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CDS Salary 2024, Pay Scale, Training Stipend, and CDS Allowances

Sudeshna Paul

Updated on 22nd July, 2024 , 6 min read

The Combined Defense Services or the CDS conducts its recruitment exam every year to recruit eligible candidates into the unit. The exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Thousands of candidates appear for the exam and wish to join CDS because of its attractive salary structure and job profile.

CDS Salary 2024:  The official notification PDF from the Union Public Service Commission contains the UPSC CDS Salary 2024 information. The ranks of the candidates will determine the CDS In-Hand Salary. The pay scale, pay level, and total salary structure all rise in tandem with rank. In addition to the UPSC CDS 2024 Salary, each chosen applicant will be eligible for a number of other benefits.

Read more about the CDS salary, pay scale, training stipend, and more in this article.

CDS Salary 2024

According to the CDS Salary structure, candidates who will begin as Lieutenants in the unit will be entitled to a pay bracket of Rs 56,100 - Rs 1,77,500 per month after successful training and as per the rank of the CDS officer.

The Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) is administered by the UPSC in order to get admission to the IMA/INA/AFA/OTA courses. The CDS recruitment process comprises three crucial steps- written exam, SSB interview, and medical exam.

In addition to the salary, aspirants also need to be aware of the UPSC Job Profile in order to better understand the CDS Exam. 

CDS Salary Overview

Candidates must pass the CDS exam, the SSB interview, and the medical exam to become CDS Commissioned Officers. They are only eligible to get the CDS Salary if they have finished all of these phases. The salaries of CDS officers will increase with each rank. The pay scale for CDS officers is structured as follows:

  • Training Stipend: The training stipend is INR 56,100 per month, which is the beginning salary for CDS officers. For all categories—including OTA.
  • Basic Pay: After the training phase, officers are commissioned and given a base salary that varies according to their academy and designation. Candidates who join the CDS as Lieutenants are paid between Rs. 56,100 and Rs. 1,77,500 a month.
  • Allowances: CDS officers have a number of allowances in addition to their base pay, including the uniform allowance, high altitude allowance, and dearness allowance. 

The CDS Salary 2024 offers a competitive package to its recruited candidates. Check the following table:

ParticularsDetails
Name of the ExamCombined Defence Service Examination
Exam Conducting BodyUnion Public Service Commission
Mode of ExamOffline
Selection StagesWritten Exam, SSB Interview, Medical Test
CDS Training Period SalaryRs. 56,100
CDS Basic PayRs. 56,100 - Rs. 1,77,500 (per month)
CDS AllowancesBasic Pay, Grade Pay, DA, and other allowances
Official Websiteupsc.gov.in

CDS Salary & Pay Scale 2024 in the Army, Air Force, and Navy

The CDS exam is meant to recruit candidates in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. Officers get pay that is relevant to their rank, years of service, and responsibilities. The following table showcases the salary structure as per the rank:

CDS Post Wise Salary Structure

RanksCDS Pay ScalePay Matrix
LieutenantRs. 56,100 - 1,77,500/-    Level 10
CaptainRs. 61,300 - 1,93,900Level 10 B
MajorRs. 69,400 - 2,07,200Level 11
Lieutenant ColonelRs. 1,21,200 - 2,12,400Level 12 A
ColonelRs. 1,30,600 - 2,15,900Level 13
BrigadierRs. 1,39,600 - 2,17,600Level 13 A
Major GeneralRs. 1,44,200 - 2,18,200Level 14
Lieutenant GeneralRs. 1,82,200 - 2,24,100Level 15
HAG + ScaleRs. 2,05,400 - 2,24,400Level 16
VCOAS/ Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG)Rs. 2,25,000 (fixed)   Level 17
COASRs. 2,50,000 (fixed)Level 18

CDS Training Period Salary Vs CDS General Salary

The amount of money that individuals earn during their training period is known as the CDS Training Period salary, whereas the salary that persons receive once their training is completed and they begin regular service with the CDS is known as the CDS General salary. After completing their training period, selected candidates are eligible for the general compensation that is offered under the CDS pay scale. 

CDS Salary ComponentCDS Training Period SalaryCDS General Salary
Basic PayFixed stipend of INR 56,100 per monthRanges from INR 56,100 to INR 1,77,500 per month
Pay LevelLevel 10Varies depending on the rank and pay level of the officer
 
AllowancesNAIncludes grade pay, allowances, and other benefits. Allowances cover various expenses such as housing, medical, and travel.
Commission ServiceNot counted as commission serviceCommission service starts after the training period

UPSC CDS Allowances and Benefits

The CDS officers are entitled to a number of allowances in addition to their monthly salary. These include the Flying Allowance, Dearness Allowance, High Altitude Allowance, Uniform Allowance, etc. Here is a list of all the allowances that CDS officers enjoy:

AllowancesDetails
Flying Allowance

Pilots on pay scales Level 10 and higher receive a flying allowance of Rs 25,000 per month.

Dearness Allowance

The same rates that apply to civilian employees

Kit Maintenance Allowance

An annual allowance of Rs 20,000

High Active Field Area Allowance

Rs 16,900 per month

Field Area Allowance

Rs. 10,500 per month

Modified Field Area AllowanceRs. 6,300 per month
High Altitude Allowance

Category-I – Rs 3,400 per month

Category-II – Rs 5,300 per month

Category-III – Rs 25,000 per month

Siachen Allowance

Rs. 42,500 per month

Uniform Allowance

Rs. 20,000 per month

Free RationOfficers in Peace & Filed Areas get Free ration.
Transport Allowance (TPTA)

Higher TPTA Cities: Rs 7200 + DA per month

Other Places: Rs 3600 +DA per month

Children Education Allowance (CEA)

CEA of Rs. 2250 per month per child is payable for just the two oldest surviving children. This is from nursery to Class 12.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware of the following guidelines of the Travel Allowance Scheme by CDS- 

  • Patna, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Ahmadabad, Surat, Kochi, Bengaluru, Kozhikode, Indore, Nagpur, Pune, Greater Mumbai, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Ghaziabad, and Chennai are the cities that are considered Higher TPTA Cities (UA).
  • The allowance is applicable even if the employee is on leave in any calendar month.
  • CDS service personnel who have been granted access to government transportation are also eligible for the TPTA Allowance.
  • The option to drive an official vehicle is available to CDS officers in Pay Level 14 and above. Alternatively, they can draw a TPTA of Rs 15,750 + DA.

