How much is CDS officer salary?

The Salary ranges between INR 56,100 – 1,77,500 at the Lieutenant level (i.e. after completing training).

What is the CDS training period salary?

During the training period, the lady and gentlemen candidates are given a fixed stipend of INR 56,100 per month.

What is the CDS OTA salary?

The salary of the CDS OTA category is the same as other categories i.e. 56,100 per month.

CDS Salary 2024, In-Hand Salary, Structure, and Allowances

Table of Contents

CDS Salary 2024

The UPSC notifies the salary details for CDS 2024 candidates in its official notification. Aspirants preparing for the CDS exam should refer to this post to understand the monthly salary for CDS positions. The CDS exam is highly competitive, with numerous candidates applying for it each year. Successful candidates are appointed as Officers in the Indian Defence forces. This article provides information on the UPSC CDS Salary, Pay Scale, Allowances, and Promotion Scale for Officers recruited in the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.

CDS Salary

The CDS Notification 2024 is already released, and many aspirants seek information about the salary. The salary structure for CDS is determined by the CDS pay scale, which defines the salary range and growth opportunities based on factors like rank, experience, and job duties. This structured system ensures fair compensation for CDS personnel, aligning pay with their roles and responsibilities.

The Post-Wise Salary outlines the specific salary corresponding to individual CDS positions, reflecting differences in seniority, skills, and level of responsibilities inherent to each role.

CDS Salary During Training Period

Candidates who successfully clear the UPSC CDS exam and are admitted to the Army, Navy, or Air Force must undergo Cadet Training. During this training period, Army Officers, as well as their counterparts in the Navy and Air Force, receive a Fixed Stipend of Rs 56,100 per month, which marks the starting salary in Level 10. It’s essential to understand that the training duration is not counted as commissioned service. After commissioning, candidates receive any remaining arrears based on their pay matrix, retroactively from their training period.

Download FREE EBOOK for CDS 2024 Preparation

CDS Salary & Pay Scale of Officers in Army/Air Force/Navy 2024

The salary and pay scale of officers in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy play a crucial role in attracting and retaining talented individuals who aspire to serve in the armed forces. The compensation offered to officers is designed to reflect their responsibilities, rank, and years of service. Candidates can check the rank-wise Salary Structure in the table below –

Rank	Level	Pay Scale
Lieutenant	Level 10	Rs 56,100-1,77,500
Captain	Level 10B	Rs 61,300-1,93,900
Major	Level 11	Rs 69,400-2,07,200
Lt Colonel	Level 12A	Rs 1,21,200-2,12,400
Colonel	Level 13	Rs 1,30,600-2,15,900
Brigadier	Level 13A	Rs 1,39,600-2,17,600
Major General	Level 14	Rs 1,44,200-2,18,200
Lieutenant General HAG Scale	Level 15	Rs 1,82,200-2,24,100
HAG+Scale	Level 16	Rs 2,05,400 – 2,24,400
VCOAS/Army CDR/ Lieutenant General (NFSG)	Level 17	Rs 2,25,000 (fixed)
COAS	Level 18	Rs 2,50,000 (fixed)

Military Service Pay (MSP)

Cadets recruited as Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel or Brigadier in Army or equivalent posts in Air Force and Navy are offered Military Service Pay (MSP).

UPSC CDS Allowances & Perks for IMA/INA/OTA/AFA

Apart from a decent salary package, the officers are eligible to get a few Allowances such as Flying Allowance, Dearness Allowance, High Altitude Allowance, Uniform Allowance, etc. Have a look at these allowances below.

Allowances	Details
Flying Allowance	Pilots in Level 10 & above pay scale get Rs 25,000 per month as a flying allowance
Dearness Allowance	Same rates as applicable to civilian personnel
Kit Maintenance Allowance	Rs 20,000 annually
Highly Active Field Area Allowance	Rs 16,900 pm
Field Area Allowance	Rs 10,500 pm
Modified Field Area Allowance	Rs 6,300 pm
High Altitude Allowance	Category-I – Rs 3,400 pm Category-II – Rs 5,300 pm Category-III – Rs 25,000 pm
Siachen Allowance	Rs. 42,500 pm
Uniform allowance	Rs. 20,000 pm
Free Ration	Officers in Peace & Filed Areas get Free ration.
Transport Allowance (TPTA)	Higher TPTA Cities: Rs 7200 + DA pm Other Places: Rs 3600 +DA pm
Children’s Education Allowance (CEA)	Rs. 2250 pm per child for only the eldest two surviving CEA is applicable from kids’ Nursery to 12th class

CDS Promotion Policy

The promotion avenues are different in all the armed forces. Have a look at the promotion policies for officers recruited in Indian Military, Navy, OTA and Air Force below.

Indian Army: Promotion Policy

Candidates can check the Promotion Criteria of different ranks in the Indian Army in the table given below –

Rank	Promotion Criteria
Lieutenant	After completing training
Captain	2 years of commissioned service
Major	6 years of commissioned service
Lieutenant Colonel	13 years of commissioned service
Colonel (Time Scale)	26 years of commissioned service
Colonel	15 years of commissioned service
Brigadier	On Selection
Major General	On Selection
Lieutenant General	On Selection
General	On Selection

Indian Air Force: Promotion Policy

Candidates can check the Promotion Criteria of different ranks in Indian Airforce in the table given below –

Rank	Promotion Criteria
Flying Officer	On Commission
Flight Lieutenant	2 Years of commissioned service
Squadron Leader	6 years of commissioned service
Wing Commander	13 years of commissioned service
Group Captain	26 years of commissioned service
Group Captain (Select)	Selection
Air Commodore	Selection
Air Vice Marshal	Selection
Air Marshal	Selection
Air Chief Marshal	Selection