8th Pay Commission: Not just inflation, but the cost of your plate will also increase your salary; understand the meaning of the employee unions’ ‘3490 calorie’ plan The new formula of ‘3490 calories’ echoed in the 8th Pay Commission; Demand to increase the minimum salary of central employees to ₹ 55,000, know the complete mathematics – ..

These days, the dilemma regarding the 8th Pay Commission constituted for central employees and pensioners has intensified. Usually, whenever there is talk of new pay commission, people’s attention goes only to fitment factor and dearness allowance (DA). But this time a completely different and very scientific method is being discussed to increase the salary of government employees. Employee organizations presented a new challenge to the government ‘3490 Calorie Family Unit Formula’ Have presented.

This formula directly links the prices of milk, vegetables, grains, pulses and other daily essentials in the country to the nutritional requirement of 3,490 calories for the human body. Let us understand in very simple language what is this whole game of ‘3490 calories’ and what effect it will have on the pockets of the employees.

What is this new ‘calorie formula’ of employee organizations?

The staff side of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), an organization that puts forward the demands of government employees before the government, has suggested a major change in its official memorandum.

Till now, ‘Dr Wallace Ackroyd Formula’ has been used to calculate the minimum wage in the country, which was based on the daily nutritional requirement of about 2700 calories. Employee organizations argue that this formula is now outdated and does not accurately reflect the actual cost of living in the country today. Therefore, now the basis should be the completely new nutrition standards set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

ICMR’s new rules: Who needs how many calories?

According to the new dietary guidelines of ICMR and NIN, the amount of energy (calories) a person needs daily depends on the nature of his work (physical labour). Three categories have been created for this:

Employee organizations have made their main demand for this Heavy Activity That means it has been kept based on the standard of around 3490 calories. He says that government jobs involve fieldwork, frequent travelling, long working hours and mental and physical stress, hence the salary should be calculated keeping this highest level in mind.

AINPSEF’s mathematics: Proposal to increase minimum salary from ₹ 55,000 to ₹ 60,000

NC-JCM as well as All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) have also strongly supported this calorie and food cost based pay calculation. The Federation believes that the current minimum wage is very low compared to today’s inflation. He has put forward a practical calculation for the government to fix wages:

• Consumption Unit (expenditure of one person): ₹6,000 per month

• Family Unit of 5 members: ₹30,000 basic expenses

• Dearness Allowance (DA): By adding approximately 58% DA to this, this amount becomes approximately ₹ 47,400.

After this, including the expenses for good education of children, better health services and other needs of today’s modern era, the Federation has claimed that on this scientific basis, the number of central employees in the country Minimum Basic Salary: Between ₹55,000 to ₹60,000 Must be fixed.

How many people’s budget will this have a direct impact on?

For your information, let us tell you that by the Central Government 3 November 2025 The formation of the 8th Pay Commission was approved. Usually, a new pay commission is implemented in the country every 10 years (the first pay commission was made in January 1946).

Whenever the recommendations of this 8th Pay Commission are fully implemented, it will directly benefit the country. More than 1.1 crore central employees, pensioners and their families Will get it. If the government accepts this 3490 calorie formula, it will be the first time in the history of the country when the salary of employees will be decided not just by looking at inflation, but by looking at the actual cost of living a dignified and healthy life.