NDA Salary 2025: Perks, Allowances, In-hand Salary, Promotions

18-October 2024...........

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is one of the most prestigious institutions in India, training future leaders of the Indian Armed Forces. As aspiring candidates look towards a career in defence, understanding the salary structure, perks, allowances, and promotion opportunities in 2025 is essential. This blog provides an overview of what NDA cadets can expect regarding compensation and benefits.

Understanding the NDA Salary Structure

Army Officers and equivalent ranks in the Air Force and Navy

(a) Fixed Stipend for Cadet Training: -

Stipend to male/female Cadets during the entire duration of training in academies i.e. during the training period at IMA

Rs 56,100/-p.m.

(Starting pay at Level 10)

*On successful commissioning, the pay in the Pay matrix of the Officer commissioned shall be fixed in the 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.

(b) Pay: -

Rank	Pay Level (in Rs.)
Lt to Maj	Lt - Level 10 (56,100 – 1,77,500)/- Capt. - Level 10 B (61,300- 1,93,900)/- Maj - Level 11 (69,400 –2,07,200)/
Lt Col to Maj Gen	Lt Col - Level 12A (1,21,200 –2,12,400)/- Col - Level 13 (1,30,600 – 2,15,900)/- Brig - Level 13A (1,39,600 – 2,17,600)/- Maj Gen - Level 14 (1,44,200 –2,18,200)/-
Lt Gen (HAG Scale)	Level 15 (1,82,200 – 2,24,100)/-
Lt Gen (HAG+Scale)	Level 16 (2,05,400 – 2,24,400)/-
VCOAS/Army Cdr/ Lt Gen (NFSG)	Level 17 (2,25,000/-)(fixed)
COAS	Level 18 (2,50,000/-)(fixed)

(ii) MSP to the officer is as follows: -

Military Service Pay(MSP) to the officers from the rank of Lt to Brig

Rs 15,500 p.m. fixed

(iii) Flying Allowance: The Army Aviators (Pilots) serving in the Army Aviation Corps are entitled to a flying allowance of Rs 25,000/- p.m.

(iv) OTHER ALLOWANCE: -

Dearness Allowance	Admissible at the same rates and under the same conditions as are applicable to civilian personnel from time to time.
Para Allce	Rs 10,500/- pm
Para Reserve Allce	Rs 2,625/- pm
Para Jump Instructor Allce	Rs 10,500/- pm
Project Allce	Rs 3,400/- pm
Special Forces Allce	Rs 25,000/- pm
Technical Allce (Tier-I)	Rs 3,000/- pm
Technical Allce (Tier-II)	Rs 4,500/- pm

(v) Depending upon rank and area of posting, officers posted to Field Areas will be eligible for the following Field Area allowances: -

Level	Highly Active Field Area Allce	Field Area Allce	Modified Field Area Allce
Officers	Rs 16,900/- pm	Rs 10,500/- pm	Rs 6,300/- pm

High Altitude Allowance

Level	Category-I	Category-II	Category-III
Officers	Rs 3,400/- pm	Rs 5,300/- pm	Rs 25,000/- pm

Counter Insurgency Allowance

Level	Counter Insurgency Allce in Peace Area	Counter Insurgency Allce in Field Area	Counter Insurgency Allce in Modified Field Area
Officers	Rs 10,500/- pm	Rs 16,900/- pm	Rs 13,013/- pm

And/or Risk and hardship allces payable as per MoD Letter No. 8(3)/2017/D(Pay/Services) dated 21 Apr. 2022

(vi) Siachen Allowance Rs 42,500/- per month.

(vii) Uniform allowance. Rs 20,000/- per year.

(viii) Ration in Kind. In peace and Field areas

(ix) Transport Allowance (TPTA)

Pay Level	Higher TPTA Cities (Rs. Per month)	Other Places (Rs. Per month)
Officers	Rs. 7200+DA thereon	Rs. 3600+DA thereon

(x) Children's Education Allowance. Rs. 2250/- per month per child for two eldest surviving only. CEA is admissible from Nursery to 12th Class.

(xi) Hostel Subsidy. Rs. 6,750/- per month per child for two eldest surviving only. Hostel Subsidy is admissible from Nursery to 12th Class.

(xii) The following monetary benefits are available to the Cadets (Direct)/NoKs in the event of invalidment on medical grounds/death of a Cadet (Direct) due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military training:

(I) IN CASE OF DISABLEMENT

(a) Monthly Ex-gratia amount of Rs. 9,000/- per month.

(b) Ex-gratia disability award @ Rs. 16200/- per month shall be payable in addition for 100% of disability during period of disablement subject to prorata reduction in case the degree of disablement is less than 100%. No disability award shall be payable in cases where the degree of disablement is less than 20%. Level Counter Insurgency Allce in Peace Area Counter Insurgency Allce in Field Area Counter Insurgency Allce in Modified Field Area Officers Rs 10,500/- pm Rs 16,900/- pm Rs 13,013/- pm 116

(c) Constant Attendant Allowance (CAA) @ Rs 6750/- per month for 100% disabled on the recommendation of the Invaliding Medical Board (IBM).

(II) IN CASE OF DEATH

(a) Ex-gratia amount of Rs. 12.5 lakhs to the NoK.

(b) Monthly Ex-gratia amount of Rs. 9000/- per month to the NoK.

Note:

1. The Ex-gratia awards to Cadets (Direct) / NoK, shall be sanctioned purely on ex-gratia basis and the same shall not be treated as pension for any purpose.

2. Dearness Relief at applicable rates shall be granted on monthly ex-gratia as well as exgratia disability award

RETIREMENT BENEFITS: Pension, gratuity, and casualty pensionary awards will be admissible in accordance with the rules in force from time to time.

LEAVE: Leave will be admissible in accordance with the rules in force from time to time.

PROMOTIONAL AVENUES:

S.No.	Army	Navy	Air Force	Minimum Reckonable Commissioned Service Required for Substantive Promotion
1.	Lieutenant	Sub Lieutenant	Flying Officer	On Commission
2.	Captain	Lieutenant	Flight Lieutenant	02 Years
3.	Major	Lt. Commander	Squadron Leader	06 years
4.	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Wing Commander	13 years
5.	Colonel (Selection)	Captain (Selection)	Group Captain (Selection)	On Selection
6.	Colonel (Time Scale)	Captain (Time Scale)	Group Captain (Time Scale)	26 years
7.	Brigadier	Commodore	Air Commodore	On Selection
8.	Major General	Rear Admiral	Air Vice Marshal	On Selection
9.	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral	Air Marshal	On Selection
10	General	Admiral	Air Chief Marshal	On Selection