8th Pay Commission Fitment Factor: How 2.75 and 3.5 Multipliers Could Change Central Government Basic Pay
A fitment factor of 2.75 would take Level 1 basic pay from INR 18,000 to INR 49,500, while 3.5 would push it to INR 63,000. Here are the projections across the pay matrix, what unions want and when the 8th Pay Commission report is due.
A fitment factor of 2.75 would lift the entry-level basic pay of central government employees from INR 18,000 to INR 49,500, while a factor of 3.5 would take it to INR 63,000, according to illustrative projections for the 8th Central Pay Commission. The panel, headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, has completed more than 10 months of its 18-month tenure and is looking at how to overhaul pay for millions of serving employees and pensioners. The fitment factor, the uniform multiplier that converts existing basic pay into revised basic pay, is the most closely watched part of that exercise. These two figures are only scenarios and not recommendations, and the commission is still in the consultation stage and has not announced any final fitment factor.
The 8th Pay Commission was constituted on November 3, 2025 and has 18 months to submit its report. It has held consultations in several states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Ladakh. Its formal recommendations are tentatively expected by May-June 2027, and any revised pay matrix and fitment factor will become official only after review and approval by the Union Cabinet.
What Is the Fitment Factor?
The fitment factor is the multiplier applied to an employee's current basic pay to arrive at the revised basic pay: Revised Basic Pay = Current Basic Pay x Fitment Factor.
Pay commissions have historically adjusted it to protect purchasing power against inflation. The 6th Pay Commission used a factor of 1.86, and the 7th Pay Commission raised it to 2.57. Since revisions usually come once in a decade, the multiplier sets the base for salaries, annual increments and allowances for the next 10 years. 8th Pay Commission Fitment Factor: How 3.83 or 4.0 Multiplier Could Hike Salaries.
Pay Matrix Projections at 2.75 and 3.5
The table below shows how basic pay across selected levels of the pay matrix would change under the two scenarios.
| Pay Matrix Level | 7th CPC Basic Pay | Estimated Basic Pay (2.75) | Estimated Basic Pay (3.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Entry level) | INR 18,000 | INR 49,500 | INR 63,000 |
| Level 2 | INR 19,900 | INR 54,725 | INR 69,650 |
| Level 3 | INR 21,700 | INR 59,675 | INR 75,950 |
| Level 4 | INR 25,500 | INR 70,125 | INR 89,250 |
| Level 5 | INR 29,200 | INR 80,300 | INR 1,02,200 |
| Level 6 | INR 35,400 | INR 97,350 | INR 1,23,900 |
| Level 7 | INR 44,900 | INR 1,23,475 | INR 1,57,150 |
| Level 10 (Group A entry) | INR 56,100 | INR 1,54,275 | INR 1,96,350 |
| Level 13 | INR 1,23,100 | INR 3,38,525 | INR 4,30,850 |
| Level 18 (Cabinet Secretary) | INR 2,50,000 | INR 6,87,500 | INR 8,75,000 |
These figures cover revised basic pay only. Total monthly pay will differ once Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance (TA) are restructured.
What It Means at Level 6 and Level 10
For Level 6 staff, a 2.75 factor would raise basic pay from INR 35,400 to INR 97,350, and a 3.5 factor would take it to INR 1,23,900. For mid-to-senior officers at Level 10, revised basic pay would fall between INR 1.54 lakh and INR 1.96 lakh under the two scenarios. 8th Pay Commission News: Unions Push for 5-Year Salary and Pension Revision Cycles.
Unions Want a Higher Multiplier
Employee associations and pensioner unions have argued that a factor at or just above the 7th Pay Commission's 2.57 would not be enough to offset post-pandemic inflation and rising housing, healthcare and education costs. Several groups have submitted representations for a factor closer to 3.5 or higher, and some demands placed before the commission go up to 4.00.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2026 01:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
