8th Pay Commission fitment factor: What could Level 6-8 salaries be at 2.0, 2.15, 2.28, and 2.57?

The 8th Pay Commission will determine the revised pay of central government employees, but the fitment factor will play a key role in calculating the new basic pay. Employee and pensioner bodies have suggested different fitment factors, while some experts see a lower factor as more likely. Here is what the minimum basic pay for Level 6, 7 and 8 employees could look like at fitment factors of 2.0, 2.15, 2.28 and 2.57.

The National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has recommended a 3.833 fitment factor, which would take the 7th CPC minimum salary of Rs 18,000 to Rs 69,000. Other organisations, including All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF), Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) and All India New Pension Scheme Employees’ Federation (AINSPEF), have also recommended a 3.83 fitment factor.

Indian Railways' Technical Supervisors' Association (IRTSA) has proposed different fitment factors for different employee levels, ranging from 2.92 to 4.38. For comparison, the fitment factors under the 6th and 7th Pay Commissions were 1.86 and 2.57, respectively.

Manjeet Singh Patel, National President, AINSPEF, said that considering the current dearness allowance and pay-related factors, a 2.1 fitment factor appears to be a strong possibility. However, the actual fitment factor cannot be confirmed yet.

It will be known only after the government notifies the 8th Pay Commission report. For the calculations ahead, four scenarios are considered: 2.0, 2.15, 2.28 and 2.57.

Under the 7th Pay Commission, the minimum basic pay for Level 6 is Rs 35,400. Based on the assumed fitment factors, the revised minimum basic pay could vary significantly. The estimates are calculated by multiplying the existing minimum basic pay by each assumed fitment factor.

The minimum basic pay for Level 7 is Rs 44,900 under the 7th Pay Commission. Applying fitment factors of 2.0, 2.15, 2.28 and 2.57 gives different estimates for the revised minimum basic pay.

Under the 7th Pay Commission, the minimum basic pay for Level 8 is Rs 47,600. The revised minimum basic pay can be estimated by applying the four assumed fitment factors.