8th Pay Commission: Will Salary Double in 2026? Know Big Update on 8th Pay Commission and DA
8th Pay Commission: As the new year begins, a ray of hope has emerged for government employees. The biggest topic of discussion in central government circles right now is the 8th Pay Commission. Curiosity is running high regarding when this new commission will be implemented and exactly how much the salary structure will change as a result. According to various reports, the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission are highly likely to be effective from January 1, 2026.
Although employees might have to wait a bit longer to actually receive this new salary structure in hand, its impact is expected to be far-reaching. Reports suggest that once the new pay commission is introduced, a significant increase will be observed in everything from the monthly salary of employees to the pension of retirees.
Potential Salary Increase Statistics
Based on the preliminary analysis of the 8th Pay Commission and information from various sources, government employees’ salaries could increase by approximately 20 to 35 percent. This growth rate is being estimated keeping in mind the current market inflation and price rise. According to the statistics:
- Where the minimum Basic Pay of central government employees is currently 18,000 INR, it could rise to approximately 30,000 to 32,000 INR.
- If this change is implemented, a major improvement in the employees’ standard of living is expected.
The Role of Fitment Factor
The Fitment Factor is a crucial element in any pay commission. The 8th Pay Commission will be no exception. According to the new formula, the equation for determining the Revised Salary will be: Basic Pay × Fitment Factor.
Experts believe that the Fitment Factor in the upcoming pay commission is likely to range between 2.4 and 3.0. The higher this factor is, the greater the amount of salary received by the employees will be.
Centre’s Stance on DA Merger
It is usually observed that when a new pay commission comes into effect, the Dearness Allowance or DA is merged or included with the basic pay. There is intense speculation about whether the Basic Pay and DA or DR (Dearness Relief) will be merged under the 8th Pay Commission as well.
However, the Central Government has clarified its stance on this matter. The government has stated that there is currently no proposal under consideration to add Dearness Allowance, i.e., DA and DR, to the basic salary. In other words, no final decision has been taken yet regarding the DA merger. However, it is certain that there will be changes in the structure of DA and DR after the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission.
