NDA Salary in 2026 starts with a ₹56,100 monthly training stipend, and once you are commissioned as a Lieutenant (or Sub-Lieutenant or Flying Officer) it becomes ₹56,100 basic pay plus ₹15,500 Military Service Pay and 60% Dearness Allowance, which is about ₹1.15 lakh a month before housing and other allowances.
NDA Salary at a Glance (Stats Table)
| Detail | Fact (as of 29 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Exam conducted by | UPSC (twice a year: NDA & NA I and II). The 2026 (II) exam date was 13 September 2026 [Verify on the UPSC site] |
| Pay system in force | 7th Pay Commission. The 8th Pay Commission is still consulting and has not submitted its report |
| Training stipend | ₹56,100 per month (Level 10 entry pay) |
| Lieutenant NDA Salary (basic pay range) | ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 (Pay Level 10) |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | ₹15,500 per month, from Lieutenant to Brigadier |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | 60% from 1 January 2026, worked out on basic pay plus MSP [Verify for the July 2026 revision] |
| Approximate first-month gross | About ₹1.15 lakh, or about ₹1.3 lakh with HRA and other allowances (our estimate) |
| Training length | 3 years at NDA Khadakwasla plus about 1 year at IMA, Naval Academy or Air Force Academy |
| Top fixed pay | ₹2,50,000 per month for the Chief of Army Staff (Level 18) |
| Does NDA cadets get salary during training? | Yes, stipend confirmed for the service academy year |
| NDA Salary Per Month During Training | ₹56,100 stipend, with free food, housing and medical |
| NDA Salary Per Month For Girl candidates | Same as boys, since pay follows rank |
| NDA Salary After 12th | Stipend first, full pay after commissioning |
| NDA Salary After 5 Years / NDA Salary After 10 Years | About ₹1.3 lakh / ₹1.5 lakh gross (our estimates) |
| Army Wing NDA Salary / Air Force NDA Salary | Same pay levels, different rank names |
| IAS vs NDA Salary | Both start at Level 10; the officer adds MSP |
| UPSC NDA Salary | UPSC lists the pay rules; the Ministry of Defence pays |
| NDA Salary Slip | Monthly statement of earnings and deductions |
What Is NDA Salary?
NDA Salary is not technically a single salary paid from the day a candidate enters the National Defence Academy. It is better understood as a progression from cadet training to commissioned military service.
Candidates selected through the UPSC examination first undergo training. NDA training itself is an academic and military programme, followed by further training at the relevant Service Academy depending on the chosen wing.After successful completion of the required training, the candidate is commissioned as an officer. At that stage, the officer’s basic pay begins at the first cell of the applicable pay level.
Does NDA Cadets Get Salary During Training?
The answer needs a small but important clarification.
The official notification describes a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month for cadet training at the relevant Service Academies, with the amount linked to the starting pay of Level 10. It also states that the training period is not treated as commissioned service and that admissible allowance arrears applicable to the training period are paid according to the rules.
Therefore, it is safer to call this a training stipend, rather than saying every cadet receives the full salary of a commissioned officer throughout the NDA course.
NDA Salary Per Month During Training
| Phase | Where | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Years 1 to 3 | NDA Khadakwasla, Pune | Sources differ [Verify]; free food, housing, medical |
| Year 4 | IMA / Naval Academy / Air Force Academy | ₹56,100 stipend (confirmed in the notice wording) |
| After commissioning | Your first unit | Full officer pay and allowances |
Also Read: Para SF Commando Salary
NDA Salary After 12th
The NDA route is designed for young candidates who meet the educational and other eligibility requirements specified in the UPSC notification. This is why searches for NDA Salary After 12th are so common.
However, passing Class 12 does not mean the candidate immediately becomes an officer and starts drawing the commissioned-officer salary.
