Minimum Wages
Minimum Wage in India: Latest Rates and Complete Guide
In this post, we will discuss the latest minimum wage rates in India and break them down clearly and simply. You will find daily and monthly wages, state-wise updates, and all the key points you need to know.
Let’s look at these sections in detail:Â
What is the Minimum Wage in India?
The Minimum Wages Act was passed in 1948 to fix the minimum wages that employers must pay for specific jobs listed in India. These rates apply to all workers, whether skilled or unskilled.
The term scheduled employment simply means the types of jobs listed under this law, along with any work connected to those jobs. In cases where an industry has fewer than 1,000 workers in that state, the minimum wage rules for that job do not apply.
Minimum Wage in India Per Day
The minimum wage per day in India varies by state, worker skill level, and type of work. The Central Government updates these wage rates from time to time, usually in April and October. The latest revision came into effect on 1 October 2024.
Right now, the lowest daily wage is Rs 783 for unskilled workers, and the highest daily wage is Rs 1,035 for highly skilled workers.
Minimum Wage in India Per Month
In India, the monthly minimum wage varies by state or union territory, industry type, and whether the worker is unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, or highly skilled. Every state follows its own rules, and wages can also differ for urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.
As per the Central Government, the monthly minimum wages are as follows:
- Unskilled workers: Rs 20,358 per month
- Semi-skilled workers: Rs 22,568 per month
- Skilled workers: Rs 24,804 per month
- Highly skilled workers: Rs 26,910 per month
Minimum Wage for Skilled Labour in India
The Central Government has set the minimum wage for skilled workers in India at Rs 24,804 per month or Rs 954 per day. This amount can change from one state to another based on the type of work and the area. Skilled workers are people who can do their job well on their own. They know their work well and can deliver high-quality results without much help.
Minimum Wage for Unskilled Labour in India
The central government has set the minimum wage for unskilled workers at Rs 20,358 per month, or Rs 783 per day. This amount can vary by state, type of work, and area. Unskilled workers are those who perform basic jobs that do not require prior experience. They only need a little training in the beginning to understand the tools and machines they will be using.
Minimum Wages in Andaman And Nicobar
The Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has revised the minimum wages with effect from 1 July 2026. The revision includes the latest changes in Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) and applies to all categories of employment, including scheduled employments, shops and commercial establishments across the Union Territory.
| Class of Employment | Total Per Day | Total Per Month |
| Unskilled | ₹660 | ₹17,160 |
| Semi-Skilled/Unskilled Supervisory | ₹741 | ₹19,266 |
| Skilled/Clerical | ₹864 | ₹22,464 |
| Highly Skilled | ₹947 | ₹24,622 |
Minimum Wages in Lakshadweep
The following table shows the minimum wages applicable in Lakshadweep from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026, based on the CLC VDA rates for the applicable category.
| Skill Category | Basic Wage (₹/month) | VDA (₹/month) | Total Minimum Wage (₹/month) | Daily Wage (₹) |
| Unskilled | 9,100 | 5,356 | 14,456 | 556 |
| Semi-skilled | 10,660 | 6,240 | 16,900 | 650 |
| Skilled | 12,844 | 7,462 | 20,306 | 781 |
| Highly Skilled | 15,054 | 8,814 | 23,868 | 918 |
Minimum Wages in Arunachal Pradesh
There has been no new official revision of state-level minimum wages for the private sector in Arunachal Pradesh since 2016. As a result, the minimum wage structure for Arunachal Pradesh in 2026 remains largely unchanged.
| Skill Category | Area I (Monthly) | Area II (Monthly) | Area I (Daily) | Area II (Daily) |
| Unskilled | ₹6,000 | ₹6,600 | ₹200 | ₹220 |
| Semi-Skilled | ₹6,300 | ₹6,900 | ₹210 | ₹230 |
| Skilled | ₹6,600 | ₹7,200 | ₹220 | ₹240 |
Minimum Wages in Tripura
The minimum wages in Tripura for Shops and Establishments have been revised with effect from 1 April 2026.
The revised monthly minimum wage rates are given below:
| Category of Workers/Employees | Basic Wage per Month | Present VDA per Month | Total Minimum Wage per Month |
| Skilled | ₹8,739 | ₹81.54 | ₹9,909 |
| Semi-Skilled | ₹7,814 | ₹72.91 | ₹8,860 |
| Unskilled | ₹7,123 | ₹66.46 | ₹8,077 |
Skilled Workers:Â
The skilled category includes employees such as Accountants, Sarkars, Welders, Fitters, Mechanics, Machine Men, Head Mistrys, Mistrys, Radio Mechanics, Printers, Dry Cleaners, Photographers, Clerks, Salesmen, Compounders, Pharmacists, Cashiers and Data Entry Operators.
Minimum Wages in Madhya Pradesh
The minimum wages in Madhya Pradesh for Shops and Establishments have been revised with effect from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026.
