Remember 2016? That year when the 7th Pay Commission came into effect, and your salary saw a magical increase overnight? That magic was called the Fitment Factor of 2.57. This single number transformed a minimum basic salary of ₹7,000 to ₹18,000. Every employee’s face was beaming with joy.
8th Pay Commission: Now, 10 years later, the clock is ticking towards another milestone. The 8th Pay Commission is being discussed, but this time, a new number is circulating – the Fitment Factor of 1.92. Hearing this number, many employees are wondering: “Will this time be as magical as before? Or will it fall short of expectations?”
So, let’s compare the 7th and 8th Pay Commissions directly and see what the actual impact will be on your basic salary of ₹30,000, ₹50,000, or ₹80,000, if the Fitment Factor remains at 1.92. This is a story of expectations, numbers, and your pocket.
Flashback: The ‘magic’ of the 7th Pay Commission
When the 7th Pay Commission was implemented in 2016, it introduced a fitment factor of 2.57. This meant that your basic pay under the 6th Pay Commission (pay band + grade pay) was directly multiplied by 2.57. This was a very significant and historic increase.
What about this time? The truth about the 1.92 fitment factor.
There has been no official announcement regarding the 8th Pay Commission yet, but reports and discussions among experts suggest that a fitment factor of 1.92 is most likely. This would mean that your current basic salary under the 7th Pay Commission will be multiplied by 1.92.
Case Study 1: Impact on a basic salary of ₹30,000
Let’s assume your current basic salary under the 7th Pay Commission is ₹30,000. With a fitment factor of 1.92, your new basic salary would be: New Basic Salary = ₹30,000 x 1.92 = ₹57,600 Increase: ₹27,600
Direct comparison at a ₹30,000 basic salary: 7th vs 8th Pay Commission
Now let’s make a real comparison. To receive a basic salary of ₹30,000 under the 7th Pay Commission, your basic salary under the 6th Pay Commission would have been approximately ₹11,673. Increase under the 7th CPC: ₹30,000 – ₹11,673 = ₹18,327 Increase under the 8th CPC: ₹57,600 – ₹30,000 = ₹27,600 Result: Even though the fitment factor of 1.92 is lower than 2.57, you are actually receiving a greater monetary benefit under the 8th Pay Commission.
Case Study 2: Impact on a basic salary of ₹50,000
Now let’s see what happens if your current basic salary is ₹50,000. New basic salary = ₹50,000 x 1.92 = ₹96,000. Increase: ₹46,000
Direct comparison at a basic salary of ₹50,000: 7th vs 8th Pay Commission
To receive a basic salary of ₹50,000 under the 7th Pay Commission, your basic salary under the 6th Pay Commission would have been approximately ₹19,455. Increase under the 7th CPC: ₹50,000 – ₹19,455 = ₹30,545 Increase under the 8th CPC: ₹96,000 – ₹50,000 = ₹46,000 Conclusion: Here again, the fitment factor of 1.92 provides a greater real monetary benefit than the 7th Pay Commission.
Case Study 3: Impact on a basic salary of ₹80,000
Let’s now look at the salary of a senior-level employee whose current basic salary is ₹80,000. New basic salary: ₹80,000 x 1.92 = ₹1,53,600 Salary increase: ₹73,600
Direct comparison at a basic salary of ₹80,000: 7th vs 8th Pay Commission
To receive a basic salary of ₹80,000 under the 7th Pay Commission, your basic salary under the 6th Pay Commission would have been approximately ₹31,128. Increase under the 7th CPC: ₹80,000 – ₹31,128 = ₹48,872; Increase under the 8th CPC: ₹1,53,600 – ₹80,000 = ₹73,600. Result: Here too, the 8th Pay Commission is the clear winner.
How can a lower factor lead to greater benefit?
The answer lies in the “base effect.” Your basic salary was already significantly increased under the 7th Pay Commission. Therefore, even with the 1.92 factor applied to this higher base salary, the overall increase in rupees is greater than the increase calculated using the 2.57 factor applied to the lower base salary of the 6th Pay Commission.
Don’t just look at the numbers; look at your actual take-home pay.
While the 1.92 fitment factor in the 8th Pay Commission may sound “disappointing” compared to 2.57 in the 7th Pay Commission, our analysis shows that this is only part of the story. In reality, the increase in salary in monetary terms could actually be even better than that of the 7th Pay Commission.
