Could the 8th Pay Commission recommend a higher annual increment than the current 3%? A hypothetical comparison shows that even a 2-percentage-point increase to 5% could significantly boost the basic pay of central government employees over five years. Basudha DasUpdated Jul 28, 2026 7:35 AM IST A Level 6 employee, starting with a basic pay of ₹35,400, would see basic pay rise to ₹41,100 under a 3% increment, compared with ₹47,600 under.