8th Pay Commission: DA Hike Expected by 2-5% for Central Employees from Jan 2026

• Central government employees and pensioners anticipate a DA/DR hike from January 2026.
• The All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) for November 2025 is 148.2, bringing DA calculation close to 60%.
• Based on current calculations, a 2 percentage point hike (from 58% to 60%) is likely if December's inflation is normal.
• Employee organizations suggest a 3-5% increase is possible if December's AICPI-IW remains high, potentially reaching 61-63%.
• The 8th Pay Commission was notified in November 2025 and is expected to submit recommendations within 18 months.

Why It Matters: Central employees and pensioners could see a 2-5% DA/DR hike from January 2026, with final figures pending December's inflation data.