8th Pay Commission: What's changing for government employees?

Business Dec 25, 2025

Big update if you work for the central government: the 8th Pay Commission is here to review pay and pension for over 50 lakh employees and retirees.
This means fresh salary and pension structures are on the way, but state government staff aren't automatically included unless their states decide to join in.

When does it kick in—and by how much?

The new pay is set to start from January 1, 2026, though past commissions have seen some delays before money actually lands in accounts (arrears get paid later).
Early estimates suggest salaries could go up by 20-35%, depending on your grade, with a fitment factor likely between 2.4 and 3.0.