India's 8th Pay Commission prepares major salary boost for central employees and pensioners

The government’s 8th Pay Commission has closed the memorandum submission window on June 15, ending the first major phase of consultations. Union representatives have submitted demands that focus on a sharp increase in the minimum basic pay and a higher fit‑ment factor – currently 2.57 – with unions seeking it to be raised to 3.83. If adopted, the change could lift salaries by up to roughly ₹51,000 for many central staff and substantially improve pension benefits for about 6.9 million retirees.

The commission is now moving to a review stage, analysing the submissions before drafting its final report. It has also begun a state‑wise tour, with meetings scheduled in Lucknow (June 22‑23), Bhubaneswar (July 6‑7) and Kolkata (July 9‑10), after earlier consultations in Delhi, Ladakh, Jammu‑Kashmir, Hyderabad and Maharashtra. Separate from the fit‑ment factor, the government has already raised the inflation allowance (DA) to about 60 % for employees, with further adjustments expected later in the year.