CDS Salary 2024: Check In-Hand Pay, Structure, Perks and Allowances

CDS Salary 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the Combined Defence Service (CDS) salary along with the official notification on its official website. The candidates appointed as Officer Cadets will receive a stipend of Rs 56,100 per month in Level 10 during the entire duration of training in service academies. Along with their salary, all the appointed candidates in CDS will also receive various allowances and benefits based on the location they are posted in. Scroll down the page to get complete details on CDS in-hand salary, job profile, allowances, etc.

CDS Salary 2024 

UPSC conducts a CDS exam twice a year for admission to eligible candidates into the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, and the Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (Madras). As per the official notification, the CDS training period salary for Navy, Air Force, Army or similar posts will receive a stipend of Rs 56,100 per month. Upon completing the training period successfully, the officers will be commissioned as Lieutenant and will receive CDS salary in the pay scale of Rs 56,100-1,77,500 in level 10. Read on to learn more about CDS salary per month, allowances, job profile, and other details on this page.

CDS Salary Per Month

The per month salary is the salary which candidates get at the end of the month after adding allowances in the basic pay and making deductions such as amount of PF and pensions. The newly selected candidate will get the basic pay of Rs 56000 and allowances such as dearness allwance, home allowance, sepecial duty allowance (if applicable) which ranges appreoximately Rs 80,000 (data should be considered as actual this is just an assumed number based on various factors and feedbacks). 

CDS Salary Structure 2024: Rank Wise 

The CDS salary structure comprises basic pay, pay scale, allowances, deductions, etc. as admissible for the post. The initial CDS salary after the training period will be Rs 56,100 per month. Here is the salary structure of the CDS exam shared below for the reference of the candidates.

CDS Salary-Military Service Pay (MSP)

The Military Service Pay (MSP) for the officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier will be eligible for a fixed stipend of Rs 15.500 per month.

CDS Salary: Allowances and Benefits

Along with a basic CDS salary, all the eligible candidates will receive perks, allowances, and benefits admissible for the post. The list of perks and allowances included in the CDS salary are as follows:

1. Qualification Grant: abolished as a separate allowance. Eligible employees are to be governed by the newly proposed Higher Qualification Incentive (HQI). Order for HQI is yet to be issued by MoD.
2. Dearness Allowance: Admissible at the same rates and under the same conditions as apply to civilian officers from time to time.
3. Kit maintenance allowance: Subsumed into the newly proposed Dress Allowance, i.e., Rs 20,000/- per year
4. Flying Allowances

1. Uniform allowance: Subsumed into the newly proposed Dress Allowance i.e. Rs. 20,000/- per year
2. Free Rations: In Peace and Field Areas
3. Transport Allowance (TPTA)

• The allowance shall not be applicable to those service personnel who have been offered the facility of government transport. 
• Officers in Pay Level 14 and above who are entitled to use the official car, will have the option to avail of the official car facility or to draw the TPTA at the rate of Rs. 15,750 + DA per month.
• The allowance will not be applicable for the calendar month(s) wholly covered by leave. Physically disabled service personnel will continue to be paid at a double rate, subject to a minimum of Rs. 2250 + DA per month.

Children Education Allowances

• Rs. 2250/- per month per child for two eldest surviving only. CEA is applicable from nursery to 12th grades. 
• Reimbursement should be done just once a year after the financial year is over (which for most schools coincides with the academic year). 
• A certificate from the head of the institution where the ward of government employee studies should be sufficient for this purpose. The certificate should confirm that the child studied in the school during the previous academic year.

CDS Salary: Career Growth & Promotion

Candidates appointed for the CDS exam unlock lucrative salary packages and promising career paths. They will have to attend rigorous training and specialised courses, gaining expertise in their respective fields. They will also get the chance to participate in promotion opportunities based on work performance, experience and seniority. Here is the CDS promotion hierarchy for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA posts shared below.

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CDS Career Growth in IMA & INA

Initially, the candidates will be selected as cadets at the Indian Naval Academy. Upon completing the training period of 18 months, the officer's cadets are granted Permanent Commission in the rank of Lt. subject to being medically fit, in S.H.A.P.E. The promotion hierarchy of CDS officer Cadets in IMA & INA:

CDS Career Growth in AFA

After successful completion of CDS training, the candidates pass out in the rank of Flying Officer and will be entitled to the pay and allowances of the rank. Based on work experience and seniority, they will be promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander and Group Captain.  The promotion hierarchy of CDS flying officer in AFA:

CDS Career Growth in OTA

Selected candidates will be enrolled as Officer Cadets and will attend a training course at the Officers’ Academy for an approximate period of 49 weeks. Upon completion of training, the Officer Cadets are granted Short Service Commission in the rank of Lieutenant. The CDS promotion hierarchy in OTA is shared below.

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