What the fitment factor is
New basic pay = current basic pay × fitment factor. The 7th CPC built its factor of 2.57 from the DA of 125% that had built up by 2016 (2.25) plus a real increase of about 14%. The same logic today starts from DA of 63%, which gives a break-even factor of 1.63; everything above that is the real raise.
Fitment factors being discussed
| Fitment factor | Who | Minimum basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1.83 | Seen on calculator and blog sites; no named source | ₹32,900 |
| 1.92 – 2.08 | Attributed to a former Finance Secretary (News24, via Upstox) | ₹34,600 – ₹37,400 |
| 2.28 | Common middle case in media calculators | ₹41,000 |
| 2.57 | What the 7th Pay Commission used in 2016 | ₹46,300 |
| 2.86 | Common top case in media reports (Kotak MF blog range 1.8–2.86) | ₹51,500 |
| 3.833 | NC-JCM Staff Side memorandum, April 2026; also Bharat Pensioners Samaj | ₹69,000 |
Sources: Business Today (15 April 2026), Upstox, Kotak Mutual Fund (24 December 2025), BankBazaar. None of these is an official figure.
Fitment factors of past pay commissions
| Pay commission | Effective from | Fitment factor | Minimum basic pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th CPC | 1 January 2006 | 1.86 | ₹7,000 |
| 7th CPC | 1 January 2016 | 2.57 | ₹18,000 |
| 8th CPC | Expected 1 January 2026 | Not announced | — |
What each factor does to every pay level
New basic for a range of 7th CPC basic pays. Find yours in the pay matrix.
| Basic now | × 1.83 | × 1.92 | × 2.08 | × 2.28 | × 2.57 | × 2.86 | × 3.833 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹18,000 | ₹32,900 | ₹34,600 | ₹37,400 | ₹41,000 | ₹46,300 | ₹51,500 | ₹69,000 |
| ₹25,500 | ₹46,700 | ₹49,000 | ₹53,000 | ₹58,100 | ₹65,500 | ₹72,900 | ₹97,700 |
| ₹35,400 | ₹64,800 | ₹68,000 | ₹73,600 | ₹80,700 | ₹91,000 | ₹1,01,200 | ₹1,35,700 |
| ₹44,900 | ₹82,200 | ₹86,200 | ₹93,400 | ₹1,02,400 | ₹1,15,400 | ₹1,28,400 | ₹1,72,100 |
| ₹56,100 | ₹1,02,700 | ₹1,07,700 | ₹1,16,700 | ₹1,27,900 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹1,60,400 | ₹2,15,000 |
| ₹78,800 | ₹1,44,200 | ₹1,51,300 | ₹1,63,900 | ₹1,79,700 | ₹2,02,500 | ₹2,25,400 | ₹3,02,000 |
| ₹1,23,100 | ₹2,25,300 | ₹2,36,400 | ₹2,56,000 | ₹2,80,700 | ₹3,16,400 | ₹3,52,100 | ₹4,71,800 |
| ₹1,82,200 | ₹3,33,400 | ₹3,49,800 | ₹3,79,000 | ₹4,15,400 | ₹4,68,300 | ₹5,21,100 | ₹6,98,400 |
| ₹2,50,000 | ₹4,57,500 | ₹4,80,000 | ₹5,20,000 | ₹5,70,000 | ₹6,42,500 | ₹7,15,000 | ₹9,58,300 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the fitment factor in the 8th Pay Commission?
It is the number your current basic pay is multiplied by to get your new basic pay. It has not been announced; the 8th CPC will recommend it in its report, due around May 2027.
What was the fitment factor in the 7th Pay Commission?
2.57. It took the old minimum of ₹7,000 to the current minimum basic pay of ₹18,000.
What fitment factor has the staff side demanded?
The NC-JCM Staff Side asked for 3.833 in its April 2026 memorandum, which would make the minimum basic pay ₹69,000. It also asked for a 6% annual increment instead of 3%.
Is the 2.86 fitment factor confirmed?
No. 2.86 is the top of the range quoted in media reports. The government told Parliament in August 2026 that the fitment factor will be decided after the commission reports.
Why is the fitment factor not the same as my salary hike?
The factor applies to basic pay, which already has 63% DA on top today. Because DA restarts at 0, a factor of 1.63 would only keep basic + DA where it is now; the real gain is what is above that.