CDS Salary 2026: Check Structure, Pay Scale, Allowances & Benefits
Combined Defence Services Exam 2026 ( CDS )
Exam On - 12 Apr '26
CDS Salary 2026: The salary details for the UPSC CDS is mentioned in the official notification that was released on December 10. According to the salary structure, candidates who will be selected in the CDS as Lieutenants will have the pay scale range between INR 56,100 - 1,77,500 per month after training. The structure of the salary varies as per the officers' rank. Gradually, the salary increases with the increase in ranks. Those candidates who clear the exam undergo Cadet Training.
The Combined Defence Services exam or CDS exam is one of the most sought-after defence entrance exams in the country. In this article, we have explained CDS salary, promotion opportunities, basic pay, in-hand salary, various perks, benefits, etc. Candidates should read this article to get all the relevant information on CDS salary 2026 and related aspects.
- CDS Salary After 7th CPC
- CDS Salary: Allowances and Perks to INA/IMA/OTA/AFA Officers
- NDA vs CDS Salary
- CDS Career Growth
- CDS Salary 2026 FAQs
CDS Salary After 7th CPC
It is already mentioned that the stipend given to the gentlemen or lady cadets during the training in the respective academies is INR 56,100 per month. The training period is not considered a commissioned service. On successful commissioning, the officer will be in the pay matrix of level 10 under 7th CPC and will be liable to get all the arears remaining based on their pay matrix with effect from their training period. The table below provides CDS salaries based on different ranks.
| Rank | Level | Salary (In INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant |
Level 10 |
56,100 -1,77,500 |
| Captain |
Level 10 B |
61,300- 1,93,900 |
| Major |
Level 11 |
69,400-2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Level 12A |
1,21,200-2,12,400 |
| Colonel |
Level 13 |
1,30,600-2, 15,900 |
| Brigadier |
Level 13 A |
1,39,600-2,17,600 |
| Major General |
Level 14 |
1,44,200-2,18,200 |
| Lieutenant General HAG Scale |
Level 15 |
1, 82, 200-2,24,100 |
| HAG+Scale |
Level 16 |
2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lieutenant General (NFSG) |
Level 17 |
2,25,000 (fixed) |
| COAS |
Level 18 |
2,50,000 (fixed) |
The Military Service Pay (MSP) to the officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier is a fixed amount of INR 15,500 per month.
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Commonly asked questions
The Commission released the CDS 1 and 2 exam date at upsc.gov.in. The CDS 1 exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026 and the CDS 2 on September 13. Candidates must be aware that these dates are released by the UPSC.
CDS Salary: Allowances and Perks to INA/IMA/OTA/AFA Officers
Officers in Army, Navy and Air Force are given handsome CDS salary after selection. Apart from the CDS salary, candidates are also entitled to various allowances and perks such as Dearness Allowance, Flying Allowance, Uniform Allowance, High Altitude. All these allowances offered to the officers are mentioned below:
Qualification Grant
This is abolished as a separate allowance. Eligible employees will be governed by the newly proposed higher qualification incentive. The order is awaited by MoD.
Also Read: Best Tips to Crack CDS Exam for Women
Flying Allowance
The Army Aviators (Pilots) serving in the Army Aviation Corps are entitled to flying allowance. The lieutenant and above rank in level 10 and above will be INR 25,000 per month (R1H1 of Risk and Hardship Matrix).
Other Allowances
| Dearness Allowance |
Admissible at the same rates and under the same condition as are applicable to the civilian personnel from time to time. |
| Kit maintenance Allowance |
Subsumed into the newly proposed Dress Allowance which is INR 20,000 per year |
Depending upon rank and area of posting, an officer posted to Field Areas will be eligible for the following Field Area allces.
| Rank | Level | HAFA | Fd Area Allce | Mod Fd Area Allce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant and above |
Level 10 and above |
16900 R1H2 |
10500 R2H2 |
6300 (60%R2H2) |
High Altitude Allowance
| Rank | Level | CAT-I (PM) | CAT-II (PM) | CAT-III (PM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant and above |
Level 10 and above |
3,400 (R3H2) |
5,300 (R3H1) |
25,000 (R1H1) |
Siachen Allowance
Siachen's Allowance will be INR 42,500 per month.
