8th Pay Commission: Central Government Employees’ Minimum Salary Will Be Rs 65,000! Update on DA

8th Pay Commission Update: The government has constituted the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees and pensioners, and numerous meetings regarding this are currently underway. During these meetings, employee organisations are presenting their various demands. If these demands are accepted, there is a strong possibility of a substantial increase in salaries.

A meeting between the Pay Commission and members of the Maharashtra Old Pension Organisation was held in Pune. Several demands were put forward during this meeting. You can read about the specific demands that were raised in detail below.

Know What the Demands Are

During the meeting, the Maharashtra Old Pension Organisation demanded a minimum monthly salary of ₹65,000 and a fitment factor of 3.8 for all central government employees under the ambit of the 8th Pay Commission.

They also presented several other demands. These include a minimum increase of 4% in Dearness Allowance (DA), as well as an upward revision of the limits for House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Travel Allowance. Furthermore, their demands include extending the benefits of the Pay Commission to employees eligible for promotions and to those covered under the Unified Pension Scheme.

The Number of Family Units: A Key Issue

The number of family units constitutes a crucial factor when the Pay Commission determines the minimum wage and fitment factor for central government employees. The Maharashtra pension body has demanded that the 8th Pay Commission’s report include parents in the calculation of the standard family unit, thereby increasing the size of the unit from the current 3 members to 5 members.

What Should the Minimum Wage Be?

Currently, the minimum basic salary for central government employees stands at ₹18,000; however, there is a demand to raise this figure to ₹65,000 per month. According to the Old Pension Organisation, their recommendation for the minimum wage is based on the “Aykroyd Formula” and the concept of a realistic family unit.

The Maharashtra pension body has also demanded an increase in the fitment factor—specifically, raising it from the current 2.57 (under the 7th Pay Commission) to 3.8. Additionally, they have demanded a minimum increase of 4% in the Dearness Allowance (DA) with every revision cycle. They have also requested that the DA be automatically merged with the basic salary once it reaches the 50% mark.

A Surprising Demand Regarding Increments

The Central Employees’ Organisation has demanded that the annual increment be raised from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pension Institution has demanded the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme for approximately 8.5 million employees nationwide who currently fall under the National Pension System (NPS).

Regarding the NPS, the institution asserts that the government should provide a minimum guaranteed return of 1 per cent. Furthermore, they have demanded that the employer’s contribution be increased to 1 per cent. To what extent the Pay Commission accepts these demands will only become clear at the time the recommendations are implemented.