The normal journey looks more like this:
Class 12 → UPSC NDA examination → SSB → medical examination → merit/selection → NDA and Service training → commissioning → officer pay
The UPSC conducts the NDA and Naval Academy Examination twice a year in the current examination cycle. The official 2026 UPSC pages list NDA I 2026 and NDA II 2026 examinations.
| Stage | What happens | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 12 | Clear the UPSC written exam, SSB interview and medical | Nothing yet |
| Years 1 to 3 | Training at NDA Khadakwasla | Free food, housing, medical; stipend rules differ by source |
| Year 4 | Service academy training | ₹56,100 stipend |
| Commissioning | You become a Lieutenant (or equal rank) | Full pay, MSP, DA, allowances |
NDA Salary After 5 Years
After about 2 years as a Lieutenant, you are promoted to Captain and move to Pay Level 10B, which starts at ₹61,300. Add yearly increments of around 3%, and by year 5 your basic pay is roughly ₹67,000 (our estimate).
Starting from the Lieutenant NDA Salary of ₹56,100 basic, the NDA Salary After 5 Years looks like this: basic about ₹67,000, plus MSP ₹15,500, plus DA at 60% (about ₹49,500). That is roughly ₹1.3 lakh gross before HRA and other allowances. The raise is not dramatic because rank changes slowly at first. The bigger jumps come later.
Also Read: Para SF Commando Salary
NDA Salary After 10 Years
Around year 6, a Captain becomes a Major and moves to Pay Level 11, starting at ₹69,400. With four more increments of around 3%, basic pay by year 10 is roughly ₹78,000 (our estimate).
The NDA Salary After 10 Years then works out to: basic about ₹78,000, plus MSP ₹15,500, plus DA at 60% (about ₹56,000). That is around ₹1.5 lakh gross before HRA and other allowances. One source estimates ₹1 lakh to ₹1.25 lakh in-hand for a Major, and that is plausible after tax and deductions [Verify]. The next big step, Lieutenant Colonel at about 13 years, jumps to Level 12A, starting at ₹1,21,200.
NDA Salary Per Month During Training
NDA Salary Per Month During Training is frequently reported as ₹56,100. The more precise wording is that ₹56,100 is the notified fixed stipend for cadets during the specified Service Academy training stage, with the amount corresponding to the starting pay of Level 10.
The amount should not automatically be treated as the exact money deposited into a cadet’s bank account after every possible deduction or adjustment.
That is why NDA Salary Per Month During Training and “NDA in-hand salary” should not be used as interchangeable terms.
NDA Salary Per Month After Commissioning
Here is the moment the numbers grow up. When you are commissioned, the NDA Salary Per Month is built from basic pay, Military Service Pay and Dearness Allowance, and then topped with allowances that depend on where you live and work.
Lieutenant NDA Salary: The Monthly Breakdown
The Lieutenant NDA Salary starts in the first cell of Pay Level 10. Here is the maths in plain view:
| Component | Amount (₹ per month) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | 56,100 | Level 10, first cell |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | 15,500 | Same for Lieutenant to Brigadier |
| Basic + MSP | 71,600 | |
| DA at 60% of 71,600 | 42,960 | From 1 January 2026 |
| Subtotal | 1,14,560 | Before other allowances |
| HRA (if no free quarters) | About 17,000 to 21,500 | Metro city; depends on rules [Verify] |
| Kit maintenance and others | About 1,600 and up | Field and high-altitude pay can add much more |
| Rough gross | About 1.3 lakh | Our estimate, before deductions |
Free government quarters replace HRA in many postings, and that is real money saved. In-hand pay will be lower after income tax and other deductions, which we explain in the salary slip section.
Air Force NDA Salary: Same Levels, Different Ranks
The Air Force NDA Salary uses the same pay levels. Only the rank names change. Air Force cadets finish at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, and are commissioned as Flying Officers.
| Level | Army | Navy | Air Force |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant | Flying Officer |
| 10B | Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant |
| 11 | Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader |
| 12A | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander |
| 13 | Colonel | Captain | Group Captain |
Pilots get extra flying-related pay on top of basic pay, MSP and DA, but the exact amount depends on current orders, so we do not quote a figure here [Verify with the Air Force pay orders]. The Air Force NDA Salary is therefore the same at entry level, and can be higher for flying branches.
