An IAS officer’s position is one of the most distinguished government positions in India. The IAS salary or pay scale is based on the 7th Pay Commission, with a payment level of 10. An IAS Officer’s monthly basic salary is INR 56,100. (Excluding other allowances like TA, DA, and HRA). A Cabinet Secretary’s salary might reach Rs. 2,50,000. An IAS officer’s work has many perks, including a high income, a prestigious status, and numerous additional perks. Every year, thousands of people apply for IAS openings. Aside from the good IAS salary, there are various other benefits that make this position highly sought and esteemed. This article will throw light on the salary structure and the allowances of IAS Officers.
Salary Structure of IAS (UPSC CSE) Officers in 2022
The starting pay for all Civil Servants (Group A) is the same (The Payment Level being 10). On June 29, 2016, the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Even for entry-level IAS Officers, the total remuneration would be great and adequate. The pay scale progresses to Pay Level 18.
| Pay Level (years in service) | Basic Pay (INR) | Post |
| 10 (1-4 years) | 56,100 | Sub-divisional magistrate in District Administration Undersecretary in State Secretariat Assistant Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 11 (5-8 years) | 67,700 | Additional district magistrate in District Administration Deputy Secretary in State Secretariat Under-Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 12 (9-12 years) | 78,800 | District Magistrate in District Administration Joint Secretary in State Secretariat Deputy Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 13 (13-16 years) | 1,18,500 | District Magistrate in District Administration Special secretary-cum-director in the State Secretariat Director in Central Secretariat |
| 14 (16-24 years) | 1,44,200 | Divisional Commissioner in District Administration Secretary-cum-commissioner in State Secretariat Joint Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 15 (25-30 years) | 1,82,200 | Divisional Commissioner in District Administration Principal Secretary in State Secretariat Additional Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 16 (30-33 years) | 2,05,400 | Additional Chief Secretary in State Secretariat |
| 17 (34-36 years) | 2,25,000 | Chief Secretary in State Secretariat Secretary in Central Secretariat |
| 18 (37+ years) | 2,50,000 | Cabinet Secretary of India |
What Has Changed in IAS Starting Salary Since the 7th Pay Commission?
- On June 29, 2016, the Cabinet adopted the 7th Pay Commission report. Consolidated Pay has replaced the former System of Pay Grades, according to the 7th Pay Commission.
- The basic remuneration of junior-level IAS officers has increased from Rs 21,000 to Rs 56,100.
- Selected candidates will receive additional benefits such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Travel Allowance (TA).
- Salary increases will occur every year, as will promotions.
- A Cabinet Secretary is the highest-paid IAS officer, earning Rs 2,50,000. This figure, however, is likely to rise with time.
Salary of an IAS Officer: Entry-Level
The table below shows the IAS Officer Salary information at the entry-level per month:
| Level | Basic Pay | Total IAS salary |
| Entry-level (starting salary) | 56100 | 56100 – 132000 |
| Maximum Pay (cabinet secretary level) | 250000 | 250000 |
Pay Scale for IAS (UPSC CSE) Officers after the 7th Pay Commission
In the 7th Central Pay Commission, the IAS new pay structure eliminated the ‘Pay Grades for IAS’ and replaced them with ‘Consolidated Pay Levels.’ The following tables compare the 7th Central Pay Commission’s pay structure to the old pay structure established by the 6th Pay Commission:
The salary structure of the IAS (UPSC CSE) is divided into eight grades. Each category has a different fixed base pay and grade pay.
| Grade | Pay Scale | Grade Pay | Years of Service Required |
| Junior Scale | 50,000 – 1,50,000 | 16,500 | NA |
| Senior Time Scale | 50,000 – 1,50,001 | 20,000 | 5 years |
| Junior Administrative Grade | 50,000 – 1,50,002 | 23,000 | 9 years |
| Selection Grade | 1,00,000 – 2,00,000 | 26,000 | 12 to 15 years |
| Super Time Scale | 1,00,000 – 2,00,000 | 30,000 | 17 to 20 years |
| Above Super Time Scale | 1,00,000 – 2,00,000 | 30,000 | Varies |
| Apex Scale | 2,25,000 (Fixed) | NA | Varies (around 30 years) |
| Cabinet Secretary Grade | 2,50,000 (Fixed) | NA | Varies |
IAS Salary – IAS Officer Career Development
- Candidates who pass the UPSC CSE recruiting procedure and are chosen to become IAS officers go through several levels of work and advancement.
- An IAS officer’s career begins at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, where they are trained for employment.
- After the training, the candidates begin working as SDMs and are given promotions and opportunities for advancement based on their talents. The SDM contacts several government departments and supervises the work of Tehsildars.
- Candidates are awarded promotions based on their work after serving as SDM for a specified period of time.
The following table shows the progression of ranks in the career of an IAS officer that can be achieved through skills and hard work.
| Posts | Years of work |
| SDM/ ASP/ Assistant Commissioner | 1-4 |
| Deputy Secretary (State)/ ADM/ Undersecretary (Center) | 5-8 |
| DM/ Deputy Secretary (Center)/ Joint Secretary (State) | 9-12 |
| DM/ Director (Center)/ Special Secretary cum Director (State)/ | 13-16 |
| Divisional Commissioner/ Secretary cum Commissioner (State)/ Joint Secretary (Center) | 16-24 |
| Principle Secretary (State)/ Divisional Commissioner/ Additional Secretary (Center) | 25-30 |
| Additional Chief Secretary | 30-33 |
| Chief Secretary | 34-36 |
| Cabinet Secretary of India | 37+ |
Allowances and Benefits for IAS Salary
In addition to the basic pay, the IAS Salary includes allowances such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), Dearness Allowance (DA), and Travel Allowance (TA). The remuneration of an IAS officer will rise in line with their level of experience. The Cabinet Secretary’s basic salary is Rs. 2,50,000 per month. A DA, HRA, and TA are also available to IAS officers.