The revised minimum wage rates, including VDA, are given below:
| Class of Employment | Minimum Wage per Month | Minimum Wage per Day | VDA per Month | VDA per Day | Total Wage per Month | Total Wage per Day |
| Unskilled | ₹9,575 | ₹368.27 | ₹2,850 | ₹109.62 | ₹12,425 | ₹477.89 |
| Semi-Skilled | ₹10,571 | ₹406.58 | ₹2,850 | ₹109.62 | ₹13,421 | ₹516.20 |
| Skilled | ₹12,294 | ₹472.85 | ₹2,850 | ₹109.62 | ₹15,144 | ₹582.47 |
| Highly Skilled | ₹13,919 | ₹535.35 | ₹2,850 | ₹109.62 | ₹16,769 | ₹644.97 |
Minimum Wages in Uttar Pradesh
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has revised the minimum wages for workers in the state. The notification was issued on 17 April 2026.
| Skill Category | Category / Area | Basic Wage (₹/month) | VDA (₹/month) | Daily Wage (₹) | Total Wage (₹/month) |
| Un-skilled | Category-I – Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad Districts | 12,885 | 805 | 526.54 | 13,690 |
| Semi-skilled | Category-I – Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad Districts | 14,173 | 886 | 579.19 | 15,059 |
| Skilled | Category-I – Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad Districts | 15,876 | 992 | 648.77 | 16,868 |
| Un-skilled | Category-II – Districts having Nagar Nigam | 12,241 | 765 | 500.23 | 13,006 |
| Semi-skilled | Category-II – Districts having Nagar Nigam | 13,464 | 842 | 550.23 | 14,306 |
| Skilled | Category-II – Districts having Nagar Nigam | 15,082 | 943 | 616.35 | 16,025 |
| Un-skilled | Category-III – Districts other than Category-I and II | 11,629 | 727 | 475.23 | 12,356 |
| Semi-skilled | Category-III – Districts other than Category-I and II | 12,791 | 799 | 522.69 | 13,590 |
| Skilled | Category-III – Districts other than Category-I and II | 14,328 | 896 | 585.54 | 15,224 |
Minimum Wages in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh’s minimum wage rates often vary by zone (plains vs. hill regions) in addition to skill category, reflecting cost-of-living differences across the state. Employers with multi-location teams in Himachal Pradesh should confirm which zone applies to each work site.
Minimum wages for Shops and Commercial Establishments in Himachal Pradesh were revised with effect from 1 April 2025.
| S.No. | Category | Where no benefit is provided | Where food, tea, combined accommodation is provided | ||
| Per Day (₹) | Per Month (₹) | Per Day (₹) | Per Month (₹) | ||
| 1 | Unskilled | 425 | 12,750 | 394 | 11,820 |
| 2 | Semi-Skilled | 449 | 13,470 | 439 | 13,170 |
| 3 | Skilled | 493 | 14,790 | 454 | 13,620 |
| 4 | Highly Skilled | 513 | 15,390 | 475 | 14,250 |
Calculation of Minimum Wages in India
In India, minimum wages are usually calculated using a 26-day rule based on a six-day workweek, although most workers are paid for all 30 days in a month. Every state sets and updates its own minimum wage depending on local conditions.
Wages are often fixed on a daily basis and include something called Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) for unorganised workers. The amount of minimum wage depends on the type of work, the skill level of the worker, and the cost of living. States use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for industrial workers to adjust wages for inflation.
States fix minimum wages for different types of work like:
- Time-rate work
- Piece-rate work
- Overtime work
Several factors affect the minimum wage in each state, such as:
- Average income levels in the state
- Cost of essential items
- Worker productivity
- Local economic conditions
Minimum wages are very important in India. They help protect workers from exploitation and make sure employees can earn enough to support their families. At the same time, employers need to follow these rules carefully to avoid legal problems and to pay their workers fairly.
Offences & Penalties
Employers must follow the minimum wages set by law to avoid trouble. If they do not comply, they can face:
- A fine of up to ₹1,00,000.
- Jail for up to three months in case of serious violations.
- Legal complaints from workers or labour unions.
This is why knowing the state-wise minimum wages is very important for companies, as the rules are strictly enforced. Learn more about labour law compliance in India.
With this, we have reached the end of our post on minimum wages in India. If you have any questions or need clarification on any point, feel free to share them in the comments below.
FAQs
Q. What is the minimum wage in India?
Ans: In India, the minimum wage for workers is Rs. 783 per day, which amounts to about Rs. 20,358 per month.
Q. What are the components of minimum wages in India?
Ans: Minimum wages in India include a basic salary along with different allowances. These allowances can consist of a variable dearness allowance (VDA), a house rent allowance (HRA), or any other special allowance granted by the employer.
Q. Can a state's minimum wage be lower than the national minimum wage in India?
Ans: No. In India, a state cannot set its minimum wage lower than the central minimum wage. According to the Minimum Wages Act of 1948, every state must ensure that its minimum wage is at least equal to the minimum wage set by the central government.
Q. Who decides the minimum wage in India?
Ans: In India, the minimum wage for workers is fixed by both the Central and State Governments under the Minimum Wages Act of 1948.
