New Delhi, May 29 -- Inflation, fitment factor or dearness allowance (DA) are not the only factors that will impact the salaries of central government employees under the 8th pay commission. A key but lesser-known element in pay calculations is the "family unit" formula - that estimate how much money an employee needs to support a household.

Now, during the ongoing 8th Pay Commission meetings, different employee bodies are recommending changes for existing family unit formula noting that it no longer reflect the realities of modern Indian families amid the concerns like rising food prices, education and medical inflation.

Under pay commission, family unit represents an employee and their dependents, and based on that it tries estimate h...