Fitment Factor – If you’re a central government employee, there’s some exciting news on the horizon. The government is reportedly planning to increase the fitment factor — and if it goes through, your basic salary could jump from ₹18,000 to ₹26,000 per month.
Nothing official yet, but discussions are already in motion with the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Expenditure. If all goes well, this might get linked to the upcoming 8th Pay Commission.
So, What Exactly Is the Fitment Factor?
The fitment factor is a number used to calculate your new salary when a Pay Commission is implemented. It multiplies your basic pay to figure out the total revised salary.
For example:
If your basic pay is ₹18,000 and the fitment factor is 2.57, your revised pay becomes ₹46,260.
That’s the current rate under the 7th Pay Commission.
What’s Being Proposed?
As per media buzz, the government is thinking of increasing the fitment factor to 3.68. If approved, this will raise the minimum basic pay from ₹18,000 to ₹26,000.
Let’s look at what that means in numbers:
| Criteria | Current (7th CPC) | Proposed (8th CPC) |
|---|---|---|
| Fitment Factor | 2.57 | 3.68 |
| Minimum Basic Pay | ₹18,000 | ₹26,000 |
| Salary Increase | — | ₹8,000 extra |
That’s a pretty decent bump, especially for those in the lower or mid pay levels.
Real Impact on Take-Home Salary
An increase in basic pay will also push up your DA, HRA, pension, and other allowances, since most of those are linked to your basic pay.
Here’s how it might reflect in actual take-home pay:
| Basic Pay (₹) | Pay @ 2.57 | Pay @ 3.68 | Net Gain (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18,000 | ₹46,260 | ₹66,240 | ₹19,980 |
| 25,500 | ₹65,535 | ₹93,840 | ₹28,305 |
| 35,400 | ₹91,278 | ₹1,30,272 | ₹38,994 |
(Note: These are just examples. Actual salaries will include more components.)
When Will This Happen?
So far, no official notification has been released. But insiders say it might be announced around the same time as the formation of the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected soon.
Bottom Line
If the fitment factor goes from 2.57 to 3.68, it’ll mean a major boost in basic salaries and all related allowances. Great news for lakhs of government employees, especially those in lower and mid-level jobs.
Until an official announcement is out, all eyes are on the Ministry of Finance. Fingers crossed for some good news in the coming months.