8th Pay Commission Why the 60% DA Milestone is the Key to Your Next Salary Hike:

As the term of the 7th Pay Commission officially concluded on December 31, 2025, the buzz around the 8th Pay Commission has intensified. The latest reports suggest a pivotal shift in how the new salary structure might be calculated, specifically linking the fitment factor to the current 60% Dearness Allowance (DA) levels.

Here is the breakdown of the most recent developments as of February 13, 2026:

1. The 60% DA Connection

Based on the CPI-IW data for December 2025 (which stood at 148.2 points), a 2% DA hike has been confirmed for the January–June 2026 cycle.

Current Status: This brings the total DA to 60% (rounded from 60.34%).

Why it matters: Historically, Pay Commissions use the prevailing DA at the time of transition as a base. If the 8th Pay Commission follows the 7th CPC's logic, this 60% DA will likely be merged into the basic pay, forming the foundation for the new fitment factor.

2. Expected Fitment Factor Scenarios

The fitment factor is the multiplier used to arrive at the new basic pay. Current discussions point toward several possibilities:

The 1.60 Multiplier: Some experts argue that 1.60 is the "mathematical minimum" since it simply accounts for the 60% inflation (DA) already merged.

The Employee Demand: Unions are pushing for a fitment factor of 3.00 to 3.68, which would significantly jump the minimum wage.

The Probable Range: Most analysts expect the government to settle between 2.50 and 2.86, similar to the 7th CPC's 2.57.

3. Impact on Salaries (Projections)

If a fitment factor in the range of 2.5 to 2.8 is applied:

Current Basic Pay (7th CPC) | Projected Basic Pay (Low: 2.5) | Projected Basic Pay (High: 2.8) |

₹18,000 (Level 1) ₹45,000 | ₹50,400 |

₹56,100 (Level 10) | ₹1,40,250 | ₹1,57,080 |

₹1,44,200 (Level 14) | ₹3,60,500 | ₹4,03,760 |

4. Implementation Timeline

Official Website Launched: The 8th Central Pay Commission has reportedly launched its official website and started inviting feedback from stakeholders.

Report Submission: The commission usually takes 18 to 24 months to submit its final report.

Effective Date: While the new scales will likely be implemented in 2027, they will be applied retrospectively from January 1, 2026, meaning employees will receive arrears for the intervening period.