Other Allowances

In addition to the above allowances, CDS personnel also get certain other benefits that are mentioned below:

  • Technical pay is provided to them in exchange for specialized training and work in special disciplines.
  • Air Force Officers get flying pay in exchange for their flying responsibilities.
  • Personnel in the Special Forces are entitled to the Special Forces Allowance.
  • Detachment Allowance is provided to staff members while they are separated from their families.
  • Island Special Duty Allowance is provided to personnel stationed in the Lakshadweep group of islands.
  • Officers engaged in counterinsurgency operations are eligible to receive the Counterinsurgency Operations Allowance.
  • Danger and Adversity Allowance is given to workers who take a chance and suffer during operations

There are a lot of benefits and allowances that the government provides to the CDS personnel. Candidates should consider all these points carefully and have a deep knowledge of the CDS Salary structure before joining the unit.

CDS Promotion Policy

The CDS Promotion Policy is different for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. Check the guidelines for CDS promotion in the Army, Air Force, and OTA in the following section.

Indian Army Promotion Policy

Candidates selected in the Indian Army through the UPSC CDS are promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. However, their promotion depends on their years of experience, service in the army, seniority level, and job profile. Check the following table for UPSC CDS Career in the Indian Army:

RankPromotion Criteria
Lieutenant  After completion of training
Captain2 years of commissioned service
Major6 years of commissioned service
Lieutenant13 years of commissioned service
Colonel (Time Scale)26 years of commissioned service
Colonel15 years of commissioned service
Brigadier23 years of commissioned service
Major General25 years of commissioned service
Lieutenant General28 years of commissioned service
GeneralNo restriction

Indian Air Force Promotion Policy

RankPromotion Criteria
Flying OfficerOn Commission
Flying Lieutenant Officer2 Years of commissioned service
Squadron Leader6 Years of commissioned service
Wing Commander13 Years of commissioned service
Group Captain26 Years of commissioned service
Group Captain (Select)Selection
Air CommodoreSelection
Air Vice MarshalSelection
Air MarshalSelection
Air Chief MarshalSelection

OTA Promotion Policy

The Officer's Training Academy promotion policy is applicable for both male and female candidates who are deployed for the Short Service Commission.

RankPromotion Criteria
Captain 2 years
Major6 years
Lieutenant13 years

Formula for CDS Salary Calculation

The CDS Salary structure includes both grade pay and basic pay. The monthly pay scale of a CDS personnel ranges between INR 56,100 - INR 1,77,500. However, the in-hand salary varies from the monthly salary. This happens because the salary is divided into three specific components- basic salary, allowances, and deductions.

The fixed amount of income that is based on the rank and position of the CDS officer is the basic salary. The grade pay is determined by the basic pay of an officer. Additionally, allowances and other benefits are also part of the CDS Salary. Tax deductions and pension fund contributions are included in salary deductions.

Candidates can check the following formula to calculate CDS Salary:

Basic Pay + Grade Pay + Allowance + Other Benefits = Total Salary (per month).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CDS training period salary?

The salary of selected candidates who undergo the CDS training period for quite some time is INR 56,100 per month. This is a fixed renumeration that the candidates receive while in the training period. However, this gradually increases once their training period is complete and they join the units.

Which rank is given after CDS?

Candidates need to undergo a three-step recruitment process (written exam, SSB interview, and medical test) to get selected for UPSC CDS. After this they need to complete a mandatory training, upon completion of which they are given the rank of Lieutenant in CDS.

Is there a probation period for UPSC CDS officers?

If an officer is chosen by UPSC CDS, they will need to serve a probationary period. Usually, officers are placed on probation for two years, during which they receive training and are evaluated to see whether they are qualified for military duty.

What are the allowances and benefits apart from salary that UPSC CDS officers receive?

UPSC CDS officers are entitled to a number of allowances and benefits, such as house rent allowance, subsidized food, healthcare for themselves and their families, educational allowances for the kids, travel allowances, and more.

What is the CDS OTA salary?

The CDS OTS Salary is INR 56,100 per month. Along with the salary, they also enjoy certain allowances as per the government rule.

How much is CDS officer salary?

The CDS Officer Salary can range between INR 56,100 - INR 1,77,500. This highly depends on the ranks of the candidate in the cadre and their years of service.

How long will be the training period after the UPSC CDS Exam?

There will be an 18-month training period in the IMA, NA, and AFA. The OTA training period will last for 49 weeks.

What is the difference between basic pay and grade pay in CDS salary?

The CDS salary structure consists of two distinct components: basic pay and grade pay. The amount that is added to an officer's basic pay based on their rank is known as grade pay. Basic pay is the fixed compensation that an officer receives.

What is the selection process for UPSC CDS 2024?

The UPSC CDS selection process of the CDS recruitment is done in three stages- the written exam which is conducted offline, the SSB interview, and finally the medical test. Candidates need to pass all three stages in order to join their preferred unit of CDS.

What is the In hand salary of a CDS Officer?

For the Lieutenant position, a CDS officer's base pay is approximately INR 68,000.

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