Uniform Allowance
It is subsumed into the newly proposed Dress Allowance which is INR 20,000 per year.
Free Rations
- In Fd Area to all Defence Officers
- Defence officers posted in peace areas to get Ration Money Alice (RMA) every month
Transport Allce (TPTA)
| Pay Level | Higher TPTA Cities (INR Per month) | Other Places (INR Per month) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 and above |
7,200+DA thereon |
3,600+DA thereon |
Children Education Allowance
Candidates will be given INR 2,250 per month for the two eldest surviving only. The Children's Education Allowance is admissible from Nursery to Class 12.
Commonly asked questions
In CDS, written exam comprises three papers namely English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics aiming for Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA). There are two papers for candidates aiming for the Officers Training academy (OTA).
For IMA, INA, AFA: English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics
For OTA: English and General Knowledge
The duration of each subject paper in the CDS 2026 exam is mentioned below.
1. For Admission to Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy: English, General Knowledge and Mathematics all have two hours duration.
2. For Officers' Training Academy (OTA)-English and GK for both separately 2 hours duration
NDA vs CDS Salary
The candidates wondering about the difference between NDA salary and CDS salary must go through the enlisted points to know the differences between them:
- NDA candidates get a fixed stipend of INR 56,100 per month during the training period. On the other hand, CDS commissioned officers are paid INR 56,100 to 2,25,000 depending upon their ranks
- CDS candidates get slightly higher salaries than the NDA candidates as CDS candidates are recruited after graduation whereas the NDA candidates are recruited after 10+2
Commonly asked questions
The CDS 2026 exam dates were released by the authority. In the last month of the preparation, candidates should focus more on revision of all the important topics. Give test regulary. Revise and update yourself with current affairs. Maintain physical and mental health. Take proper sleep. Revise and practice previous year question papers. Also, focus on time management, etc.
Candidates can check below the CDS 1 2026 age limit:
- IMA: Candidates for IMA should be unmarried and must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2003, and not later than January 1, 2008.
- INA: Unmarried male candidates born not earlier than January 2, 2003, and not later than January 1, 2008, can apply for INA.
- AFA: To apply for AFA, the age of candidates should be between 20 and 24 years. They must have been born not earlier than January 2, 2003, and not later than January 1, 2007. The upper age limit of candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years (i, e born not earlier than January 2, 2001, and not later than January 1, 2007).
CDS Career Growth
Those candidates who clear the CDS exam goes for Cadet training. Candidates securing the Merit list step up into an adventurous phase including training, duty for the nation, etc. That is Eligible candidates through the CDS exam are selected for the post of Lieutenant after completion of training at IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. From Induction to Post Retirement Phase they undergo Induction, training, Academies life, branch allocation, specialization, operational roles and responsibilities, continuous learning, professional advancement, career progression, harmonizing personal and professional life and post-retirement opportunities. The career growth of candidates under respective academies is given below:
IMA
| Ranks | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Lt |
On completion of training |
| Capt. |
2 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Major |
6 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Lt. Col. |
13 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Col (TS) |
26 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Col. |
15 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Brigadier |
23 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Major Gen. |
25 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| Lt. Gen. |
28 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| General |
No restrictions |
INA
Selected candidates may be appointed as cadets on reporting at the Indian Naval Academy. The cadets shall be commissioned in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant after the successful completion of approximately 18 months of training.
AFA
After successful completion of training, candidates will be given the rank of Flying Officer. Candidates are promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander and Group Captain on completion of 2 years, 6 years, 13 years and 26 years of successful service respectively. Grant of Group Captain (select) and higher ranks is only by selections. Promising officers have a fair chance of getting higher promotions to air ranks of Air Commodore, Air Vice Marshal and Air Marshal.
