8th Pay Commission: Central Govt Employees to See Massive Salary Hikes from 2026

• The 8th Pay Commission is set to commence from January 1, 2026, with arrears calculated from this date.
• Announced by the Narendra Modi government, the commission will focus on salary increases and the fitment factor.
• Recommendations are typically implemented every 10 years, following the 7th Pay Commission's end on December 31, 2025.
• A fitment factor of 2.15 (as suggested by experts) could significantly raise basic pay across 18 employee levels.
• Level 18 employees, including top officials like the Cabinet Secretary, could see salaries jump from Rs. 2,50,000 to Rs. 5,37,500.

Why It Matters: Central government employees anticipate substantial salary hikes and arrears from January 2026 under the 8th Pay Commission.