7th Pay Commission: Even as the matter of salary revision has been hanging for quite some time, the central government employees are still confused about nitty-gritty of the issue. Even though some employees unions are demanding an increase in minimum salary and fitment factor beyond 7th Pay Commission recommendations, there is no announcement from the government on this issue recently. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a fitment factor hike of 2.57 times. However, some government employees unions demanded a 3.68 times increase in fitment factor given inflationary pressure. They also demand the minimum salary be fixed at Rs 26,000. 
 
The panel noted, "The focus for the commission was that emoluments should be such which attract the right kind of talent by a transparent method, keeping in mind the financial limitations of the government. The attempt has been to provide wages commensurate with comfortable living. The pay structure should also need to address any significant deterioration in real value of emoluments as a consequence of inflation." Clearly, guarding the staff from the vagaries of inflation was much in the panel's mind.
 
Earlier this month, the government denied reports of any pay hike beyond the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. "The minimum pay of Rs 18,000 [per month] and fitment factor of 2.57 are based on the specific recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in the light of the relevant factors taken into account by it. Therefore, no change therein is at present under consideration," said P Radhakrishnan, Minister of State Finance, in a written reply, in the Upper House.
 
Currently, the Central government employees are getting basic pay according to the fitment formula of 2.57 of the basic pay. Fitment factor is a figure used by 7th CPC with which the basic pay in 6th CPC regime (i.e Pay in Pay band + Grade pay) is multiplied in order to fix basic pay in revised pay structure.