The term of the 7th Pay Commission has effectively come to an end, and discussions around the 8th Pay Commission have now picked up pace. Central government employees across India are keenly waiting for clarity, especially about salary hikes and arrears. The biggest question on everyone’s mind is how much extra money employees could receive once the new pay commission is implemented.
As of now, the government has not officially announced the exact implementation date of the 8th Pay Commission. However, based on past trends, many experts and employee unions believe that even if the commission is implemented later, salary benefits may be calculated from February 1, 2026, which could result in a sizeable arrears payout.
Why Employees Are Expecting Heavy Arrears
Looking at the history of previous pay commissions, one pattern is clear. While implementation usually happens after a delay, the revised salaries are often applied retrospectively. The 6th Pay Commission was implemented from January 1, 2006, and the 7th Pay Commission from January 1, 2016, even though official approvals came later.
Following the same logic, many believe that the 8th Pay Commission could also be considered effective from Feb 1, 2026, even if the final notification comes months later. This delay-to-benefit gap is exactly what creates large arrears for employees.
Salary Structure Under the 6th Pay Commission
Under the 6th Pay Commission, salaries were calculated using a pay band and grade pay system. For employees equivalent to today’s Level-1, the basic pay was around ₹7,000. On top of this, dearness allowance was around 125 percent. House Rent Allowance depended on the city category, and transport allowance was added separately.
After combining all components, the approximate gross salary was around ₹19,200 in X cities, ₹18,050 in Y cities, and ₹17,350 in Z cities. While this was considered reasonable at that time, inflation later reduced its real value.
Changes Introduced by the 7th Pay Commission
The 7th Pay Commission removed the grade pay system and introduced the pay matrix. For Level-1 employees, the basic pay was directly fixed at ₹18,000. At the time of implementation, DA was merged into the basic salary, which is why DA initially started from zero.
With HRA and transport allowance recalculated on the new basic pay, the starting gross salary increased significantly. Employees received around ₹24,000 in X cities, ₹22,000 in Y cities, and ₹20,200 in Z cities. This marked a major shift in salary structure.
What Is Being Discussed for the 8th Pay Commission
According to current discussions and early state-level experiments, the 8th Pay Commission is expected to further revise the pay matrix. Reports suggest that DA up to around 175 percent may be merged into the basic pay. This could push the Level-1 basic salary to somewhere between ₹18,000 and ₹20,000 higher than before.
After recalculating HRA and transport allowance on the revised basic, total gross salary figures are expected to rise sharply. Some estimates suggest monthly salaries could cross ₹50,000 depending on the city category. These numbers are based on projections and early implementations, such as Assam becoming one of the first states to roll out an 8th Pay-style revision.
Possible Salary Impact From Feb 1, 2026
If the 8th Pay Commission benefits are officially counted from Feb 1, 2026, employees could receive arrears for several months at once. This could mean a lump sum payout running into lakhs of rupees, depending on pay level, city category, and delay period. However, final figures will depend on official recommendations and approval.
Disclaimer
This article is written for general informational purposes only and is based on current discussions, employee union expectations, and past pay commission trends. The 8th Pay Commission has not yet been officially notified by the Government of India. Salary figures, arrears estimates, and the effective date including Feb 1, 2026, are speculative until confirmed through official government notifications. Readers are advised to verify information from authorized government sources before making financial decisions.