UPSC CDS 2026 · Salary & pay level
UPSC CDS Salary 2026: Pay Level, Pay Scale and Post-wise Pay
Pay level and pay scale for each post, as printed in the official notice. Allowances are paid on top of basic pay at government rates; no in-hand figure is guessed here.
Training and stipend
Candidates finally selected for the Indian Military Academy train for about 18 months. Navy cadets at the Indian Naval Academy do a 44-week Naval Orientation Course and are commissioned after about 18 months of training. Flying Branch (pilot) training at the Air Force Academy lasts about 74 weeks.
Cadets receive a stipend of ₹56,100 per month (starting pay of Level 10) during training. A Lieutenant is in Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500), with Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month fixed. Allowances are paid as per rules; the notice does not print an in-hand figure, so none is shown here.