UPSC CDS Salary
UPSC CDS Salary — reference from Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), with the direct official link. Pay levels below are fixed by the pay rules that apply to these posts, not guesses — the official notification states the pay level for every post it advertises.
UPSC CDS salary by post
| Post | Pay level (7th CPC) | Starting basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant (Army) / Sub-Lieutenant (Navy) / Flying Officer (Air Force), on commission | Level 10 | ₹56,100 |
Officers also receive Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 a month on top of basic pay. During academy training a fixed stipend is paid instead of salary.
No open notification for this exam is in the live index right now. Pay levels below are fixed by the pay rules that apply to these posts, not guesses — the official notification states the pay level for every post it advertises.
About UPSC CDS
CDS — Combined Defence Services Examination — is conducted by UPSC twice a year for entry into the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Officers' Training Academy.
Selection process
- Written examination
- SSB interview (five-stage, conducted over several days)
- Medical examination
- Final merit list and academy allotment
How to confirm the UPSC CDS Salary
- Open the latest official notification — it goes straight to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)'s own website.
- Find the table of posts: each post lists its pay level (for example "Level 6") or pay scale.
- Starting basic pay for that level is in the table on this page. Monthly gross pay is higher, because Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance are added on top of basic.
- In-hand pay is gross pay minus deductions such as NPS/UPS contribution, professional tax and income tax, so it varies by city and by person.
Latest notifications & forms
No open notification for this exam is in the live index right now. It will appear here automatically once Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) publishes it.
Other UPSC CDS updates
Admit cards, answer keys, notifications and forms for the same exam.
Preparation guides
Questions students ask
Lieutenant (Army) / Sub-Lieutenant (Navy) / Flying Officer (Air Force), on commission: Level 10, ₹56,100. Officers also receive Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 a month on top of basic pay. During academy training a fixed stipend is paid instead of salary.
In-hand pay is basic pay plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance, minus deductions such as the pension contribution and tax. It depends on the city of posting and changes every time DA is revised, so we list only the fixed part — the starting basic pay of each pay level.
Basic pay is the same for the same post everywhere. House Rent Allowance differs by city class — higher in the big metros — so gross pay differs by posting.
In the official recruitment notification issued by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), in the table of posts. Open the latest notification from this page to confirm it before applying.
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This page updates automatically from public sources every 30 minutes, last refreshed 29 Sep 2026. ExamChowk is not affiliated with Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The official notice on .gov.in / .nic.in is the only authority — always confirm there before acting.