Army Wing NDA Salary
Army Wing NDA Salary follows the defence pay structure after the candidate completes the required training and receives a commission.
Army officers begin as Lieutenants, with Level 10 basic pay. The pay rises as officers progress through the rank structure.
A simplified rank-wise view is:
| Rank | Pay Level | Basic Pay Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | ₹56,100–₹1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | ₹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 13A | ₹1,39,600–₹2,17,600 |
| Major General | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200–₹2,18,200 |
| Lieutenant General, HAG | Level 15 | ₹1,82,200–₹2,24,100 |
| HAG+ | Level 16 | ₹2,05,400–₹2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/Army Commander/Lt Gen NFSG | Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 fixed |
| Chief of Army Staff | Level 18 | ₹2,50,000 fixed |
NDA Salary Per Month For Girl Candidates
Good news, and no drama: the NDA Salary Per Month For Girl candidates is the same as for boys. The UPSC notice for 2026 lists stipend for “male/female cadets”, and the armed forces pay by rank and pay level, not gender. A woman Lieutenant starts at Level 10 with ₹56,100 basic pay, ₹15,500 MSP, DA and the same allowances.
Women have been able to join NDA through the UPSC exam since 2022 [Verify with the UPSC and Ministry of Defence pages]. Only unmarried candidates are eligible, for both men and women. So for anyone wondering about NDA Salary Per Month For Girl aspirants, the answer is simple: same rank, same pay.
NDA Salary Slip: What the Lines Mean
The NDA Salary Slip looks scary at first, so here is a friendly walk through it. It is a monthly statement that shows what is added (earnings) and what is cut (deductions).
| Line on the slip | What it means | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | Fixed by your pay level | Earning |
| MSP | ₹15,500 for officers up to Brigadier | Earning |
| DA | 60% of basic + MSP (as of January 2026) | Earning |
| HRA or licence fee | HRA if you live outside; a small fee if you take government quarters | Earning or deduction |
| Transport allowance | Depends on city and rules | Earning |
| Field, high-altitude and other allowances | Depend on posting | Earning |
| Income tax | As per your tax regime | Deduction |
| Pension contribution | Officers who joined after 2004 are under the NPS system [Verify] | Deduction |
| Insurance contribution | Group insurance scheme for officers and cadets [Verify amount] | Deduction |
| Mess, club and other dues | Personal charges | Deduction |
A tip from every serving officer we have heard: read the NDA Salary Slip every month in your first year. Small errors in allowances are easier to fix early.
IAS vs NDA Salary: Who Wins on the Pay Slip?
This is the classic family debate. Here is the fair comparison.
| Point | Army officer (NDA route) | IAS officer |
|---|---|---|
| Entry basic pay | ₹56,100 (Level 10) | ₹56,100 (Level 10) |
| Military Service Pay | ₹15,500 | None |
| DA at 60% on entry pay | ₹42,960 (on basic + MSP) | ₹33,660 (on basic) |
| Subtotal before other allowances | About ₹1,14,560 | About ₹89,760 |
| Housing | Free quarters where available | Official housing |
| Retirement (top post) | Level 18, ₹2,50,000 | Level 18, ₹2,50,000 |
At the entry level under the 7th CPC framework, both All India Services/Central Group A officers and defence officers can have Level-10 starting basic pay of ₹56,100. The 7th CPC report recommended ₹56,100 as the starting salary at Level 10 for officers of the All India Services/Central Group A Services.
NDA Salary After 8th Pay Commission
This is where many salary articles become a little too creative.
NDA Salary After 8th Pay Commission cannot currently be stated as a final official figure because the 8th Central Pay Commission is still working through its process.
The 8th CPC was constituted by the Government of India through a notification dated November 3, 2025. Its official website shows that the Commission has been conducting consultations and collecting inputs during 2026.