IAS Officer’s Total Salary = Basic Pay + DA + TA + HRA
HRA – IAS Salary (House Rent Allowances)
The HRA ranges from 8% to 24% of the basic salary. However, if you live in official housing, the HRA amount will not be credited to your pay.
The HRA is also determined by the city in which the candidates are posted.
The gross monthly compensation of an IAS officer varies from state to state and district to district. That is because the gross IAS income per month includes things like house rent allowances and because house rent allowances vary by state, we cannot provide a standard Gross monthly compensation for each IAS post.
DA – IAS Salary (Dearness Allowances)
In the case of DA, this portion is linked to inflation, as recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. It is also worth noting that DA grew by 107 percent of IAS Officers’ basic salary in 2015. As a result, the DA portion will rise significantly in the future.
DA is increased every six months (in January and July every year). This increase in DA would be in accordance with the inflation index (CPI).
TA – IAS Salary (Travel Allowances)
Travel Allowances (TA) will be provided to cover a portion of the travel expenses.
If an IAS officer is granted a government vehicle, he or she does not receive any TA.
The IAS Officer benefits in a variety of ways from his or her government work. There is a steady trend of revenue growth. Furthermore, the allowances and advantages available to IAS officers make it a highly desired job. With this government employment, your career is assured because the odds of getting dismissed from the IAS Officer post are slim to none.
Salary Structure for IRS Officers
It is the second most desired position in the UPSC Exam. Good pay is also available as an Indian Revenue Service Officer. The UPSC IRS wage structure is available to candidates below.
| Designation | Pay Scale |
| Income Tax Assistant Commissioner | INR 15,600 – 39100 + Grade Pay of INR 5400 |
| Income Tax Joint Commissioner | INR 15,600 – 39100 + Grade Pay of INR 7600 |
| Income Tax Deputy Commissioner | INR 15,600 – 39100 + Grade Pay of INR 6600 |
| Additional Commissioner of Income Tax | INR 37400 – 67000 + Grade Pay of INR 8700 |
| Income Tax Commissioner | INR 37400 – 67000 + Grade Pay of INR 10000 |
| Income Tax Chief Commissioner | INR 75000 to INR 80000 |
| Principal Commissioner of Income Tax | INR 75000 to INR 80000 |
| Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax | INR 80000 fixed |
Salary Structure for IFS Officers
Indian Foreign Services proposes to serve the government in another country. It comes with numerous perks, a very high salary, and numerous family amenities. The UPSC IRS salary scale is shown in the table below.
| Grade | Rank | Basic Pay (as of 7th Pay Commission) |
| Junior Time Scale | Under Secretary | INR 8000 |
| Senior Time Scale | Under Secretary | INR 10700 |
| Junior Administrative Scale | Deputy Secretary | INR 12750 |
| Selection Grade | Counselor Director | INR 15100 |
| Senior Administrative Scale | Joint Secretary | INR 18400 |
| High Commissioner/ Ambassador | Foreign Secretary | INR 26000 |
Salary Structure for IPS Officers
It is a post included with the Uniform. UPSC IPS positions provide a candidate with significant influence, respect, and reputation. The Salary Structure and Job Post can be found in the table below.
| Post | Basic Pay |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police | INR 56,100 |
| Additional Superintendent of Police | INR 67,700 |
| Senior Superintendent of Police | INR 78,800 |
| Deputy Inspector General of Police | INR 1,31,100 |
| Inspector-General of Police | INR 1,44,200 |
| Director-General of Police | INR 2,05,400 |
| Director of IB or CBI/ Director-General of Police | INR 2,25,000 |
IAS Salary Benefits
UPSC CSE provides numerous benefits and is held in high regard in India. The benefits are standard for all UPSC CSE posts such as IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS, and others and are stated here.
- Apartment (3 or 4 BHK)
- Office Vehicles
- Free Phone Call
- Household Assistants and Security Guards
- Leave Abroad to Study
- the Electricity and Water Bills
- Study Leave
- Medical Expenses
- Transportation Allowances
- Pensions and retirement benefits
- Dearness Allowance (As governed by the inflation index at 65 percent)
Conclusion
Young people should keep in mind that the IAS pay scale in India should not be the main criterion for joining the services. Civil service is an opportunity to serve the country and make a difference in the lives of its citizens. Your primary motive should be a desire to work for the country and improve the lives of many people. Aside from the substantial IAS salary, aspirants are drawn to the sense of pride and dignity that comes with being a public servant. Power, duties, and the opportunity to serve the country all play important roles.
A life of hard work and toil awaits an IAS officer, but the government takes great care to keep these able-bodied administrators of our nation in the best of health. It accomplishes this by offering them not only lucrative in-hand wage packages but also a slew of perks.
With being said, it should be noted that IAS officers’ salaries and allowances improve over time as they advance up the administrative ladder and are promoted to various high-ranking government positions. It should be noted, however, that IAS officers are not compensated highly simply because they are IAS officers. Rather, it’s because they can do things that just a small percentage of the Indian workforce can.
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