The National Defence Academy & Naval Academy (NDA & NA) serve as prestigious gateways to the Indian Armed Forces, with the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force wings offering enticing incentives through their comprehensive salary packages. The implementation of the 7th pay commission has significantly enhanced the attractiveness of these roles, aligning the NDA salary structure with the dedication required of commissioned officers in safeguarding the nation.
Prospective candidates selected for the NDA & NA undergo a demanding one-year training regimen, during which they receive a stipend of INR 56,100. Upon completion, successful trainees are commissioned into various wings, becoming eligible for salaries in accordance with government regulations.
Initially commissioned at the rank of Lieutenant, individuals receive a monthly salary of INR 56,100, falling under Level 10 pay as per the established structure. The highest attainable rank, that of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), commands a fixed salary of INR 2,50,000. Additionally, officers are entitled to a fixed Military Service Pay (MSP) of INR 15,500 per month, starting from the Lieutenant rank and extending up to the rank of Brigadier, as per government mandates.
NDA salary includes allowances, perks, and other several benefits. These benefits and allowances may vary depending on the serviceman’s rank and the place where they are posted. Some of these allowances are a) High Altitude Allowance b) Counter Insurgency Allowance c) Field Area Allowance
Table of Contents
- NDA Salary 2024
- NDA Salary 2024: Rank-wise
- NDA Salary: Allowances & Perks
- NDA Pecuniary Benefits (In case of Adversity)
- NDA Insurance Policies Benefit
- NDA Retirement Benefits
- NDA Promotions
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NDA Salary 2024
Candidates selected for the National Defence Academy & Naval Academy are commissioned into the post of Lieutenant in the Indian Army, Sub-Lietutenant in the Indian Navy, and Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force. At the initial rank in the NDA, the salary remains the same.
NDA Stipend
Candidates are given fixed stipend during their cadet training.
| Stipend to Gentlemen Cadets during the whole duration of training in Service Academies i.e. during the training period at Indian Military Academy | Rs 56,100/ per month (Starting pay in Level 10) |
It is to be noted that once candidates are successfully commissioned their pay remains the same in the first cell of Level 10.
As per the official notification, “On successful commissioning, the pay in the Pay Matrix of the Officer commissioned shall be fixed in first Cell of Level 10 and the period of training shall not be treated as commissioned service and arrears on account of admissible allowances, as applicable, for the training period shall be paid to cadets”.
NDA Salary 2024: Rank-wise
The rank-wise NDA salary of Army, Navy, and Air Force officers are tabulated below:
| Ranks (Army) | Ranks (Navy) | Ranks (Air Force) | Level | Salary (Per Month) |
| Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Flying Officer | Level 10 | INR 56,100/- to INR 1,77, 500/- |
| Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant | Level 10 | INR 61,300/- to 01,93,900/- |
| Major | Lt Commander | Squadron Leader | Level 11 | INR 69,400/- to 02,07,200/- |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander | Level 12 A | INR 01,21,200/- to 02,12,400/- |
| Colonel | Captain | Group Captain | Level 13 | INR 01,30,600/- to 02,15,900/- |
| Brigadier | Commodore | Air Commodore | Level 13 A | INR 01,39,600/- to 02,17,600/- |
| Major General | Rear Admiral | Air Vice-Marshal | Level 14 | INR 01,44,200/- to 02,18,200/- |
| Lt. General HAG Scale | Vice Admiral | Air Marshal | Level 15 | INR 01,82,200/- to 02,24,100/- |
| HAG+ Scale | Vice Admiral And Equivalent | HAG+ Scale | Level 16 | INR 02,05,400/- To 02,24,400/- |
| VCOAS/ Army Cdr/ Lt Gen (NFSG) | VCNS / C-IN-C/ Equivalent | VCAS/AOC-IN-C | Level 17 | INR 02,25,000/- Fixed |
| COAS | CNS/ Equivalent | Air Chief Marshal/ Marshal of the Indian Air Force | Level 18 | INR 02,50,000/- Fixed |
There is also a fixed Military Service Pay (MSP) given to officers. However, this fixed pay is given to officers till the Brigadier rank.
| Military Service Pay (MSP) to the officers from the rank of Lt to Brig | Rs 15,500 p.m. fixed |
NDA Salary: Allowances & Perks
Along with the NDA salary, Indian Armed Services Officers receive a variety of allowances and perks. The allowances may differ depending on the nature of their work and the location to which they are posted.
| Allowances | Amount |
| Dearness Allowance | Admissible at the same rates and under the same conditions as are applicable to civilian personnel from time to time. |
| Para Reserve Allowance | Rs 2,625/- pm |
| Project Allowance | Rs 3,400/- pm |
| Technical Allowance(Tier-I) | Rs 3,000/- pm |
| Technical Allowance(Tier-II) | Rs 4,500/- pm |
| Para Allowance | Rs 10,500/- pm |
| Para Jump Instructor Allowance | Rs 10,500/- pm |
| Special Forces Allowance | Rs 25,000/- pm |
Note: There is also a provision of Flying Allowance for Army Aviators (Pilots) serving in the Army Aviation Corps of INR 25,000 per month.
