7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix 2026 — All Levels 1 to 18
The full 7th CPC pay matrix — entry basic pay by level
The pay matrix replaced the old pay-band-and-grade-pay system. Each of the 18 levels has a starting (entry) cell and then annual increments of 3%. The entry basic pay below is the figure your salary is built on — every allowance is calculated as a percentage of it.
| Pay Level | Entry Basic Pay (₹) | Typical posts |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 18,000 | MTS, Group D |
| Level 2 | 19,900 | LDC, Constable |
| Level 3 | 21,700 | Constable / skilled staff |
| Level 4 | 25,500 | Auditor, Tax Assistant, Grade-D Steno |
| Level 5 | 29,200 | Senior clerk, technician |
| Level 6 | 35,400 | Inspector (state), Assistant, Sub-Inspector |
| Level 7 | 44,900 | Central Assistant Section Officer, Inspector (IT/CE) |
| Level 8 | 47,600 | Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer, Section Officer |
| Level 9 | 53,100 | Deputy SP, Under Secretary (entry) |
| Level 10 | 56,100 | Group A entry — IAS/IPS/IFS, Assistant Commissioner |
| Level 11 | 67,700 | Senior scale officers |
| Level 12 | 78,800 | Under Secretary / STS officers |
| Level 13 | 1,23,100 | Director / Selection grade |
| Level 13A | 1,31,100 | Senior Director |
| Level 14 | 1,44,200 | Joint Secretary |
| Level 15 | 1,82,200 | Additional Secretary |
| Level 16 | 2,05,400 | Secretary-rank |
| Level 17 | 2,25,000 | Secretary (fixed pay) |
| Level 18 | 2,50,000 | Cabinet Secretary (fixed pay) |
Entry (starting) cell of each level per the 7th CPC pay matrix. Levels 17–18 are fixed pay. Actual posts at a level vary by department.
How in-hand salary is built from basic pay
Your gross salary is not the basic pay alone. On top of the matrix figure, central government employees receive:
- Dearness Allowance (DA) — revised twice a year, currently over 50% of basic pay. This is the single largest add-on.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA) — 30% / 20% / 10% of basic pay for X (metro), Y and Z class cities respectively.
- Transport Allowance (TA) — a fixed amount by city class and level, itself increased by DA.
- Deductions — NPS (10% of basic + DA), CGHS, and professional tax reduce the net.
Worked example — Level 6 in a metro
For a Level 6 employee (entry basic ₹35,400) posted in an X-class city, with DA at 50% and HRA at 30%: DA ≈ ₹17,700, HRA ≈ ₹10,620, plus transport allowance. Gross comes to roughly ₹67,000–70,000, and in-hand after NPS and other deductions is approximately ₹58,000–62,000. The same level in a Z-class city earns less because HRA drops to 10%.
What the 8th Pay Commission may change
The government has approved the setting up of the 8th Pay Commission. Its recommendations are expected to be implemented in the coming pay cycle, applying a fitment factor to today's basic pay. Nothing is final yet — see our dedicated 8th Pay Commission guide for the projected matrix and expected timeline.
Sources & Official References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum basic pay in the 7th Pay Commission?
The minimum basic pay under the 7th CPC is ₹18,000 per month at Level 1 (for Multi-Tasking Staff and Group D posts). The maximum is ₹2,50,000 at Level 18 (Cabinet Secretary), which is a fixed pay.
How is 7th CPC in-hand salary different from basic pay?
Basic pay is only the matrix figure. In-hand salary adds Dearness Allowance (currently 50%+ of basic), House Rent Allowance (30/20/10% by city), and Transport Allowance, then subtracts NPS (10%) and other deductions. In-hand is typically 1.5–1.8× the basic pay depending on city and DA.
What is the fitment factor?
The fitment factor is the multiplier used to revise basic pay when a new pay commission is implemented. The 7th CPC used 2.57. The 8th Pay Commission's fitment factor has not been finalised.
How often does DA increase?
Dearness Allowance is revised twice a year — from January and from July — based on the All India Consumer Price Index. Each revision is announced by the central government and applied with arrears.
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