8th Pay Commission: If the government accepts this demand along with the fitment factor, it will be a bonanza for government employees..

8th Pay Commission Update: Activities regarding the 8th Pay Commission for central government employees and pensioners have gained momentum. Over the past few months, the Commission has been holding consultative meetings with employee unions and stakeholders across various states and Union Territories.

Following successful meetings in Chennai, Puducherry, and Chandigarh in September, crucial meetings are now scheduled for October 2026 in Bengaluru (October 7–8) and Mumbai (October 22–23).

The country's two largest employee unions—the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) and the Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS)—have submitted their recommendations and charters of demands to this three-member panel, which was constituted in November 2025 under the chairmanship of Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.

Here is a look at the key demands these unions have placed before the government regarding minimum salary, the fitment factor, and pensions.

Comparison of Key Demands: NC-JCM vs. BPMS

Both employee organizations have presented their demands to the Commission, taking into account inflation and the rising cost of living:

Comparison of Key Demands for the 8th Pay Commission (NC-JCM vs. BPMS)

NC-JCM Proposal: Minimum Salary of ₹69,000 and Fitment Factor of 3.833

The NC-JCM employee union has demanded that the minimum basic salary be set at ₹69,000.

Fitment Factor of 3.833: ​​The union argues that a fitment factor of 3.833 should be implemented to improve the existing pay structure.

6% Increment: There is a proposal to double the current annual increment rate from 3% to 6%. Nutrition Model: The ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) nutrition model, based on a 3,490-calorie intake, has been suggested for salary calculation. Additionally, separate allocations have been sought for housing, utilities, skill development, and lifestyle expenses.

Pay Level Merger: The union has recommended merging pay levels 2 & 3, 4 & 5, 7 & 8, and 9 & 10 within the pay matrix.

BPMS Proposal: ₹72,000 minimum salary and a 4.00 fitment factor.

The Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS) has demanded an increase even higher than that sought by the NC-JCM.

₹72,000 Basic Pay: BPMS has demanded a minimum basic salary of ₹72,000 and a fitment factor of 4.00.

Linkage to Per Capita Income: In its memorandum of demands, BPMS has argued that the country's per capita net national income was ₹1,03,219 in 2016-17 and rose to ₹1,92,774 in 2024-25 (an increase of 86.76%). Therefore, employee salaries should also increase in proportion to the country's economic growth.

Family of 5 Members: BPMS believes that when calculating salaries, the family unit should be considered as consisting of five members rather than three.

What lies ahead for employees and pensioners?

By October 3, 2026, it will have been 11 months since the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission. The Commission has approximately seven months remaining to submit its final report. It is important to note that the demands for a salary of ₹69,000 or ₹72,000 and a fitment factor of 3.833 or 4.00 are merely proposals put forward by the unions, not the final decision. The Commission will submit its recommendations to the Central Government after gathering data from all states and stakeholders, and the final rates will be formally announced only thereafter.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Money Control. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.