The short answer
At a fitment factor of 2.0, basic pay doubles: the Level 1 minimum would go from ₹18,000 to ₹36,000. But dearness allowance, now 60% of basic pay, is folded into the new pay and restarts at zero. So the real rise in basic plus DA is only about 25%, against about 61% at the 7th Pay Commission's factor of 2.57. No factor has been decided yet.
Why a factor of 2.0 is being discussed
The 8th Pay Commission was set up on 3 November 2025 and is expected to report around May 2027. The fitment factor, the number your basic pay is multiplied by, is the single figure that decides how much pay rises. The staff side (NC-JCM) asked for 3.83 in April 2026. Reports since then suggest the Commission may take a cautious line because of the cost to the Centre and the states, with figures close to the 7th Pay Commission's 2.57, or lower, being discussed.
A factor of 2.0 sits at the low end of that range. It is not a decision. It is a useful reference point because it shows clearly how much of any fitment factor only replaces dearness allowance you already receive.
Why doubling basic pay is not a 100% rise
Today you receive basic pay plus dearness allowance of 60% of basic. When the new pay starts, that DA is absorbed into the new basic pay and DA restarts from zero. So the right comparison is the new basic pay against your current basic pay plus DA, not against basic pay alone.
Real rise = fitment factor ÷ (1 + DA) − 1
With DA at 60%, a factor of 1.60 only keeps basic plus DA where it is. At 2.0, the real rise is about 25%. For example, a Level 6 employee on ₹35,400 basic would move to ₹70,800: double the basic pay, but about 25% more than today's basic plus DA.
Basic pay by level at 2.0, 2.57 and 3.83
Starting basic pay of each level today and at three fitment factors. Pay above the first cell of a level scales the same way.
| Level | Basic pay today | At 2.00 | At 2.57 | At 3.83 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ₹18,000 | ₹36,000 | ₹46,300 | ₹68,900 |
| Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹39,800 | ₹51,100 | ₹76,200 |
| Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹43,400 | ₹55,800 | ₹83,100 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹51,000 | ₹65,500 | ₹97,700 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹58,400 | ₹75,000 | ₹1,11,800 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹70,800 | ₹91,000 | ₹1,35,600 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ₹89,800 | ₹1,15,400 | ₹1,72,000 |
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 | ₹95,200 | ₹1,22,300 | ₹1,82,300 |
| Level 9 | ₹53,100 | ₹1,06,200 | ₹1,36,500 | ₹2,03,400 |
| Level 10 | ₹56,100 | ₹1,12,200 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹2,14,900 |
| Level 11 | ₹67,700 | ₹1,35,400 | ₹1,74,000 | ₹2,59,300 |
| Level 12 | ₹78,800 | ₹1,57,600 | ₹2,02,500 | ₹3,01,800 |
| Level 13 | ₹1,23,100 | ₹2,46,200 | ₹3,16,400 | ₹4,71,500 |
| Level 13A | ₹1,31,100 | ₹2,62,200 | ₹3,36,900 | ₹5,02,100 |
| Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹2,88,400 | ₹3,70,600 | ₹5,52,300 |
| Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 | ₹3,64,400 | ₹4,68,300 | ₹6,97,800 |
| Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 | ₹4,10,800 | ₹5,27,900 | ₹7,86,700 |
| Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 | ₹4,50,000 | ₹5,78,300 | ₹8,61,800 |
| Level 18 | ₹2,50,000 | ₹5,00,000 | ₹6,42,500 | ₹9,57,500 |
How 2.0 compares with other factors
| Fitment factor | Level 1 basic | Real rise in basic + DA |
|---|---|---|
| 1.92 | ₹34,600 | 20% |
| 2.00 | ₹36,000 | 25% |
| 2.28 | ₹41,000 | 42% |
| 2.57 (7th CPC) | ₹46,300 | 61% |
| 2.86 | ₹51,500 | 79% |
| 3.83 (staff demand) | ₹68,900 | 139% |
- Every rise in DA before the new pay starts lowers the real rise at any given factor, because more DA is being absorbed.
- The 7th Pay Commission's 2.57 was 2.25 to absorb 125% DA plus a real rise of about 14%. On today's DA, 2.57 would be a far larger real rise.
- Pensions are usually revised with the same factor, so the same arithmetic applies to basic pension and dearness relief.
What happens next
- The Commission is holding consultations with ministries, unions and pensioner bodies across states.
- Its report is due around May 2027. The government then decides which recommendations to accept.
- Pay commissions have taken effect every ten years from 1 January, so 1 January 2026 is the expected date, with arrears for the months in between. This has not been confirmed.
- Until then, DA continues to be revised twice a year under the 7th Pay Commission rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 8th Pay Commission fitment factor?
It is the multiplier applied to current basic pay to get the new basic pay. The 8th Pay Commission has not recommended one yet. The 7th Pay Commission used 2.57, and the staff side has asked for 3.83.
What will the minimum salary be at a fitment factor of 2.0?
The Level 1 minimum basic pay of ₹18,000 would become ₹36,000. With DA restarting at zero, that is about 25% more than today's basic pay plus DA.
Is a fitment factor of 2.0 confirmed?
No. The Commission has not made any recommendation yet. 2.0 is one of the figures discussed in reports as a cautious option; 2.57 and the staff demand of 3.83 are others.
Why is the real hike lower than the fitment factor suggests?
Because dearness allowance, now 60% of basic pay, is folded into the new basic pay and restarts at zero. A factor of 1.60 only replaces that DA, so only the part above it is a real rise.
Will pensioners get the same fitment factor?
Pension revisions have usually used the same factor as pay. Basic pension would be multiplied by it and dearness relief would restart at zero, so the same real-rise arithmetic applies.
