Minimum Wages in India

Minimum Wages in India 2026: State-Wise Rates, VDA, and Compliance

State-by-state minimum wage rates for every skill level and zone under the Minimum Wages Act 1948 and Code on Wages 2019. Updated April 2026.

5 States seeded 4 Skill Levels Last updated April 2026

Quick Answer

India does not have a single national minimum wage. The National Floor Wage of Rs 178 per day applies as a baseline, but every state notifies its own rates by skill level and economic zone, typically revised twice a year through VDA adjustments linked to the Consumer Price Index.

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Pick a state, zone, and skill level to see the current monthly and daily rate.

Rates are indicative and sourced from state Labour Department notifications. Confirm the latest notification before payroll run.

Minimum Wage

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State Wise Rates

State-Wise Minimum Wages in India, 2026

Rates per skill level for the top zone of each state. Click a row to load it into the wage lookup widget above.

5 states
State Unskilled Semi-Skilled Skilled Highly Skilled Effective
Delhi ₹17,494 ₹19,279 ₹21,215 ₹23,077 Apr 2026
Karnataka ZONE A ₹13,000 ₹14,000 ₹15,200 ₹16,400 Apr 2026
Maharashtra ZONE A ₹14,300 ₹15,300 ₹16,300 ₹17,300 Jan 2026
Tamil Nadu ZONE A ₹11,200 ₹12,100 ₹13,200 ₹14,400 Apr 2026
West Bengal ZONE A ₹10,700 ₹11,800 ₹12,900 ₹14,100 Jan 2026

Showing top-zone rates. Click any row to open that state in the widget. Sources: Ministry of Labour and Employment, state Labour Departments. Verify the latest notification before payroll run.

How It Works

How Minimum Wages Work in India

National Floor Wage

Rs 178 per day baseline set by the central government under the Minimum Wages Act 1948. States cannot notify rates below this floor.

State Notifications

Each state notifies its own rates by scheduled employment, skill level, and zone. Rates are revised usually every 1 April and 1 October.

VDA Adjustment

Variable Dearness Allowance is a cost-of-living component added on top of basic wage, revised every six months based on CPI for Industrial Workers.

Legal Framework

Minimum Wages Act 1948 and Code on Wages 2019

Existing Act

Minimum Wages Act 1948

  • Empowers states to notify minimum wages for scheduled employments.
  • Defines categories: unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled.
  • Mandates employer to pay at least the notified rate to every covered worker.
  • Requires employers to maintain muster roll and wage register, and display notice boards.
  • Section 22 prescribes penalty: imprisonment up to five years or fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Consolidated Code

Code on Wages 2019

  • Consolidates Minimum Wages Act 1948, Payment of Wages Act 1936, Payment of Bonus Act 1965, and Equal Remuneration Act 1976.
  • Introduces a uniform definition of wages across all four acts.
  • Establishes a statutory Floor Wage framework binding on states.
  • Extends minimum wage coverage to all employees, not only scheduled employments.
  • Enacted in 2019. State rules and full notification still rolling out across India.
Skill Categories

Skill Levels Defined

Every state notifies separate minimum wage rates for these four skill categories.

Unskilled

Work that requires simple duties and no special training or trade skills.

Loader Cleaner Helper Packer Assistant

Semi-Skilled

Work that needs some experience or basic training but not a formal trade certification.

Operator Assistant Packer Store Keeper Delivery Executive

Skilled

Work that requires trade-level skill, training, or an ITI or certificate.

Machine Operator Electrician Welder Carpenter

Highly Skilled

Work that needs advanced training, supervisory duties, or specialised knowledge.

Senior Technician Supervisor Diploma Engineer Shift In-Charge
Zone System

Zone A, B, C, D: Why the Same State Has Different Wages

States with significant cost-of-living differences between regions divide their territory into economic zones.

A

Zone A

Metros and major urban centres with the highest cost of living. Rates are highest in this zone.

Examples: Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata

B

Zone B

Tier-2 cities and large urban municipalities. Rates sit below Zone A but above smaller towns.

Examples: Pune, Nagpur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Lucknow

C

Zone C

Tier-3 cities, municipal councils, and industrial townships.

Examples: Aurangabad, Mysuru, Vadodara, Indore, Kochi

D

Zone D

Rural areas and smaller towns. Rates are lowest but still bound by the National Floor Wage.

Examples: Village panchayats and rural industrial clusters

Employer Checklist

Minimum Wage Compliance Checklist for Indian Employers

01

Pay at least the state-notified rate for every employee by skill category.

