Fitment Factor Calculator
Short answer
Last checked · 4 key figures from the fact register
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th CPC recommendations | Fitment factor 2.57; minimum pay ₹18,000; maximum pay ₹2,50,000 Official source | PIB: Highlights of Recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (hosted on doe.gov.in) (opens in a new tab) | |
| DA after the 7th CPC | Restarted at 0% from 1 Jan 2016; 2% from 1 Jul 2016 Official order, read on a mirror | Department of Expenditure OM on DA from 1.7.2016 (copy hosted by ICAR) (opens in a new tab) | |
| Dearness Allowance now | 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026 Official source | PIB, 28 Oct 2026: Cabinet approves Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners (w.e.f. 01.07.2026) (opens in a new tab) | |
| Published fitment factor figures | 1.83 to 2.46 (brokerage); 3.0 to 3.25 (postal federation); none official Contested | Outlook Money: 8th Pay Commission completes one-third of its deadline (opens in a new tab) |
A fitment factor of 2.57 sounds like a 157% rise, but it was not, because the old DA was folded into the new pay. This calculator shows the real change in basic plus DA for any factor, the factor that leaves your pay unchanged, and the factor you would need for a rise you want.
Real rise in basic + DA
+12.3%
- New basic pay
- ₹1,02,700
- Basic + DA today
- ₹91,443
- Basic + DA in this scenario
- ₹1,02,700
- Factor that leaves basic + DA unchanged
- 1.63
- Factor needed for a 20% rise
- 1.96
How it is calculated
- Real rise in basic + DA = (new basic × (1 + new DA%)) ÷ (basic × (1 + DA today%)) − 1
- Fitment factor that keeps basic + DA unchanged = (1 + DA today%) ÷ (1 + new DA%)
- Fitment factor needed for a target rise = (1 + DA today%) × (1 + target%) ÷ (1 + new DA%)
- Why it matters: when DA restarts at 0%, a factor below 1 + DA today% is a pay cut on basic + DA, and a factor above it gives a smaller real rise than the headline number suggests.
Estimates for information only; not financial, tax or legal advice.
Worked example
Example (the default inputs): basic pay ₹56,100, DA 63%, test factor 1.83 and DA restarting at 0%. New basic ₹1,02,700 against basic plus DA of ₹91,443 today: a real rise of 12.3%. A factor of 1.63 would leave basic plus DA unchanged, and 1.96 would be needed for a 20% rise. For comparison, in 2016 the DA of 125% was folded in, so the 7th CPC factor of 2.57 against 2.25 (1 + 125%) is a rise of about 14% on basic plus DA.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fitment factor?
A multiplier applied to basic pay when pay is revised. The 7th Pay Commission used one uniform factor, 2.57, for all employees (PIB highlights, 19 November 2015).
Why is the real rise smaller than the factor suggests?
Because DA is paid on top of basic pay today. If DA restarts at 0% on the new pay, the old DA has to be absorbed by the factor first. With DA at 63%, a factor of 1.63 only keeps pay where it is.
What factor will the 8th CPC use?
Unknown. No figure has been announced. Reported estimates and demands range from about 1.83 to over 3, and none is official (Unconfirmed: press reports).
Does the calculator include HRA?
No. Use the salary calculator for basic, DA and HRA together.
Related perks
- LTC (Leave Travel Concession) for Central Government Employees
- CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) Medical Cover
Sources and status
Each figure on this page comes from the fact register. What the badges mean.
- Official sourcechecked 2026-10-22
7th CPC (report dated 19 Nov 2015): recommended implementation 1 Jan 2016; uniform fitment factor 2.57; minimum pay Rs 18,000; maximum pay Rs 2,50,000 (Rs 2,25,000 for the Apex Scale); annual increment 3%; increase of 16% in pay, 63% in allowances and 24% in pension, 23.55% overall; 52 allowances abolished and 36 subsumed. Pensioners: the higher of 50% of notional pay in the new matrix or 2.57 times the current basic pension. HRA recommended at 24%, 16% and 8% of the new basic pay. Gratuity ceiling raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh
PIB: Highlights of Recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (hosted on doe.gov.in)
- Official order, read on a mirrorchecked 2026-10-22
Department of Expenditure OM dated 4 Nov 2016: the revised pay structure effective 1 Jan 2016 included the 125% DA of the old structure, so DA in the revised structure was zero from 1 Jan 2016. DA of 2% of basic pay was admissible from 1 Jul 2016. All allowances continued at existing rates until a final decision on allowances
Department of Expenditure OM on DA from 1.7.2016 (copy hosted by ICAR)
- Official sourcechecked 2026-11-10
DA is 63% of basic pay from 1 July 2026 (up from 60%). PIB, 28 Oct 2026 approval dated 28 October 2026; Department of Expenditure OM No. 1/2(i)/2026-E.II(B) dated 29 October 2026. About 48.54 lakh Central Government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners benefit; the cost is Rs 10,016.10 crore a year
- Contestedchecked 2026-10-22
Published 8th CPC fitment factors are estimates or demands, not decisions. A range of 1.83 to 2.46 is attributed to a brokerage (reported as Ambit Capital's; the report itself was not read). The Federation of National Postal Organisations proposed 3.0 to 3.25 (Outlook Money, 6 May 2026). Some union proposals of about 3.83 are reported. None is official
(Unconfirmed) The brokerage attribution and the union figures come from press reports; the underlying reports were not readOutlook Money: 8th Pay Commission completes one-third of its deadline
Pay levels and roles
Salary scenarios for the 8th Pay Commission, by level and by role. Every figure is a scenario, not an official number.
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Estimates for information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Disclaimer.