High Altitude Allowance
Each NDA officer is given an allowance according to the altitude at which he or she is posted.
| Level | Category-I | Category-II | Category-III |
| Officers | Rs 3400/pm | Rs 5300/pm | Rs 25,000/pm |
Counter Insurgency Allowance
| Counter Insurgency Allowance | Amount |
| Counter Insurgency Allowance in Peace Area | Rs 10,500/- pm |
| Counter Insurgency Allce in Field Area | Rs 16,900/- pm |
| Counter Insurgency Allce in Modified Field Area | Rs 13, 013/- pm |
Field Area Allowance
| Field Area Allowance | Amount |
| Highly Active Field Area Allowance | Rs 16,900/- pm |
| Field Area Allowance | Rs 10,500/- pm |
| Modified Field Area Allowance | Rs 6,300/- pm |
NDA Allowances – Others
There are several other types of allowances such as Siachen Allowance, Transport Allowance, Uniform Allowance, and others. Check the table below to know more about such allowances and benefits given to NDA officers.
| Allowances | Benefits |
| Siachen Allowance | Rs 42,500/- per month |
| Transport Allowance | Rs. 7200+DA thereon (Higher TPTA Cities)Rs. 3600+DA thereon (Other Places) |
| Uniform Allowance | Rs 20,000/- per year |
| Children Education Allowance | Rs. 2250/- per month per child for the two eldest children. The allowance is available from Nursery to 12th grade children only |
| Hostel Subsidy | Rs. 6,750/- per month for the two eldest children only. Hostel subsidies are available from Nursery to 12th Grade |
| Ration in Kind | In Peace & Field Areas |
NDA Pecuniary Benefits (In case of Adversity)
In the event an officer suffers an unfortunate event while serving, monetary benefits are provided to them.
NDA Benefits in Case of Death
- An ex-gratia payment of Rs. 12.5 lakhs to Next of Kin (NoK).
- Monthly ex-gratia payment of Rs. 9000/- to the NoK.
Note:
- Ex-gratia awards to Cadets (Direct) / NoK shall be granted solely on an ex-gratia basis and shall not be considered pension for any purpose.
- Dearness Relief at the applicable rates will be granted on both monthly ex-gratia and ex-gratia disability awards.
NDA Benefits in Case of Disablement
- Ex-gratia payment of Rs. 9,000/- per month.
- Additionally, an ex-gratia disability award of Rs. 16200/- per month shall be payable for the entire period of disability, subject to pro rata reduction if the degree of disability is less.
- If the degree of disability is less than 20%, no disability award will be paid.
- For people who are 100% disabled, continuous attendant allowance (CAA) of Rs 6750/- is awarded each month on advice of the Invalidating The Medical Board (IBM).
NDA Insurance Policies Benefit
- Cadets can obtain insurance coverage of Rs. 15 lakh by paying a one-time non-refundable premium of Rs. 7,200/- from the date they join for pre-commission training for a period of three years.
- For each term that a cadet is demoted, an extra premium of Rs. 1,355 would be paid.
- Cadets at IMA, when receiving stipend, are insured for Rs. 75 lakh, similar to regular army officers. A 100 percent disabled person that is invalidated out by IMB and isn’t eligible for a pension will be compensated with Rs 25 lakhs.
Note: Only an Ex-Gratia amount of Rs 50,000 for the first year of training and Rs 1 lakh for the final year of training will be paid for less than 20% disability (in points 4 and 5).
NDA Retirement Benefits
Pension, gratuity, and casualty pensionary awards will be admissible in accordance with current rules and regulations.
NDA Promotions
Officers are promoted to higher ranks in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the concerned authority. Interested candidates can check the table below for more information on promotional ranks in the NDA and NA.
| Indian Army | Indian Navy | Indian Air Force | Minimum Service Required |
| Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Flying Officer | On being Commissioned |
| Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant | On completion of 2 years of service |
| Major | Lt Commander | Squadron Leader | On completion of 6 years of service |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander | On completion of 13 years of service |
| Colonel (Selection) | Captain (Selection) | Group Captain (Selection) | On Selection |
| Colonel (Time Scale) | Captain (Time Scale) | Group Captain (Time Scale) | On completion of 26 years of service |
| Brigadier | Commodore | Air Commodore | On Selection |
| Major General | Rear Admiral | Air Vice-Marshal | On Selection |
| Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Air Marshal | On Selection |
| General | Admiral | Air Chief Marshal | On Selection |
Even though Salary and perks are one factor for selecting NDA as career, the trill of serving nation and becoming a mentally and physically fit person is everything we need in our life. All the Best
Victor Growth NDA Coaching , Kochi , Ernakulam , Kerala ,9995916183