8th CPC: AIDEF for Defence ministry's civilian employees suggests 3.833 fitment factor, salary revision, base pay hike

Organisations and unions of employees from the Defence and Railways ministries are set to hold meetings with the 8th central pay commission (CPC) on 13 and 14 May as the body undertakes its consultation process.

Ahead of this, the All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), has submitted its suggestions to the panel, according to a report by The Economic Times. The body represents civilian employees with the defence ministry, which includes accountants, private secretaries, stenographers, technicians, and translators, across departments.

What are the AIDEF's demands?

According to the ET Wealth report, the body has suggested 3.833 fitment factor, higher start pay for different qualifications, minimum pay hike to ₹69,000, revised cadre structures, and risk allowance for hazardous industrial jobs, among other demands.

AIDEF general secretary C Srikumar told the publication they will discuss the issues at their 28th National Convention in Dehradun from 7-18 May.

• Increase in minimum pay: One suggestion includes hiking basic pay for Level 1 employee from ₹18,000 to ₹69,000.
• Hike fitment factor: It has also asked for fitment factor of 3.833 for all central government employees.
• Hardship benefits: They have also suggested ₹15,000 additional monthly risk allowance for employees engaged in hazardous work environments, such as high temperature furnaces, chemical units and ammunition factories. Further, it has also demanded ₹10,000 monthly allowance for workers who work these jobs full-time.

• Changes to pay structure: The body has asked for higher pay scales across employee level and a revision of the pay structure across roles including accountants, artisan staff, artisan technicians, clerks, fire-fighters, lab technicians, and supervisors. Further, there is also demand to base starting pay on employees' qualifications, and merging lower pay scales to bring parity among employees.
• Faster promotions: AIDEF has also requested faster promotions for employees across some departments — e.g. technicians to MTS cadre, fire staff with Delhi Fire Services, account officers to Level 9, etc.
• For employees with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) specifically, the body has asked for staff in accounts, administrative, technical and other roles with improved pay, promotion rate and shorter residency tenure. It has also asked for variable increment to ensure pay parity with other central government employees.

Why do meetings with 8th CPC matter?

The 8th CPC has extended its deadline to latest by 31 May 2026 for stakeholders to submit their memorandum of suggestions ahead of the panel's recommendations. The process for submissions began on 5 March, with earlier deadline on 30 April.

The meetings aim to gather views and inputs from employee unions, labour groups, ministries, pension bodies and other similar stakeholders; which will then be analysed to decide allowances, pension formula and salary structures for the relevant employee and retiree groups. They thus:

• Provide a platform for direct engagement with the defence and railway workforce bodies.
• Provide ideas and inputs for revising pay, salaries, allowances, and service rules.
• Provide early-stage policy consultation and discussion before final recommendations.
• Ensure a transparent and structured government review process.

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