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8th Pay Commission: status, timeline and expected salary
What the 8th Central Pay Commission is, where things stand, when new pay may start, and what starting basic pay could look like at each level.
What is the 8th Pay Commission?
A Central Pay Commission is a body the Government of India sets up, usually once every ten years, to review the pay, allowances and pensions of Central Government employees and pensioners. Its recommendations become the new pay structure once the Government accepts them.
The 7th Pay Commission’s pay structure took effect on 1 January 2016. Following the ten-year pattern, the 8th Pay Commission’s recommendations are widely expected to count from 1 January 2026, even if the new pay is actually paid later, with arrears for the gap.
Where things stand
The Union Government announced the 8th Pay Commission in January 2025 and approved its terms of reference in late 2025, with Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (retired) named as its chair. The Commission was given about 18 months to submit its report, which points to a report in 2027.
After the report, the Government decides what to accept and issues orders. For the 7th CPC, the report came in November 2015 and the new pay was approved in June 2016, counted from January 2016, with arrears paid for the months in between. A similar gap is likely this time.
Nothing about 8th CPC pay has been decided yet. The fitment factor, Pay Matrix, allowances and effective date will only be known when the Government accepts the report. Figures below and in the calculator are estimates.
Expected starting basic pay by level
Under a pay commission, your new basic pay is broadly your old basic pay multiplied by a fitment factor, then placed in the new Pay Matrix. The table shows the starting (entry) basic pay of each 7th CPC level multiplied by three fitment factors that are widely discussed, rounded to the nearest ₹100.
| Level | 7th CPC entry pay | × 1.92 | × 2.28 | × 2.86 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ₹18,000 | ₹34,600 | ₹41,000 | ₹51,500 |
| Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹38,200 | ₹45,400 | ₹56,900 |
| Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹41,700 | ₹49,500 | ₹62,100 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹49,000 | ₹58,100 | ₹72,900 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹56,100 | ₹66,600 | ₹83,500 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹68,000 | ₹80,700 | ₹1,01,200 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹86,200 | ₹1,02,400 | ₹1,28,400 |
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 | ₹91,400 | ₹1,08,500 | ₹1,36,100 |
| Level 9 | ₹53,100 | ₹1,02,000 | ₹1,21,100 | ₹1,51,900 |
| Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹1,07,700 | ₹1,27,900 | ₹1,60,400 |
| Level 11 | ₹67,700 | ₹1,30,000 | ₹1,54,400 | ₹1,93,600 |
| Level 12 | ₹78,800 | ₹1,51,300 | ₹1,79,700 | ₹2,25,400 |
| Level 13 | ₹1,23,100 | ₹2,36,400 | ₹2,80,700 | ₹3,52,100 |
| Level 13A | ₹1,31,100 | ₹2,51,700 | ₹2,98,900 | ₹3,74,900 |
| Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹2,76,900 | ₹3,28,800 | ₹4,12,400 |
| Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 | ₹3,49,800 | ₹4,15,400 | ₹5,21,100 |
| Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 | ₹3,94,400 | ₹4,68,300 | ₹5,87,400 |
| Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 | ₹4,32,000 | ₹5,13,000 | ₹6,43,500 |
| Level 18 | ₹2,50,000 | ₹4,80,000 | ₹5,70,000 | ₹7,15,000 |
These are starting figures for each level. If you have had increments, your own 7th CPC basic pay is higher, and so is the estimate. The calculator lets you choose your exact basic pay.
Why take-home pay rises less than basic pay
Basic pay jumps a lot, but Dearness Allowance (DA) is normally reset to 0% when a new pay commission starts, because the old DA is built into the new basic pay. In January 2026, 7th CPC DA was 60%. So a fitment factor of 2.28 raises basic pay by 128%, while basic pay plus DA rises by a much smaller share. HRA rates can also change when DA resets. See the fitment factor guide for a worked example.
What happens to arrears?
If the 8th CPC counts from 1 January 2026 but the new pay is only paid later, you receive the difference for the months in between as arrears. Arrears are taxable in the year you receive them, but you can reduce the extra tax with relief under Section 89.
See your own 8th CPC estimateChoose your level, basic pay and a fitment factor, then check your arrears.
Open the 8th Pay calculator