8th Pay Commission Update: Recently, significant news has emerged regarding the 8th Pay Commission. Assam has become the first state in the country to announce the formation of the 8th State Pay Commission for its employees, even before the central government. So, the question arises, will state government employees receive the benefits of the 8th Pay Commission before central government employees? Learn the full details here:

Big initiative of Assam government

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on January 1, 2026, that Assam was the first state in the country to establish the 8th Pay Commission. The state government established the commission under the chairmanship of former Additional Chief Secretary Subhas Das.

Will state employees receive benefits first?

Assam has formed its own panel even before the central government has completed the process. Its purpose is to conduct a timely review of the salaries and service conditions of the state’s approximately 700,000 employees and pensioners. Even if the Commission is constituted earlier, its recommendations will generally be considered effective from January 1, 2026.

Typically, state governments await the Central Pay Commission report and the central government’s decision to assess their financial resources. Assam has begun the process, but actual pay increases will only occur after the report is submitted (which could take approximately 18 months).

The Central Government has also initiated the process for the 8th Pay Commission . It is expected to be effective for central employees as well, starting January 1, 2026. If implementation is delayed, employees will be paid their past dues in the form of arrears.

Salary Expectations

According to estimates, the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission could result in a 30% to 34% increase in basic salaries. There is talk that the fitment factor could be increased from 2.57 to 2.86 or higher. Consequently, the current minimum salary of Rs 18,000 is expected to rise to between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000. While Assam may have won the election in terms of formation, the actual amount of the pay increase and the timing of its payment will depend on the respective cabinet approvals of the central and state governments.