8th Pay Commission: Govt Undecided on Jan 2026 Implementation Date

• The government has not yet finalized the implementation date for the 8th Pay Commission, despite employee hopes for January 1, 2026.
• The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Pay Commission were notified on November 3, 2025, with the commission required to submit its report within 18 months.
• There are no current plans to merge Dearness Allowance (DA) or Dearness Relief (DR) with basic pay; both are revised bi-annually based on inflation.
• The fitment factor, crucial for new salary structures, is anticipated to be between 1.83 and 2.46, potentially increasing minimum basic salary from ₹18,000 to ₹32,940-₹44,280.
• The 8th Pay Commission will determine salaries, pensions, and allowances for over 50 lakh employees and 69 lakh pensioners.

Why It Matters: Government employees' future salaries and pensions hinge on the 8th Pay Commission.