8th Pay Commission: DA rise over past few years fuels demands for higher fitment factor

8th Pay Commission: Demands for a higher fitment factor as Dearness Allowance (DA) rises to 60%. Here is what employee unions are seeking regarding salary revisions, minimum basic pay, DA merger and pension changes.

The three-member 8th Pay Commission panel, headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, held its consultative meeting in Bengaluru on 8 October. The Commission will next hold key discussions in Mumbai on 22 and 23 October.

Over the last 11 months, since the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission on 3 November 2025, the panel has held several important meetings across India, including in Delhi, Ladakh, West Bengal and Puducherry.

In the meetings, several unions and associations have highlighted grievances related to rising inflation and urged the 8th Pay Commission panel to consider them to improve the livelihoods of serving central government employees and pensioners.

The Dearness Allowance (DA) rose from 46% in July 2023 to 60% in January 2026, highlighting the inflationary pressures that central government employees and pensioners underline should be reflected in the next pay revision.

As the 8th Central Pay Commission considers changes to salaries and pensions, employee organizations are pressing for a higher ‘fitment factor’ multiplier and changes to the existing DA mechanism.