Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Why a Lower 8th Pay Commission Factor Could Deliver More
The fitment factor is a number used to calculate new basic salaries for government employees.
The 7th Pay Commission used 2.57, while 2.1 is being discussed for the 8th Pay Commission.
At first, 2.1 looks smaller than 2.57.
However, employees already receive dearness allowance, or DA, in addition to their basic pay.
Patel says the real comparison should include both basic pay and DA.
Under his example, ₹18,000 could become ₹37,800 with a 2.1 factor.
He estimates this could mean a larger effective increase than the previous pay revision.
These figures are only a calculation, because the final factor has not been approved.
The 7th Pay Commission used a 2.57 fitment factor, raising minimum basic pay from ₹7,000 to ₹18,000.
Manjeet Singh Patel says a proposed 2.1 factor should be compared with existing basic pay plus dearness allowance, not basic pay alone.
At a 2.1 factor, the current ₹18,000 minimum basic salary would become ₹37,800.
Patel’s calculation estimates an effective increase of about 53%, compared with roughly 32% under the 7th Pay Commission.
The 2.1 factor is not final, and the 8th Central Pay Commission’s recommendations still require government approval.
- Who
- Central government employees, Manjeet Singh Patel, and the 8th Central Pay Commission.
- What
- A calculation suggests a 2.1 fitment factor could produce a larger effective salary increase than the 7th Pay Commission’s 2.57 factor.
- When
- The 8th Central Pay Commission is still preparing its recommendations; the final factor has not been announced.
- Why
- Because employees already receive dearness allowance, the increase should be measured against existing basic pay plus DA rather than basic pay alone.
Potentially Larger Effective Increase
No Official Decision Yet
How to measure the raise
Potentially Larger Effective Increase
Manjeet Singh Patel argues that the comparison should include existing basic pay plus dearness allowance, making a 2.1 factor potentially more beneficial than it appears.
No Official Decision Yet
The 2.1 factor has not been finalized, and the 8th Central Pay Commission has not issued an official estimate or final pay structure.
What the calculation shows
Potentially Larger Effective Increase
Patel’s illustration estimates an effective increase of around 53% with a 2.1 factor.
No Official Decision Yet
The eventual salary will also depend on allowances and other components, so the basic-pay examples do not represent final take-home salary.
- Previous fitment factor
- The 7th Pay Commission used a 2.57 fitment factor.
- Possible new factor
- Manjeet Singh Patel’s illustration uses a 2.1 fitment factor for the 8th Pay Commission.
- Minimum basic pay
- At 2.1, ₹18,000 would become ₹37,800.
- Pay Level 4 example
- ₹25,500 would become ₹53,550 at a 2.1 factor.
- Pay Level 13 example
- ₹1,23,100 would become ₹2,58,510 at a 2.1 factor.
- Estimated effective increase
- Patel estimates about 53% under the 2.1 illustration, compared with roughly 32% under the 7th Pay Commission.
- Official status
- The 2.1 factor is not final and remains subject to the 8th Commission’s recommendations and government approval.