The salary increase in the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees in India is expected to be in the range of 30% to 34% based on a projected fitment factor between 1.83 and 2.46. This fitment factor is the multiplier applied to the current basic pay to determine the revised salary. For some estimates, a higher fitment factor as high as 2.86 could mean a salary hike of around 40-50%, but the more realistic projections settle around 30-34%. Key points include:

• The 8th Pay Commission salary revision is expected to be implemented from January 1, 2026.
• The minimum basic salary is expected to increase significantly, potentially raising minimum wages to between ₹32,940 and ₹44,280 depending on the fitment factor applied.
• The Dearness Allowance (DA) will reset to zero and get merged with the basic pay when the 8th Pay Commission takes effect, affecting how the total salary components are calculated.
• The estimated salary hikes are somewhat higher than the 14.29% increase that was seen under the 7th Pay Commission.
• Pensioners will also benefit with their pensions rising proportionally with this fitment factor.

Overall, the 8th Pay Commission is projected to provide a substantial salary increase, likely in the 30-34% range, significantly improving the earnings of central government employees and pensioners starting 2026.