA Seeks a 3.61 Multiplier
The Ministerial Staff Association (MSA) of the Survey of India has proposed a fitment factor of 3.61. If accepted, the minimum basic salary would be calculated as follows:
Rs 18,000 × 3.61 = Rs 64,980
This would take the revised minimum basic pay to approximately Rs 65,000. The association has reportedly referred to the norms of the 15th Indian Labour Conference and principles associated with the Reptakos Brett case, which consider the requirements of a five-member family.
Comparison of Proposed Minimum Basic Salaries
| Organisation | Proposed Fitment Factor | Estimated Minimum Basic Pay |
|---|---|---|
| MSA | 3.61 | Rs 64,980 |
| NC-JCM / BPS | 3.833 | Rs 68,994 |
| BPMS | 4.00 | Rs 72,000 |
The difference between the lowest and highest proposals is approximately Rs 7,020 per month in minimum basic pay.
When Will the Final Salary Decision Be Made?
It is important to distinguish between employee demands and officially approved recommendations. The figures of Rs 65,000, Rs 69,000 and Rs 72,000 are currently estimates based on proposals submitted by different organisations. The government has not approved any of these fitment factors.
The commission has been given 18 months to prepare its report. Based on its constitution date and the stated timeline, the report may be expected around May 2027, although the actual submission date could vary.
After receiving the recommendations, the central government will examine them before taking a final decision. Until then, employees and pensioners should treat all proposed salary figures as indicative calculations rather than confirmed pay revisions.
The final fitment factor will be important not only for serving employees but also for pensioners, as changes to the pay structure may influence several retirement-related benefits. The commission’s recommendations and the government’s subsequent decision will determine the actual impact.
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