The officers selected through the NDA Exam and the CDS Exam are eligible for top-level positions in the tri-services of India – Army, Navy and Air Force. Though both the exams are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the pay and allowances offered to the officers selected through the NDA & CDS Exams differ significantly. For the benefit of NDA & CDS aspirants, Jagran Josh is providing a comparative analysis of pay and allowances of officers selected through NDA & CDS Exams.
Comparative pay scales of NDA & CDS Army Officers and equivalent ranks in Air Force and Navy are as given below. It should be noted that the total pay of NDA Officers is the sum of rank pay and grade pay.
NDA Officer Pay vs CDS Officer Pay
| Rank | NDA Officer Pay (in Rupees) | CDS Officer (Total Pay in Rupees) | ||
| Rank Pay | Grade Pay | |||
| Lieutenant | 15,600—39,100/- | 5,400/- | 56,100 – 1,77,500 | |
| Captain | 15,600—39,100/- | 6,100/- | 6,13,00-1,93,900 | |
| Major | 15,600—39,100/- | 6,600/- | 6,94,00 – 2,07,200 | |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 37,400—67,000/- | 8,000/- | 1,21,200 – 2,12400 | |
| Colonel | 37,400—67,000/- | 8,700/- | 1,30,600-2, 15,900 | |
| Brigadier | 37,400—67,000/- | 8,900/- | 1,39,600-2,17,600 | |
| Major General | 37,400—67,000/- | 10,000/- | 1,44,200-2,18,200 | |
| Lieutenant General HAG Scale | 67,000/--79,000/- | - | 1, 82, 200-2,24,100 | |
| HAG+Scale | 75,500/- 80,000/- | - | 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 | |
| VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG) | 80,000/- | - | 2,25,000/-(fixed) | |
| COAS | 90,000/- (fixed) | - | 2,25,000/-(fixed) | |
In addition to the above mentioned pay, the officers in the rank starting from Lieutenant up to Brigadier are eligible for the Military Service Pay (MSP). While a fixed sum of Rs. 6,000/- p.m in lieu of MSP for NDA Officers, the CDS Officers get Rs. 15,500 per month.
Besides the Pay and the MSP, the officers are eligible for various allowances. In fact, the allowances offered by the Army, Navy and Air Force to the officers are considered as the major pull factors for the CDS & NDA Exam aspirants.
Comparison between allowances offered to Army officers selected through NDA & CDS and equivalent ranks in Air Force and Navy are as given below.
NDA Officer Allowance vs CDS Officer Allowance
| Type | NDA Officer (in Rupees pm) | CDS Officer (in Rupees pm) | ||
| Dearness Allowance | Equal to Civilian Gazetted Officers | Equal to Civilian Gazetted Officers | ||
| Kit Maintenance Allowance | 400/- | Subsumed into DA | ||
| High Altitude Allowance | 1,060/- | 3,400 – 25,000/- | ||
| Siachen Allowance | Not Applicable | 42,500/- | ||
| Uniform allowance | 14,000/- (initial) and 3,000/- (every 3 years) | Subsumed into proposed DA | ||
| Transport allowance | 1,600 – 3,200 /- + DA | 3,600 – 7,200 /- + DA | ||
| Children Education Allowance | Not Applicable | Rs. 2,250/pm/per child for two children from Nursery – XII | ||
The aspirants should note that for the CDS Officers, the newly proposed Daily Allowance (DA) is Rs. 20,000 per month.
Besides the pay and allowance, Qualification Pay and Flying Allowances are provided for Indian Air Force Officers. While the final order on the Qualificaiton Pay for the CDS Officers is awaited, the details related to NDA Officers is as given below.
Qualification Pay of NDA Officers
| Rank/Position | Qualification Pay (in Rupees) |
| Master Aviation Instructor | 500/- p.m.
|
| Senior Aviation Instructor Class I | 400/- p.m. |
| Senior Aviation Instructor Class II | 280/- p.m. |
| Aviators holding Master Green Card | 400/- p.m. |
| Aviators holding Green Card | 280/- p.m. |
The Army Aviators (Pilots) serving in the Army Aviation Corps are entitled to flying allowance as under —
Flying Allowance: NDA Officer vs CDS Officer
| Rank/Position | NDA Officers (in Rupees/pm) | CDS Officers (in Rupees/pm) |
| Lieutenant | 9,000/- |
25,000/- (fixed) |
| Captain | 11,000/- | |
| Major to Colonel | 14,000/- | |
| Brigadier & above | 10,500/- |
Best Wishes from Jagran Josh!!!!
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