The Commission’s terms of reference provide for recommendations within 18 months from its constitution, while the government had said the effect of recommendations would normally be expected from January 1, 2026 based on the usual pay-commission cycle. That does not mean a new salary table was automatically implemented on January 1, 2026.
UPSC NDA Salary: Who Actually Pays It?
The phrase UPSC NDA Salary is another example of a search term that needs careful wording.
UPSC conducts the NDA and Naval Academy Examination. It is the recruiting examination authority for the entry process, but the salary itself belongs to the relevant Armed Forces service structure after appointment/commissioning.
The official UPSC website lists the NDA & Naval Academy Examination among its examinations.
So, UPSC NDA Salary should not be interpreted as “UPSC employees paying a separate NDA salary.” UPSC conducts the examination; the resulting military service is governed by the applicable defence service rules.
NDA Salary Allowances and Benefits
The basic salary is only one part of military compensation.
The official notification lists several additional components, although eligibility depends on the officer’s role and posting.
Military Service Pay
MSP is an additional component for eligible officers. The cited NDA notification lists ₹15,500 per month for officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier.
Dearness Allowance
DA is linked to the applicable government rate and conditions. The rate changes through government decisions, so an article should not freeze one old percentage and present it as permanent. For example, the government approved a 2-percentage-point increase over the existing 53% DA rate effective January 1, 2025.
Transport Allowance
The notified structure also provides transport allowance according to the applicable pay level and location category, with DA thereon where prescribed.
Field, Risk and Hardship Allowances
Certain operational, difficult-area and specialised assignments can attract additional allowances. These are not universal payments to every officer.
Uniform and Other Benefits
The service structure can also include uniform-related benefits, ration arrangements and other authorised benefits, depending on the applicable rules and service conditions.
This is why a responsible NDA Salary article should avoid claiming one fixed “in-hand salary” for every officer.
NDA Salary Slip: What Does It Show?
An NDA Salary Slip is different from a simple online salary table.
A salary slip for a commissioned officer can contain several entries, such as:
- Basic Pay
- Military Service Pay
- Dearness Allowance
- Applicable duty or location allowances
- Transport-related components
- Other authorised payments
- Deductions
- Net amount payable
Conclusion
The NDA Salary structure is much more than one ₹56,100 figure.A candidate should distinguish between the training stipend, commissioned officer basic pay, MSP, applicable allowances and final take-home amount. The current Level-10 starting basic pay is ₹56,100, while the Lieutenant pay range extends from ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 under the existing structure.
For Does NDA Cadets Get Salary During Training, the accurate answer is that a notified stipend is available during the applicable Service Academy training stage; it should not automatically be described as the full commissioned-officer salary throughout the entire NDA course.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the NDA Salary per month in 2026?
Cadets get a ₹56,100 stipend in service academy training. After commissioning, a Lieutenant gets ₹56,100 basic pay, ₹15,500 MSP and 60% DA on both, about ₹1.15 lakh before other allowances. If you join right after Class 12, the NDA Salary After 12th means stipend first and full pay after commissioning.
2. Does NDA cadets get salary during training?
Yes, a stipend of ₹56,100 is confirmed for service academy training. For the first three years at NDA, sources differ, so check the latest UPSC notice.
3. Do girls get the same NDA Salary Per Month?
Yes. Pay depends on rank and pay level, not gender.
4. What will NDA Salary After 8th Pay Commission be?
Nobody knows yet. The commission has not submitted its report. Estimates using a 1.92 factor suggest a rise near 20% for a Lieutenant, but that is unofficial.
5. Is NDA Salary After 10 Years higher than a Lieutenant’s?
Yes. A Major has Level 11 basic pay of ₹69,400 at the start and about ₹78,000 by year 10 (our estimate), plus MSP and DA.
For more detailed information about salaries, income, and earnings across different professions, you can also check out our salary-focused resource, Salary Batao.
