The Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16 2025 approved setting up the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and allowances of 65 lakh pensioners. As per media reports the pay panel will base the fitment factor in the range of 1.92 to 2.86. According to reports the minimum basic salary of a government employee would go up from Rs 18000 per month to Rs 51480. The minimum pension based on the same factor will go up to from Rs 9000 currently to Rs 25740. Here is how the  Pay Commissions have evolved:  7th Pay Commission (February 2014-November 2016): Minimum pay raised to Rs 18000/month; maximum pay Rs 250000/month Recommended a new pay matrix instead of grade pay system Focused on allowances and work-life balance Beneficiaries: Over 10 million (including pensioners) 6th Pay Commission (October 2006 - March 2008): Introduced Pay Bands and Grade Pay Minimum salary: Rs 7000/month; maximum salary: Rs 80000/month Emphasized performance-related incentive Beneficiaries: Nearly 6 million employees 5th Pay Commission (April 1994 - January 1997): Recommended a minimum pay of Rs 2550 maximum of Rs 26000/month. Suggested reducing the number of pay scale Focused on modernizing government office Beneficiaries: Around 4 million employees. 4th Pay Commission (September 1983 - December 1986): Recommended a minimum salary of Rs 750/month maximum of Rs 8000/month. Focused on reducing disparities in salaries across rank. Introduced a performance-linked pay structure Beneficiaries: Over 3.5 million employees 3rd Pay Commission (April 1970 - March 1973): Recommended minimum pay of Rs 185/month maximum of Rs 3500 per month. It emphasized salary parity between public and private sectors. 2nd Pay Commission (August 1957 - August 1959): Focused on balancing the economy and living cost Recommended the minimum wage of Rs 80/month; maximum of Rs 3000 per month. Introduced the socialistic pattern of society Beneficiaries: Approximately 2.5 million employees 1st Pay Commission (May 1946 - May 1947): Focused on rationalizing the pay structure after Indias independence Introduced the concept of the “living wage Minimum salary: Rs 55/month; maximum salary: Rs 2000/month Beneficiaries: Around 1.5 million employees