₹25,000 pension to ₹87,500? What the 8th Pay Commission has really decided

The 8th Central Pay Commission completes one year today. It was set up on 3 November 2025 and has 18 months to report, which points to around May 2027. Salaries and pensions have not been revised under it so far. Everything circulating as a final new pay figure should be read with that in mind.

The employees' side has reportedly sought a minimum basic pay of ₹69,000 and a fitment factor of 3.833. These are negotiating positions placed before the Commission. They show what staff want. They do not show what the panel will recommend or what the government will accept.

Replying to a Lok Sabha question on 10 August 2026, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the Commission had not submitted its recommendations. The reply announced neither an implementation date nor a fitment factor. Government decisions on those points come after the report, not before it.

Figures such as 2.57, 2.86, 3.00 and 3.15 are widely shared, but none is officially approved. A recent viral claim says a ₹25,000 basic pension could become ₹87,500. That sum simply assumes a factor of 3.5. It may be useful as arithmetic, but it is not a decision.

The Union Cabinet raised Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief from 60% to 63% on 28 October, effective 1 July 2026. It covers about 48.54 lakh employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners, at an annual cost of ₹10,016.10 crore. This is the regular DA revision, separate from the Pay Commission.

The Commission is still holding consultations, including a Mumbai visit in October. Its report, then the government's decision, will settle pay, pensions and the effective date. Until then, online salary calculators can only give estimates. Employees should rely on notifications from the Commission, the Finance Ministry and PIB.