8th Pay Commission: Big Salary Hike Looms for Employees, Fitment Factor Key

• The 8th Pay Commission is trending, sparking interest in potential salary and pension increases for central government employees.
• Commission announced Jan 16, 2025, chaired by Ranjana Desai; report expected by April/May 2027, implementation by late 2027/early 2028.
• The 'fitment factor' is crucial; estimates range from 1.83 to 3.0, likely higher than the 7th PC's 2.57.
• Employee unions demand a fitment factor of 2.57 or higher, citing increased cost of living and modern needs.
• Ambit Capital predicts a 30-34% increase in take-home salary, significantly higher than the 7th PC's 14.3% hike.

Why It Matters: 8th Pay Commission promises significant salary hikes for central employees, with the fitment factor being crucial.