7th Pay Commission Salary Hike: The 7th Central Pay Commission received different demands regarding the minimum basic salary from Defence Services and the JCM Staff Side. However, the commission recommended a significantly lower amount than what employees and defence personnel had demanded.
The Defence Services demanded a minimum basic salary of Rs 28,000, while the JCM Staff Side sought Rs 26,000. However, the 7th Pay Commission recommended a minimum basic pay of just Rs 18,000.
How Were the Salary Figures Calculated?
JCM Staff Side Demand (Rs 26,000): The demand was based on the same 1957 Indian Labour Conference (ILC) norms, along with an additional 25% provision for education, medical and recreational expenses following a 1991 Supreme Court ruling. It also included a skill factor, with calculations based on January 2014 retail prices across eight major cities.
Defence Services Demand (Rs 28,000): Defence Services followed a completely different calculation method based on per-capita income. They also demanded an increase in the pay ratio between the lowest- and highest-paid employees from 1:11.43 to at least 1:14.
7th Pay Commission Recommendation (Rs 18,000): The commission retained the ILC-norms-based calculation method and recommended Rs 18,000 as the minimum basic pay, falling considerably short of both demands.
Defence asked ₹28,000 minimum pay. Staff side asked ₹26,000. 7th CPC gave ₹18,000.
Big gap. And thats the number every 8th CPC demand is now measured against 👇
What do you think the minimum should be this time? https://t.co/O030vzNBzs
“>November 14, 2026
How Much Did the Minimum Salary Increase?
The recommended minimum basic salary of Rs 18,000 was approximately 3.7 times the Rs 7,000 minimum pay fixed by the 6th Pay Commission, effective from January 1, 2006. Both employee unions had used this earlier figure as a benchmark while presenting their demands.