2 weeks ago
From ₹55 to ₹18,000: How Minimum Basic Pay Changed Across 7 Pay Commissions
In India, a special group called the Pay Commission looks at salaries of government workers.
It happens roughly once every ten years.
The very first Pay Commission in 1946-47 set the lowest salary at only ₹55 a month.
By the time of the 7th Pay Commission, that lowest salary had grown to ₹18,000 a month.
Now, the 8th Pay Commission is working, and it is led by a judge named Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
This group is talking to workers and unions from many parts of India.
Some workers' groups are asking for the lowest salary to become much bigger, between ₹54,000 and ₹72,000 a month.
These are only requests, and the final answer depends on the commission and the government.
The commission's suggestions are expected to be ready by May or June 2027.
Until then, government employees and pensioners are waiting to hear about their future pay and pensions.
The 8th Pay Commission, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, was constituted on 3 November 2025 and given 18 months to submit its report.
Minimum basic pay for central government employees rose from ₹55 under the 1st Pay Commission (1946-47) to ₹18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission (effective 2016).
Key unions have demanded fitment factors between 3.0 and 4.0, proposing minimum basic pay of ₹54,000 to ₹72,000.
The 8th Pay Commission has held meetings in Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha, with more planned in Chennai, Puducherry, Chandigarh and Rajasthan.
The commission's recommendations are expected to be tabled before the Union Cabinet in May-June 2027, with the final decision resting with the government.
- Who
- The 8th Pay Commission under the chairmanship of Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, central government employees, pensioners and employee unions.
- What
- Reviewing salaries, pensions, allowances and benefits for central government employees, while union demands and historical pay trends are being discussed.
- Where
- India; meetings held with stakeholders including in Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha, with more scheduled in Chennai, Puducherry, Chandigarh and Rajasthan.
- When
- Commission constituted on 3 November 2025; recommendations expected before the Union Cabinet in May-June 2027; minimum pay history spans from 1946-47 to 2016.
- Why
- To recommend revisions to central government employees' salaries, pensions, allowances and associated benefits, including a new fitment factor and minimum basic pay.
Views supporting higher pay revisions and union demands
Views expecting moderate revision aligned with historical trends
Fitment factor and minimum basic pay
Views supporting higher pay revisions and union demands
Prominent unions demand fitment factors of 3.0 to 4.0, proposing a minimum basic pay of ₹54,000 to ₹72,000 to account for inflation and rising living costs.
Views expecting moderate revision aligned with historical trends
Discussed demand figures are not final, and the actual increase depends on the commission's recommendations and the government's decision; historically, fitment factors were 1.86 and 2.57 in the 6th and 7th Pay Commissions.
Key facts
- Chairperson
- Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
- Date of constitution
- 3 November 2025
- Timeline
- 18 months to compile report
- Minimum basic pay history
- ₹55 (1st) → ₹80 (2nd) → ₹196 (3rd) → ₹750 (4th) → ₹2,550 (5th) → ₹7,000 (6th) → ₹18,000 (7th)
- Union demands
- Fitment factor 3.0–4.0; proposed minimum pay ₹54,000–₹72,000
- Previous fitment factors
- 1.86 (6th Pay Commission), 2.57 (7th Pay Commission)
- Expected submission
- May-June 2027 to the Union Cabinet








