New Delhi: Today marks a historic milestone for over 1 crore Central Government employees and pensioners. As of January 2026, the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) has officially come into effect. While the final salary revision will be credited after the Justice Ranjana Desai Committee submits its report, the calculation for your Retroactive Arrears has officially started from January 1st.
🚨 ARREARS CALCULATOR START: Every month of delay in the committee’s report is now a “Savings Account” for you. For a Level-1 employee, the estimated difference between old and new pay is approx ₹5,000 per month, which will be paid as a lump sum later!
VERIFIED GOVT SOURCES:
To ensure 100% accuracy, use the official Ministry landing pages below to download the latest AICPI-IW Press Notes:
*Note: If a direct PDF link breaks, these main directory links will always work.
1. Why Your Salary Hasn’t Increased Today?
There is a common confusion: “If the 8th CPC starts in Jan 2026, why is my January salary the same?” Following the precedent of the 7th CPC, the commission usually takes 12-18 months to finalize the Fitment Factor. Once the government notifies the new rates (expected by mid-2027), you will receive the entire difference from Jan 2026 as Arrears.
2. The DA 60% Threshold & Reset Rule
Before the 8th CPC merges everything, one final Dearness Allowance (DA) hike is expected for January 2026. Based on the latest AICPI-IW data (Nov 2025 stood at 148.2), DA is set to increase from 58% to 60%.
| Month | AICPI-IW (Base 2016) | DA Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 147.7 | 58% (Existing) |
| Nov 2025 | 148.2 | 59.93% (Current Avg) |
| Jan 2026 | Target 148.5+ | 60% (Expected) |
Note: Once the 8th Pay Commission is implemented, this 60% DA will be reset to Zero (0%), and the value will be merged into your New Basic Pay using the Fitment Factor.
3. Strategy for 2026 Retirees
If you are retiring in early 2026, you will still benefit from the 8th CPC. Your Pension Commutation and Gratuity (₹25 Lakh) will be recalculated based on the new pay scales once they are officially released.
💰 YOUR ARREARS ARE PILING UP!