02

Apply the correct zone rate based on the place of work, not the head office.

03

Maintain muster roll, wage register, and attendance record.

04

Display a notice board with current wage rates in every workplace.

05

File the half-yearly and annual returns on time with the state Labour Department.

06

Auto-apply Variable Dearness Allowance on the state revision date.

07

Check if an industry-specific schedule applies to your workforce.

08

Record every payment through bank transfer with a dated payslip.

Penalty Warning

Section 22, Minimum Wages Act 1948

Paying less than the notified minimum wage can lead to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both. The employee may also claim the shortfall plus compensation up to ten times the underpaid amount.

Scheduled Employments

Employment Categories Covered

Minimum wages apply across a broad list of industries and scheduled employments. Rates are notified separately for each.

Construction Security Services Manufacturing Retail and Shops Logistics and Transport Healthcare Hospitality Domestic Work Agriculture Beedi and Cigar Textile and Garment IT-enabled Services Automobile Workshops Food Processing Cinema and Theatre Printing Press Schools and Colleges Hospitals and Nursing Homes Plantations Mines and Quarries
Most Searched

Top States for Minimum Wages

Delhi

Skilled rate (top zone)

₹21,215 / month

Effective: Apr 2026

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Maharashtra

Skilled rate (top zone)

₹16,300 / month

Effective: Jan 2026

Open in wage lookup

Karnataka

Skilled rate (top zone)

₹15,200 / month

Effective: Apr 2026

Open in wage lookup

Tamil Nadu

Skilled rate (top zone)

₹13,200 / month

Effective: Apr 2026

Open in wage lookup

West Bengal

Skilled rate (top zone)

₹12,900 / month

Effective: Jan 2026

Open in wage lookup
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions on Minimum Wages in India

Straight answers to the most searched questions about India's minimum wage rules.

What is the minimum wage in India?
India does not have a single national minimum wage. The National Floor Level Minimum Wage of Rs 178 per day acts as a baseline, and each state notifies its own rates by skill level, zone, and scheduled employment under the Minimum Wages Act 1948 and the Code on Wages 2019.
Is there a single national minimum wage in India?
No. The central government notifies a National Floor Wage of Rs 178 per day that states cannot go below, but every state sets its own minimum wage rates through the state Labour Department. Rates vary by state, zone, industry, and skill level.
Who sets minimum wages in India?
State governments notify minimum wages for employments scheduled under the Minimum Wages Act 1948. The central government notifies rates for central sphere employments such as railways, mines, and central public sector undertakings.
How often are minimum wages revised?
Most states revise minimum wages twice a year, usually effective 1 April and 1 October, through Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) adjustments linked to the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers. Basic rates are reviewed at least every five years.
What is VDA in minimum wages?
Variable Dearness Allowance is a cost-of-living component added on top of the basic minimum wage. It is revised every six months based on the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) published by the Labour Bureau.
What is the difference between skilled and unskilled minimum wage?
Skill categories reflect the training and experience needed for the job. Unskilled work needs no special training, semi-skilled work needs some experience, skilled work needs an ITI or certificate, and highly skilled work needs advanced qualifications or supervisory duties. Each category has a separate notified rate.
What are zones A, B, C, and D in minimum wages?
States with significant cost-of-living differences divide their territory into zones. Zone A covers metros and major cities with the highest rates. Zone B covers large urban areas. Zone C covers tier-3 cities and Zone D covers rural areas. Not every state uses zones, and the zone count varies by state.
What is the penalty for not paying minimum wage in India?
Under Section 22 of the Minimum Wages Act 1948, an employer who pays less than the notified minimum wage can face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both. The employee can also claim the shortfall plus compensation of up to ten times the shortfall.
Does the Code on Wages 2019 replace the Minimum Wages Act?
The Code on Wages 2019 consolidates four wage-related laws including the Minimum Wages Act 1948. It introduces a uniform definition of wages and a statutory floor wage framework. The Code has been enacted but state-level rules and full implementation are still being notified.
How do I stay updated with minimum wage changes in my state?
Track the state Labour Department website and subscribe to compliance alerts. HRMS payroll software such as ours auto-applies the latest state minimum wages and VDA, so your team does not miss revisions or file an underpaid payroll.

Reviewed by the HRMS Software in India compliance team · Last updated April 2026 · Sources: Ministry of Labour and Employment, state Labour Departments, Labour Bureau CPI-IW.

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