An Indian army officer’s position is one of the most prestigious and well-paid in India. The Indian army is one of the world’s largest, with 10 lakh troops and 900,000 men in reserve. Every year, thousands of individuals from various fields, backgrounds, and families apply for this position, and only a few are chosen based on their physical condition, mental fortitude, and leadership abilities. The danger of death haunts every Indian soldier, but their obligation to their nation, to safeguard her borders and keep her people peaceful, is even greater. Candidates who are enlisted into the army must undergo mandatory training, regardless of the role to which they are assigned. Read more about the Indian Army Salary in detail.
The basic Indian army officer pay scale is a general employee base salary given according to your job title. It consists of 35-50% of total compensation, eliminating allowances, bonuses, and deductions. It is a fixed sum.
Whereas grade pay is the payment made based on your class, category, and pay band in the army. It is estimated according to the 7th pay commission applied to your employment posts.
After the introduction of the 7th Pay Commission, the salaries of Indian army soldiers have been revised according to their ranks and posts in the Indian army.
The stipend scale varies from RS 20,700- RS 2,50,000, with grade pay ranging from 3-18. The table is shown below:
| RANK | LEVEL | SALARY |
| Indian Army sepoy salary | 3 | INR 20,200/- |
| Indian army Lance Naik salary | 3 | INR 20,200/- |
| Indian Army Naik salary | 4 | INR 20,200/- |
| Indian Army Havaldar salary | 5 | INR 34,800/- |
| Indian army Naib Subedar salary | 6 | INR 34,800/- |
| Indian Army Subedar Major salary | 8 | INR 34,800/- |
| Indian Army Lieutenant salary | 10 | INR 56,100/- – INR 1,77,500/- |
| Indian Army Captain salary | 10B | INR 61,300/- – INR 1,93,900/- |
| Indian Army Major salary | 11 | INR 69400/- – INR2,07,200/- |
| Indian Army Lieutenant Colonel salary | 12 | INR 1,21200/- – INR 2,12,400/- |
| Indian Army Brigadier salary | 13A | INR 1,39,600/- – INR 2,18,200/- |
| Indian Army Major General salary | 14 | INR 1,44,200/- – INR 2,18,200/- |
| Indian Army Lieutenant General salary | 15 | INR 1,82,200/- – INR 2,24,100/- |
| Indian army VCOAS/Army Cdr/Lieutenant General (NEGS) salary | 17 | INR 2,25,000/- (FIXED) |
| Indian Army Chief of Army Staff salary | 18 | INR 2,50,000/- (FIXED) |
The Indian Army adheres to a fixed pay scale established by the 7th Pay Commission. Indian Army salaries range from ₹21,700 to ₹2,50,000. The basic wage accounts for a significant amount of the total compensation for government personnel, including those in the Indian Army, ranging from 35% to 50%. Here’s an outline of the approximate Indian Army monthly compensation for various ranks:
| Rank | Salary per Month (INR) |
| Lieutenant | ₹56,100 |
| Captain | ₹61,300 |
| Major | ₹69,400 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | ₹1,21,200 |
| Colonel | ₹1,30,600 |
| Brigadier | ₹1,39,600 |
| Major General | ₹1,44,200 |
| Lieutenant General | ₹1,82,200 |
| General | ₹2,50,000 |
Cadets for the Indian army are recruited only after they complete their training period, only some of them are recruited directly through NDA or CDS exams. All the ranks are divided into three criteria, Non- Commissioned Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers, and Commissioned Officers. The job profile and retirement period for each rank are different according to their respective rank and course of duty:
| POSTS | JOB PROFILE |
| SEPOY OR RIFLEMAN | A sepoy has a rank 3 and has the lowest salary in the Indian army, yet it plays a vital role in the security of our lands. A sepoy retires at the age of 42 with approx 19 years of service. |
| LANCE NAIK | Sepoys are upgraded to the rank of Lance Naik. The retirement age is 49 years with approx 24 years of service. |
| NAIK | Lance Naik is upgraded to the level of Naik and is recognized by two chevron patches on its arm. The retirement age is 49 years of age with approx 24 years of service. |
| HAVILDAR | Havildar has a level 5 in the pay matrix and its retirement age is 42 years of age. Three chevron arm patches recognize them and you can directly get appointed to this post |
| NAIB SUBEDAR | Naib Subedar has level 6 in the pay matrix. You can get promoted to this rank after Havildar. The retirement age is 52 years of age and this post is recognized by a shoulder patch |
| SUBEDAR | Subedar has pay level 7 in the pay matrix. This rank is achieved by promotion and is not appointed directly |
| SUBEDAR MAJOR | Subedar Major has level 8 in the pay matrix. They retire after 54 years of age with 34 years of service approx |
| CAPTAIN | The captain has a pay level of 10. A person who has been as Lieutenant for 2 years and is found eligible for this promotion. |
| LIEUTENANT | Subedar Major has level 8 in the pay matrix. They retire after 54 years of age with 34 years of service approx |
| LIEUTENANT COLONEL | The pay level of a Lieutenant Colonel is 12A and he has to serve till he achieves the age of 54 years. |
| LIEUTENANT GENERAL | The rank of Lieutenant General is one of the highly-paid ranks and belongs to the level 15 pay matrix. |
| HONORARY LIEUTENANT | This rank is provided to honor the services of JCOS. A Subedar or Subedar major both are eligible for this post. |
| COLONEL | The colonel has a 13-level pay matrix and gets retired at the age of 54 years. A lieutenant colonel is eligible to apply for this post after completing 15 years in their service |
| BRIGADIER | The Brigadier has a pay level 13 A pay matrix with a retirement age of 56 years of age. |
| MAJOR | The pay level for a Major is an 11-pay matrix. The retirement age is 52 years of age. Promotion to Major rank is only given to you if you have six years of experience in the Indian Army. |
| MAJOR GENERAL | Major General has a pay matrix level of 14 and a retirement age of 58 years of age |
| GENERAL | General has a pay matrix level of 18 and has a retirement age of 3 years as Chief of Army Staff or 62 years of age |
| FIELD MARSHAL | It is the highest honorable position in the Indian army and has no rank hierarchy system based on appointment. The salary received for this post is lifelong even when the soldier is no longer serving his nation. |
Apart from the Indian Army salary, there are allowances allotted from specific ranks and House Rent Allowances, the Indian Army gives you other allowances and some benefits. These benefits lure young minds to join the army and help them and their families financially. Read all about the allowances in the Indian Army below:
An army officer’s role is not just about salary and allowances, but also about the love and sacrifice they make for their country. They promise security and liability to citizens, making it a prestigious and glorious post. To plan for a post in the Indian Army, it’s essential to understand the salary structure, allowances, and training course. Soldiers and officers receive handsome salaries, medals, and trophies for their service.
Candidates interested in serving our country can check out the Different types of defense exams available in India
Recommended Reading:
The starting salary of an army officer is that of a sepoy with a stipend of INR 20,200/- according to the recently revised salary set by the 7th Pay Commission.
The highest salary of an army officer is that of the Chief Army Staff with a stipend of INR 2,50,000/- according to the recently revised salary set by the 7th commission of India.
The pay scale range of an Indian army officer varies from INR 21,700/- – to INR 2,50,000/- with grade pay levels 3-18. The lowest rank was that of a sepoy and the highest that of a Chief.
You can join the army after qualifying for your higher secondary examination. To be eligible for a permanent commission you have to join NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY or the INDIAN MILITARY ACADEMY through the NDA entrance examination.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
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