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8th Pay Commission: Salary May Rise to Rs 58,500 – Big Decision Expected Soon

Sweta Mitra

February 21, 2026 at 10:46 AM IST · 3 min read

8th Pay Commission: Major news for central government employees. The fitment factor is currently the hottest topic among government officials. Employee unions have presented their requests to the government, and if these are granted, employees will certainly benefit. In simple terms, it’s a multiplier. Your existing basic salary gets multiplied by this figure, leading to your new basic salary. For instance, the fitment factor in the 7th Pay Commission was 2.57, which raised the minimum basic salary from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000. This time around, employee unions are asking for a fitment factor ranging from 2.86 to 3.25.

A peon’s salary could jump from Rs 18,000 to Rs 58,500!

Should the government agree to the unions’ top demand of a 3.25 fitment factor, salaries will see a substantial rise. This means that with a 3.25 fitment factor, an employee currently earning Rs 18,000 would see their salary soar to Rs 58,500. If the fitment factor stays at 3.00, the salary would increase to Rs 54,000. If a 2.86 fitment factor is approved, a peon’s salary would rise from Rs 18,000 to Rs 51,480.

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Crucial Meeting on February 25th

The process for the 8th Pay Commission is moving beyond just paperwork. A significant meeting is set for February 25th, 2026, in New Delhi. The Drafting Committee of the National Council (JCM) will be involved. This meeting aims to create a joint memorandum of demands from both employees and pensioners, which will be presented to the Pay Commission. This adjustment isn’t solely for current employees; the increase in the fitment factor will also directly affect pensions. If the fitment factor goes beyond 3.0, pensioners can expect a notable rise in their monthly benefits.

It’s worth noting that

while the Rs 58,500 figure is hotly debated on social media and in reports, the government has yet to officially confirm any figure. The government will make a final decision based on the country’s economy and budget. Some experts believe the fitment factor could be between 1.83 and 2.5, which could lead to a minimum wage of Rs 35,000 and Rs 45,000.

The biggest question is whether the government can announce this before Holi? This year, Holi is on March 3, 2026. Traditionally, the government increases DA twice a year (January and July), but announcements are often made in March and September/October. Sometimes, announcements are made before major festivals like Holi or Diwali, so that employees can get relief before the festival. However, this is not always possible.

For example, in 2025, Holi fell on March 14th, but the DA hike was announced on March 28th. The second increase of the year was announced on October 1st, 2025, while Diwali fell on October 20th. This means that an announcement before the festival is likely, but there’s no fixed date. Manjeet Singh Patel, national president of the All India NPS Employees Federation, believes the government may make the announcement before Holi, although a formal order could come in April.