OTA
Selected candidates will be enrolled as gentlemen/Lady Cadets and will undergo a course of training at the OTA for an approximate period of 49 weeks. On successful completion of training Gentleman/Lady Cadets are granted Short Service Commission in the rank of Lt. Candidates will be eligible for promotion in the following ranks:
| Ranks | Timeline |
|---|---|
| To the rank of Capt. |
On completion of 2 years of commissioned service |
| To the rank of Major |
6 years of reckonable commissioned service |
| To the rank of Lt. Col. |
13 years of reckonable commissioned service |
Other Defence Exam Salaries
| NDA Salary | AFCAT Salary |
Commonly asked questions
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) launched a new Online Application Portal to streamline the registration process for all exams. The new portal was live at upsconline.nic.in and replaces the older One-Time Registration (OTR) module, which now will no longer be functional. As per the official notification, candidates are advised to use their Aadhaar Card as ID documents for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details.
The New Application Portal officially launched on May 28, 2025. Applications for the CDS 2 exam 2025 was accepted through the new online application portal.
The Union Public Service Commission released the CDS 1 examination 2026 vacancies on the official website. A total of 451 vacancies has been announced. The CDS 1 notification released on December 10.
CDS Salary 2026 FAQs
Refer CDS 2026 Salary FAQs Here
Commonly asked questions
The OTR stands for One Time Registration. The UPSC introduced this system to simplify the application process for several UPSC examinations, including CDS. Candidates will be able to register their basic details and documents once. This information can be reused by the candidates for future UPSC exam applications, which saves time and effort.
Candidates can provide their preference in the application form for the CDS exam by choosing the IMA, INA, AFA, OTA.
The CDS exam is conducted offline or pen and paper mode. Objective questions will be asked in the examination. Candidates need to mark their choices of answers in the sheet that was provided during the exam. CDS 1 2026 notification released on December 10.
CDS full form is the Combined Defence Services Examination. While some people also refer CDS full form as Chief of Defence Staff, this rank is given to the head of the Indian Armed Forces. It is a national-level exam which is conducted twice a year in April and September.
Yes, the examination authority will release the CDS Question Papers 2026 officially at upsc.gov.in. The question papers will be released in the form of PDF. Candidates can download the CDS question papers 2026 from this page also for free. The question papers will help candidates to check the difficulty level of the exam, questions asked, pattern changed or not, etc.
Some of the books, help candidates in their CDS preparation are given below:
- High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin
- Objective General English by SP Bakshi
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- English Grammar & Composition by S.C Gupta
The CDS 2026 exam dates were released by the authority. In the last month of the preparation, candidates should focus more on revision of all the important topics. Give test regulary. Revise and update yourself with current affairs. Maintain physical and mental health. Take proper sleep. Revise and practice previous year question papers. Also, focus on time management, etc.
Yes. In the CDS exam there is a negative marking. One-third mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. No mark will be deducted for unanswered questions.
Yes, the English section of the CDS exam is scorable if it is prepared properly. Usually the difficulty level of the exam is moderate.
The authority (UPSC) will release the CDS answer key for the written examination on the official website.
CDS Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
After qualifying the SSB round, the selected candidates need to undergo a medical examination. A candidate is declared medically fit or unfit after the result announcement. After qualifying all the selection rounds they will go for training.
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Some of the books, help candidates in their CDS preparation are given below:
- High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin
- Objective General English by SP Bakshi
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- English Grammar & Composition by S.C Gupta
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
The authority released a total of 453 vacancies for the CDS 2 exam 2025 for admission to the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy for courses.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
It is advised to the candidates to reach the CDS exam centre one hour before the given time. They should carry hall ticket along with them otherwise they will not be able to give the exam.
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, the English section of the CDS exam is scorable if it is prepared properly. Usually the difficulty level of the exam is moderate.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates can check the cut off marks for the CDS exam by visiting the official website at upsc.gov.in. The UPSC will release the cutoff according to the academy or course.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The methods to check the CDS cut off marks is provided below:
- Visit at upsc.gov.in.
- Click on the :Examination" tab.
- Go to the "Cut Off Marks" dropdown menu.
- Click on the download link and save it for future reference.
I
Contributor-Level 6
IBPS PO 2025 Mains Scorecard 9 Jan '26 - 14 Jan '26
What after final selection in CDS?