Employee organisations have urged the 8th Pay Commission to revise the minimum basic pay of central government staff from the current ₹18,000 to around ₹48,000, based on an illustrative fitment factor of 2.66. The demand centres on increasing the number of family units used to calculate minimum pay from three to five. These figures remain hypothetical, as the government has not approved any revised pay structure yet.
Why Employee Groups Want Five Family Units
Several employee bodies, including the National Council-JCM, AIDEF, AINPSEF and FNPO, have asked the Commission to consider five family units instead of the existing three while determining minimum pay. The railway employees’ body IRTSA has proposed a range of 4.6 to 4.8 consumption units, covering dependent parents and children. The organisations argue that the current family-size assumptions do not adequately reflect the financial responsibilities of employees.
How the 2.66 Fitment Factor Is Calculated
The calculation begins with the Level 1 basic pay of ₹18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission, to which dearness allowance of 58 per cent, amounting to ₹10,440, is added, taking the total to ₹28,440. This figure is multiplied by five family units and divided by three, arriving at ₹47,400, which is rounded to ₹48,000. Compared with the existing ₹18,000 basic pay, this represents an increase of about 108 per cent, producing an illustrative fitment factor of 2.66.
Estimated Revised Basic Pay Across Pay Levels
Applying the proposed 2.66 fitment factor to current basic pay produces the following illustrative figures for Levels 1 to 5.
| Pay Level | Current Basic Pay (7th CPC) | Estimated Basic Pay (2.66 Factor) | Rounded Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | ₹18,000 | ₹47,880 | ₹48,000 |
| Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹52,934 | ₹53,000 |
| Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹57,722 | ₹58,000 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ₹67,830 | ₹68,000 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹77,672 | ₹78,000 |
The figures show how the same multiplier produces progressively higher revised basic pay as the existing pay level increases. At Level 1, the estimated monthly basic pay rise works out to about ₹30,000.
What the Fitment Factor Means
A fitment factor is a multiplier applied to existing basic pay to arrive at an indicative revised basic salary. A higher basic pay does not automatically translate into the same percentage increase in gross salary or take-home pay, since allowances and deductions may change under the final framework.
Are These Figures Confirmed?
No. The ₹48,000 minimum pay and the 2.66 fitment factor are based on calculations linked to the demands of employee associations, with AINPSEF presenting the five-family-unit computation. The final fitment factor, minimum pay, allowances and salary structure will depend on the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission and subsequent government decisions.
