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.

What is the starting salary of CDS?

Upon completing the training period, all successful candidates will be commissioned as Lieutenants in the CDS, with a pay scale ranging from Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500.

Who is eligible for CDS 2025?

Candidates must be permanent residents of India and either hold a graduate degree or be in the final year of their graduation.

CDS Salary 2025, In-Hand Salary, Structure, and Allowances

Table of Contents

Candidates preparing for the UPSC CDS 2025 exam should be aware of the salary structure for 2025. Along with the respect that comes with joining the CDS, the salary, allowances, and extra benefits are major factors that attract candidates. Every year, around 1.5 to 2 lakh students take part in the CDS 1 and CDS 2 exams. In this article, we will delve into all these aspects, including the CDS Salary 2025, Pay scale, In-Hand Salary, Structure, and Allowances, as well as the pecuniary benefits associated with the CDS.

CDS Salary 2025

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will soon share important information about CDS salary for 2025. Once selected, candidates will start working as Lieutenant with a pay scale ranging from Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500 per month after completing the training. The salary varies based on the rank as higher ranks come with higher pay scales, pay levels and overall pay. Along with the salary, candidates will also get various allowances. For more detailed information about CDS salary, continue reading the full article.

CDS Salary During Training Period

After clearing the SSB interview, candidates proceed to undergo training at prestigious institutes like the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), or Officers Training Academy (OTA). The CDS pay structure is based on factors like rank, experience, and job responsibilities, ensuring that candidates are compensated fairly. During the training period, they receive a monthly stipend of Rs 56,100 as per the 7th CPC guidelines. As candidates progress through the ranks, their salary and benefits also increase with each promotion.

CDS Salary & Pay Scale of Officers in Army/Air Force/Navy 2025

Salary and grade pay for CDS officers in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy play a vital role in attracting and retaining skilled personnel who wish to serve in the armed forces. The compensation package is carefully structured based on factors such as rank, responsibilities and length of service. For a detailed breakdown of the rank-wise pay structure for CDS 1 2025, check 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)

Military Service Pay (MSP) is an additional amount included in the salary of officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

For officers holding the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier, the MSP is a fixed amount of INR 15,500 per month.
MSP is granted to officers ranked from Lieutenant to Brigadier, which includes ranks like Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, and Brigadier.
The introduction of MSP for the Indian Armed Forces was recommended by the 6th Pay Commission.
The 7th Pay Commission extended MSP to all ranks up to and including Brigadiers and their equivalents.

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

Promotion opportunities vary across different branches of the armed forces. Each force has its own unique promotion policies that are based on the rank, experience, and performance of officers. Below, we provide an overview of the promotion policies for officers recruited in the Indian Army, Navy, Officer Training Academy (OTA), and Air Force.

Indian Army: Promotion Policy

The UPSC CDS job roles vary depending on the specific post. Cadets who successfully complete their training will start with the rank of Lieutenant. They can then qualify for promotions based on their years of service, seniority, and job performance. Here are details on UPSC CDS Career Growth & Promotion Criteria.

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	23 years of commissioned service
Major General	25 years of commissioned service
Lieutenant General	28 years of commissioned service
General	No restriction

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

Officers Training Academy (OTA): Promotion Policy

Male and Female candidates who are granted the Short Service Commission by the OTA are eligible for the following promotion avenues:

Rank	Years of Commissioned Service
Captain	2 years
Major	6 years
Lieutenant Colonel	13 years

CDS Pecuniary Benefits

Officers selected in CDS 2025 are provided monetary benefits in case they suffer an unfortunate event during service, which includes the following:

In case of death during service, the nearest relative (NOK) will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 12.5 lakh.
Along with this, a monthly ex-gratia payment of Rs 9000 will also be made to the NOK.
The ex-gratia award to Cadet (Direct)/NOK will be granted on ex-gratia basis only; it cannot be considered as a substitute for any kind of pension.
Both the monthly ex-gratia and the ex-gratia under disability award will be eligible for dearness relief at appropriate rates.

CDS Retirement Benefits

As per the current rules of UPSC CDS, pension, gratuity and casualty pension will be admissible to retired officers. Under UPSC CDS, retired officers receive the following benefits:

Pension: Retired officers receive the benefit of regular pension.
Gratuity: Gratuity earned during service is also given.
Casualty Pension: Casualty pension is provided in case of an accidental event.

CDS Scholarships

There are various scholarships available for cadets joining the Indian Military Academy:

Parshurambhau Patwardhan Scholarship

This scholarship is only for cadets from Maharashtra or Karnataka. During the attendance period of the cadet, it may be awarded a scholarship up to Rs 500 per year, provided the cadet is satisfactory in academic progress. Cadets receiving this scholarship will not be eligible for other government financial aid.

Colonel Kendall Frank Memorial Scholarship

The annual amount of this scholarship is Rs 360 and is awarded to a deserving Maratha cadet who must be the son of an ex-serviceman.
This scholarship is in addition to other government financial aid.