NEW DELHI: As the government prepares to constitute the 8th Central Pay Commission, the battle lines over the “Fitment Factor”—the multiplier that determines your final salary hike—have been drawn. The National Council (Staff Side) has formally submitted a memorandum rejecting the previous formula, citing record inflation since 2016.

In the 7th CPC, a common fitment factor of **2.57x** was applied, raising the minimum basic pay from ₹7,000 to ₹18,000. However, unions argue that this multiplication factor is now obsolete due to the drastic rise in the cost of living indices (AICPI-IW) over the last decade.

The Staff Side’s demand for a 3.68x fitment factor is based on the Aykroyd formula, which calculates the minimum living wage required for a family of three. If accepted, the entry-level salary (Level 1) would jump to roughly ₹26,000, leading to a proportional increase across the entire Pay Matrix right up to the Cabinet Secretary level.

While the Finance Ministry is expected to push for a conservative figure closer to 2.57x or perhaps 3.0x citing fiscal constraints, the final decision will depend on the Commission’s recommendations in 2026.