Indian Army Salary 2026 — Rank-wise Pay, Agniveer & In-hand
Agniveer (Agnipath) package
Most soldier-entry recruitment now runs through the Agnipath scheme. An Agniveer's package starts at ₹30,000 a month in year 1 and rises to ₹40,000 by year 4. About 30% is withheld into the Seva Nidhi corpus, matched by the government, so roughly ₹21,000–₹28,000 is paid in-hand each month. On completing four years, the tax-free Seva Nidhi lump sum is about ₹10.04–11.71 lakh, and there is a non-contributory life-insurance cover of about ₹48 lakh during service.
| Year | Monthly package (₹) | Approx in-hand (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 30,000 | 21,000 |
| Year 2 | 33,000 | 23,100 |
| Year 3 | 36,500 | 25,580 |
| Year 4 | 40,000 | 28,000 |
Agnipath scheme package (not the 7th CPC pay matrix). About 30% of the monthly package goes to the Seva Nidhi corpus (government matches it); the Seva Nidhi lump sum on exit is roughly ₹10.04–11.71 lakh. Source: Ministry of Defence.
Rank-wise pay on the defence pay matrix
Regular soldiers (JCOs/Other Ranks) and commissioned officers are on the 7th CPC defence pay matrix, with Military Service Pay (MSP) added on top — ₹5,200 for JCOs/OR and ₹15,500 for officers up to Brigadier.
| Rank | Pay Level | Entry Basic Pay (₹) | MSP (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sepoy | Level 3 | 21,700 | 5,200 |
| Naik | Level 4 | 25,500 | 5,200 |
| Havildar | Level 5 | 29,200 | 5,200 |
| Naib Subedar | Level 6 | 35,400 | 5,200 |
| Subedar | Level 7 | 44,900 | 5,200 |
| Subedar Major | Level 8 | 47,600 | 5,200 |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | 56,100 | 15,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | 61,300 | 15,500 |
| Major | Level 11 | 69,400 | 15,500 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | 1,21,200 | 15,500 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | 1,30,600 | 15,500 |
| Brigadier | Level 13A | 1,39,600 | 15,500 |
| Major General | Level 14 | 1,44,200 | — |
| Lieutenant General (HAG) | Level 15 | 1,82,200 | — |
Entry (first-stage) basic pay of the defence pay matrix. MSP ₹15,500 is paid to commissioned officers up to Brigadier; JCOs/OR get MSP ₹5,200. In-hand adds DA (60%, Jan 2026), MSP and allowances (field, HRA, ration, etc.) and varies with posting.
Allowances that lift take-home
On top of basic pay and MSP, soldiers and officers draw DA (60% of basic), and a range of service allowances — Field Area Allowance, High Altitude Allowance, Siachen Allowance, HRA, ration and uniform allowances — depending on posting. These can make in-hand at a hard-area posting substantially higher than the basic figure.
Entry routes
Officer entry is largely through the NDA and CDS routes; the NDA exam is the main path for candidates after Class 12. Soldier entry is through the Agnipath (Agniveer) recruitment. Officers commissioned after training start at Lieutenant (Level 10).
Sources & Official References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the in-hand salary of an Agniveer in the Army?
An Army Agniveer takes home about ₹21,000 a month in year 1, rising to roughly ₹28,000 by year 4, since about 30% of the ₹30,000–₹40,000 monthly package goes into the Seva Nidhi corpus. On exit after four years the tax-free Seva Nidhi lump sum is about ₹10.04–11.71 lakh.
What is Military Service Pay (MSP)?
MSP is a fixed monthly amount paid to defence personnel on top of basic pay — ₹15,500 for commissioned officers up to Brigadier, and ₹5,200 for JCOs and Other Ranks. It is counted for DA and several other calculations.
What is the starting salary of an Army officer?
A newly commissioned Lieutenant is at pay Level 10 (basic ₹56,100) plus MSP ₹15,500, plus DA and allowances — in-hand well over ₹1 lakh a month at many postings, higher in field and hard areas.
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