Along with the fitment factor, Dearness Allowance (DA) and family unit formula, a new ‘3,490-calorie’ benchmark has emerged as a key demand before the 8th Pay Commission. Employee unions and staff representatives have urged the commission to adopt updated nutritional standards while calculating minimum pay, arguing that older wage formulas no longer reflect present-day living costs. The proposal links salary calculations to the cost of essential food items such as milk, vegetables, cereals, pulses and other daily necessities required to meet prescribed nutritional needs.

If accepted, the methodology could influence how minimum pay and salary revisions are calculated for central government employees. However, the 8th Pay Commission has not yet taken any decision on the proposal.

The 3,490-calorie formula is based on updated dietary recommendations issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

The proposal has been highlighted by employee organisations, including the Staff Side of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), which argues that previous pay commissions relied on an outdated nutritional benchmark of around 2,700 calories per day.

According to the employee body, salary calculations should reflect current nutritional requirements as well as the rising cost of maintaining a reasonable standard of living.

In its memorandum to the 8th Pay Commission, the NC-JCM said the Dr Wallace Aykroyd formula adopted by earlier pay commissions based on around 2,700 calories is no longer suitable for present-day conditions.

Employee unions argue that inflation, changing consumption patterns and rising household expenses have significantly increased the cost of living since the 7th Pay Commission recommendations were implemented.

They contend that salary calculations should be linked to current expenditure on food, housing, healthcare, education and other essential needs rather than older assumptions used in previous wage formulas.

According to employee representatives, updated nutritional standards provide a more realistic basis for determining minimum wages in today’s economic environment.

The latest ICMR-NIN dietary guidelines classify calorie requirements according to activity levels.

For adults aged 19-39 years, the recommended daily calorie intake is:

• Sedentary activity: Men 2,110 kcal; Women 1,660 kcal
• Moderate activity: Men 2,710 kcal; Women 2,130 kcal
• Heavy activity: Men 3,470 kcal; Women 2,720 kcal

Employee unions have largely focused on the heavy-activity category. They argue that many government jobs involve extensive travel, field duties, irregular schedules, workplace stress and physically demanding responsibilities.

The proposed formula attempts to calculate minimum pay by estimating the cost of maintaining a nutritionally adequate diet.

Under this approach, the prices of essential food items such as cereals, pulses, milk, fruits, vegetables, edible oils, eggs and other necessities are considered while determining the minimum income required for a family.

Supporters of the proposal argue that salary calculations should be linked to actual household expenses rather than older consumption patterns used by previous pay commissions.

As food inflation and living costs rise, they believe the minimum pay formula should be revised accordingly.

The Staff Side of NC-JCM has proposed raising the minimum basic pay to Rs 69,000 under the 8th Pay Commission.

The demand is linked to a proposed fitment factor of 3.83, compared with the current minimum basic pay of Rs 18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission.

The fitment factor is the multiplier used to revise existing basic pay.

Using the proposed formula:

Revised Basic Pay = Existing Basic Pay × Fitment Factor

If a fitment factor of 3.83 is accepted, the minimum basic pay could rise substantially. However, this remains a demand from employee representatives and has not been approved by the government or the commission.

Apart from NC-JCM, the All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) has also supported updated nutritional and living-cost norms while calculating minimum wages.

The federation proposed a monthly requirement of Rs 6,000 per consumption unit for a five-unit family, resulting in a base requirement of Rs 30,000. After adding Dearness Allowance of around 58 per cent, the figure rises to nearly Rs 47,400.

The federation further argued that after accounting for healthcare, education and other modern living expenses, the minimum pay should range between Rs 55,000 and Rs 60,000.

There is no official indication yet that the 8th Pay Commission will adopt the proposed methodology.

The commission is currently consulting employee unions, pensioners’ organisations, government departments and other stakeholders before finalising its recommendations.

Fiscal considerations are also expected to play an important role, as any significant increase in minimum pay would have a substantial impact on government expenditure.

The final recommendations of the commission are yet to be announced.

The 8th Pay Commission is expected to impact more than 1.1 crore beneficiaries, including:

• Central government employees
• Pensioners
• Family pensioners
• Eligible dependants

The commission was constituted on November 3, 2025. Its recommendations are expected to determine future salary and pension structures for lakhs of employees and retirees across the country.

The 3,490-calorie formula is not a government-approved pay rule but a proposal submitted by employee organisations to the 8th Pay Commission.

If accepted, it could influence how minimum pay is calculated by linking salaries more closely to current nutritional requirements and living costs. Supporters believe this would provide a more realistic benchmark for determining wages in today’s economic environment.

The final recommendations of the commission may differ from the demands submitted by employee unions and other stakeholders.