India, April 10 -- Many salaried employees may notice something unusual in their April 2026 salary credit - a lower take-home amount. This could come as a surprise, especially if there has been no cut in overall pay. The change is not due to a reduction in earnings, but because of a shift in how salaries are being structured.

At the centre of this shift are new wage rules that quietly alter the balance between immediate income and long-term savings.

From April 1, 2026, a new rule has come into effect that changes how salaries are divided. Under this, the basic pay along with dearness allowance must make up at least 50% of an employee's total Cost-to-Company (CTC).

For many employees, especially those whose basic pay was previously kept...