Since the official announcement of the 8th Pay Commission, government employees have been concerned about its implementation date. In response, the government has confirmed that the 8th Pay Commission will take effect from January 1, 2026. However, the precise timeline for the formation of the commission has not yet been disclosed. Based on past trends, it can be estimated how many months after the announcement the committee might be formed. To note, the decision to establish the 8th Pay Commission was publicly made on January 17, 2025.
When will the 8th Pay Commission be implemented
If we look at the history, the formation of pay commissions has taken different times. Speaking to the Economic Times, Alay Razvi, Managing Partner and Legal Expert, Accord Juris, explained the timelines of previous pay commissions.
- 7th Pay Commission: Announced on September 25, 2013 and formally constituted on February 28, 2014 – a gap of about five months.
- 6th Pay Commission: Announced in July 2006 and constituted in October 2006, a gap of about three months.
- 5th Pay Commission: Approved in April 1994 and formally constituted in June 1994, a gap of just two months.
Looking at this, it is clear that the committee is formed within a few months after the announcement. Although there is no fixed time limit for this, it is estimated that if it follows the previous pattern, the 8th Pay Commission may be formed between March and July 2025.
What is the role of pay commissions?
Experts say that the government usually constitutes a new pay commission every decade, so that the salary structure, pension and allowances of government employees can be re-evaluated. In these recommendations, the economic situation, inflation and other financial aspects are taken into account, so that the employees can get proper compensation. Let us tell you, with this commission to be implemented in 2026, now all eyes are on when the government formally constitutes the 8th Pay Commission. This move will affect lakhs of central government employees and pensioners.
How much can the fitment factor increase
The fitment factor determines the salary hike. In the 7th Pay Commission, this factor was 2.57, due to which the basic salary of Level-1 employees increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000. At the same time, after adding Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance, the total salary was Rs 36,020. But, if the fitment factor increases to 2.86 in the 8th Pay Commission, which is being estimated, then the basic salary of Level-1 can increase from Rs 18,000 to Rs 51,480.
