The 8th Pay Commission is officially active, with recommendations to take effect from January 1, 2026. Projections suggest a 25–35 per cent hike in minimum basic pay for 50 lakh employees and 65 lakh pensioners. If the fitment factor rises to 2.86, minimum salaries could jump from INR 18,000 to over INR 51,480, significantly boosting armed forces pay.