ABOUT IAS SALARY

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the most prestigious and sought-after careers in India. Besides the immense respect and authority that comes with the position, the attractive salary structure makes IAS a dream job for many. If you aspire to be an IAS officer, you would want to know details about the IAS salary at various levels. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of IAS salaries, including pay scales, allowances, and other benefits.

The IAS salary structure is governed by the Indian Civil Service Pay Rules and recommendations of the Pay Commissions. The current salary packages are as per the Seventh Pay Commission guidelines. There are separate salary structures during training and after getting appointed as full-fledged IAS officers. Let's look at IAS salaries in detail.

Salary during Training Period

After candidates clear the UPSC civil services exam, they undergo foundation and professional training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. The duration of training is two years.

During the training period, officer trainees are given a stipend as a monthly salary. As per the latest notification, the IAS training salary is Rs56,100 per month for the entire duration. This salary during training remains the same regardless of the candidate's background or work experience before joining the services.

The training salary acts as a monthly stipend to support the officer trainees' living expenses during their two years at the academy. For many candidates who are fresh graduates, this stipend becomes their first salary package.

Starting Salary Package after Training

After successful completion of their training, IAS officers are assigned cadres and posted across different state and central government departments. The starting monthly salary for a new IAS officer at the lowest level called the Junior Time Scale is again Rs 56,100.

This starting basic pay remains unchanged from the training period stipend. However, the total gross monthly salary increases to around Rs80,000, including various allowances.

New IAS officers may get opportunities for foreign postings as well. The salary structure for foreign postings can vary but is usually equivalent to domestic pay scales.

Salary Rises with Promotions

One of the attractions of the IAS is that salaries keep rising over time as officers get promoted to higher administrative grades.

The next promotion is to the Senior Time Scale, where the basic pay increases to Rs67,700 per month. At this stage, the gross monthly salary, including allowances, rises to Rs1.5-1.7 lakhs.

Subsequently, IAS officers can rise up to the Junior Administrative Grade, which carries a basic pay of Rs78,800. The total monthly income grows to around Rs1.8 lakhs.

The next level is the Selection Grade/Deputy Secretaryship with basic pay of Rs1,18,500 and gross monthly income of Rs2.0-2.5 lakhs.

The highest grade is the Senior Administrative Grade, with basic pay of Rs2,05,400. Together with allowances, the salary per month reaches around Rs2.5-3.0 lakhs at this stage.

Highest Salary - Cabinet Secretary Level

The Cabinet Secretary of India is the highest rank in the IAS cadre. The Cabinet Secretary monthly basic salary is Rs2.5 lakhs, while the total gross monthly income is close to Rs3.5-4.0 lakhs.

The Cabinet Secretary also gets access to several other privileges and benefits like personal staff, accommodation and vehicles. Therefore, this is the highest salary that an IAS officer can aspire to achieve in a career.

Salary during Deputation

IAS officers may also get deputed to other organizations like public sector banks, Police Forces, Central Institutions, policy think tanks etc. The remuneration during the deputation period may vary.

Usually, IAS officers on deputation continue to receive basic IAS pay along with a Special Allowance component decided as per the rules of the organization they are posted with. The overall salary structure is designed to be approximately the same as regular IAS remuneration.

Allowances to Increase Gross Salary

While the Basic Pay component is as per the defined scale, the gross salary has several additional allowances and benefits:

• Dearness Allowance (DA) - To offset inflation, DA is paid based on a percentage of basic pay. Currently, DA is 31% of the basic pay.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) - A percentage of basic pay, ranging from 24% to 30%, is paid as HRA. This varies based on the posting location.
• Travel Allowances - Reimbursements to cover official travel costs are provided.
• Other allowances like medical, conveyance etc. also enhance the overall salary package.

These allowances are aimed to facilitate the officers in fulfilling their official roles and responsibilities efficiently. They form a significant component of the overall IAS salary per month at various grades.

Salary during Foreign Assignments

IAS officers selected for foreign assignments continue to receive salaries as per their parent cadre. Some of the additional benefits include:

• Hardship allowance for difficult postings
• Foreign language training allowance
• Overseas cost of living allowance
• Salary as per host country, if higher
• Foreign accommodation and perks

So, foreign postings can be quite lucrative. But they require candidates to clear stiff exams testing their suitability.

Lucrative Pension Benefits

After retirement, IAS officers receive substantial pension benefits.

Some key aspects are:

• Full pension is 50% of last drawn basic salary.
• Additional pension available for senior positions.
• Officers with longer service periods get more pension.
• Retirement benefits are revised periodically under Pay Commissions.

The retirement pension provides financial security and stability to IAS officers during their golden years.

Conclusion

The Indian Administrative Service offers a prestigious career path with attractive salary packages and growth opportunities. The starting salary is modest at around Rs80,000 per month but rises significantly with promotions over time. The highest post of Cabinet Secretary carries a monthly salary of up to Rs4 lakhs. In addition to basic pay, IAS officers get substantial allowances to cover expenses and maintain their standard of living. Foreign postings also enhance pay packages. After retirement, pension benefits ensure financial security. Lucrative salaries, along with job perks and pensions, make IAS a rewarding career option for those aspiring for leadership roles in public service. The combination of salary, benefits and unparalleled prestige attached to the post make IAS a highly coveted job in India.