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:
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the Exam | Combined Defence Service Examination |
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Selection Stages | Written Exam, SSB Interview, Medical Test |
| CDS Training Period Salary | Rs. 56,100 |
| CDS Basic Pay | Rs. 56,100 - Rs. 1,77,500 (per month) |
| CDS Allowances | Basic Pay, Grade Pay, DA, and other allowances |
| Official Website | upsc.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 | ||
| Ranks | CDS Pay Scale | Pay Matrix |
| Lieutenant | Rs. 56,100 - 1,77,500/- | Level 10 |
| Captain | Rs. 61,300 - 1,93,900 | Level 10 B |
| Major | Rs. 69,400 - 2,07,200 | Level 11 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Rs. 1,21,200 - 2,12,400 | Level 12 A |
| Colonel | Rs. 1,30,600 - 2,15,900 | Level 13 |
| Brigadier | Rs. 1,39,600 - 2,17,600 | Level 13 A |
| Major General | Rs. 1,44,200 - 2,18,200 | Level 14 |
| Lieutenant General | Rs. 1,82,200 - 2,24,100 | Level 15 |
| HAG + Scale | Rs. 2,05,400 - 2,24,400 | Level 16 |
| VCOAS/ Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG) | Rs. 2,25,000 (fixed) | Level 17 |
| COAS | Rs. 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 Component | CDS Training Period Salary | CDS General Salary |
| Basic Pay | Fixed stipend of INR 56,100 per month | Ranges from INR 56,100 to INR 1,77,500 per month |
| Pay Level | Level 10 | Varies depending on the rank and pay level of the officer |
| Allowances | NA | Includes grade pay, allowances, and other benefits. Allowances cover various expenses such as housing, medical, and travel. |
| Commission Service | Not counted as commission service | Commission 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:
| Allowances | Details |
| 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 Allowance | Rs. 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 Ration | Officers 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:
| Rank | Promotion Criteria |
| Lieutenant | After completion of training |
| Captain | 2 years of commissioned service |
| Major | 6 years of commissioned service |
| Lieutenant | 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
| Rank | Promotion Criteria |
| Flying Officer | On Commission |
| Flying Lieutenant Officer | 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 |
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.
| Rank | Promotion Criteria |
| Captain | 2 years |
| Major | 6 years |
| Lieutenant | 13 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).