| Discover the UPSC Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Salary and Job Profile 2025—learn about pay scale, in-hand salary, allowances, career growth, and promotion structure. Know the roles, responsibilities, and benefits of an ISS officer in India. |
What is Indian Statistical Service (ISS)?
The Indian Statistical Service (ISS) is a Group A civil service within the Indian government. It consists of professionals skilled in statistical methods and their use.
- Its primary goal is to generate reliable official statistics through improved techniques, address data and information needs, and offer statistical analysis.
- A large part of the training for new recruits focuses on building technical skills in official statistics, economics, financial statistics, survey methods, and related social sciences.
- These positions are filled through an examination conducted by the UPSC.
- Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, or Applied Statistics as a subject.
If you are interested to know UPSC Jobs List with Post, Designations and Salary in 2025, please check that.
UPSC Indian Statistical Service Salary
The table below highlights the salary of ISS officers based on rank and level.
Designation | Pay Matrix Level | Initial Monthly Pay (₹) |
Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Officer | Level 10 | ₹56,100 |
Senior Administrative Roles | Level 14 | ₹1,77,500 |
Insight
- An ISS Officer begins their career at Pay Level 10, earning around ₹56,100 per month, excluding allowances such as DA, HRA, and TA.
- With experience, expertise, and successful departmental reviews, officers progress to higher administrative ranks like Director or Deputy Director, reaching Pay Level 14, where the salary can rise to ₹1.77 lakh monthly.
This steady growth reflects both the importance of statistical governance in policymaking and the structured career progression within India’s central civil services. The table below highlights the grades along with levels in Indian Statistical Service.
Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Officer In-Hand Salary
An Indian Statistical Service (ISS) officer appointed at the entry level (Pay Level 10) draws a basic salary of ₹56,100 per month, which, along with allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance (TA), brings the gross monthly pay to around ₹85,000 – ₹95,000 depending on the posting location. ISS officers posted in metro cities receive a higher HRA component, while those in smaller towns or government quarters receive less. Additionally, government-provided benefits such as medical coverage, pension, and travel concessions further enhance the overall compensation package.
After standard deductions like income tax, NPS contribution, and other minor recoveries, the in-hand salary of an ISS officer typically ranges between ₹70,000 and ₹80,000 per month.
Promotions
As officers gain experience and move up to higher positions such as Deputy Director, Joint Director, and Director General, their pay levels rise from Level 10 up to Level 16, offering substantial increments. Beyond monetary benefits, the post provides prestige, job security, and opportunities to influence national policy through statistical analysis and economic planning.
Sl. No. | Grade / Designation | Pay Level |
1 | HAG Plus (Director General) | Level 16 |
2 | HAG (Additional Director General) | Level 15 |
3 | SAG (Deputy Director General) | Level 14 |
4 | JAG / NFSG (Joint Director / Director) | Level 12 & 13 |
5 | STS (Deputy Director) | Level 11 |
6 | JTS (Assistant Director) | Level 10 |
- This structured hierarchy highlights the well-defined promotional ladder within the organization, starting from Assistant Director (Level 10) and culminating at the Director General (Level 16).
- Each stage represents not just an increase in pay and authority but also greater responsibility in policy planning, data analysis, and administrative leadership.
- With 300 sanctioned posts at the entry level and only 5 at the top, the pyramid structure ensures merit-based progression, motivating officers to excel in statistical and managerial excellence throughout their careers.
Job Profile of Indian Statistical Service Officers
- ISS officers typically work as directors and secretaries in different government ministries and departments. These positions are located in about 40 ministries of the Central Government.
- In addition to these roles, ISS officers may also be assigned to domestic and international organizations like UN agencies, foreign governments, state governments, and public sector units.
- Each ministry or department is responsible for keeping databases and for monitoring and assessing its projects and programs.
- ISS officers help put together statistics and develop, monitor, and assess different programs in these ministries and departments.
- They report to the administration of the specific ministry where they are working.
How to Become Indian Statistical Service Officer?
Below is a detailed and structured table explaining the complete process to become an Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Officer — from eligibility to selection:
Stage | Details |
1. Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination annually. |
2. Eligibility Criteria | - Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen. - Age Limit: 21 to 30 years (relaxation for reserved categories). - Educational Qualification: Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics / Mathematical Statistics / Applied Statistics or a Master’s Degree in these subjects from a recognized university. |
3. Exam Stages | The ISS exam is conducted in three stages: 1. Written Examination (Objective + Descriptive papers) 2. Interview / Personality Test 3. Document Verification & Medical Examination |
4. Written Examination Structure | - General English – 100 marks - General Studies – 100 marks - Statistics-I (Objective) – 200 marks - Statistics-II (Objective) – 200 marks - Statistics-III (Descriptive) – 200 marks - Statistics-IV (Descriptive) – 200 marks |
5. Personality Test | Candidates who clear the written exam are called for an Interview of 200 marks, testing analytical ability, communication skills, and statistical understanding. |
6. Final Selection | Based on combined marks of written examination and interview. A merit list is prepared by UPSC. |
7. Training | Selected candidates undergo training at the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), Greater Noida, before formal posting. |
8. Posting & Cadre Allocation | After training, officers are posted in various ministries, departments, and organizations such as the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), NITI Aayog, and State Planning Boards. |
9. Career Growth | Entry-level as Assistant Director (Level 10) → promoted to Deputy Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director General, Additional Director General, and finally Director General (Level 16). |
10. Key Skills Required | Strong foundation in statistics, mathematics, and data analysis, good communication, analytical thinking, and policy interpretation ability. |
Indian Economic Service (IES) Vs. Indian Statistical Service (ISS)
The table below compares Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS). They are closely related but different.
Feature | Indian Economic Service (IES) | Indian Statistical Service (ISS) |
Full Form | Indian Economic Service | Indian Statistical Service |
Cadre Controlling Ministry | Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) |
Main Focus | Economic policy analysis, planning, and advisory roles | Statistical data collection, analysis, and interpretation |
Nature of Work | Economic research, formulation of policy, advising government on economic matters | Designing surveys, analyzing data, maintaining statistical systems |
Key Departments of Posting | NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission, RBI, etc. | National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Central Statistics Office (CSO), MoSPI, etc. |
Educational Qualification | Postgraduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics, or Econometrics | Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics |
Conducted By | UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) | UPSC (same exam cycle, separate paper set) |
Exam Type | Separate — IES and ISS exams are held together but candidates apply for one or both | Separate — held jointly with IES but different paper pattern |
Papers in Exam | More theory- and essay-based economics papers | More mathematical and statistical analysis papers |
Typical Job Titles | Economic Officer, Director (Economic Affairs), Advisor, etc. | Statistical Officer, Deputy Director (Statistics), Senior Statistical Advisor, etc. |
Common Goal | Provide economic insight and data for national development | Ensure accuracy and reliability of national data and surveys |
IES officers are economists — they analyze, plan, and advise on policies. ISS officers are statisticians — they collect, interpret, and maintain the data that supports those policies.
Check in detail about Indian Economic Service Salary 2025: How Much Do Indian Economic Service Officers Earn Per Month in India?
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