There are about 61 types of facilities, benefits and allowances that are applicable to Army in general. In fact if one were to work out the remuneration of a service officer vis a vis a comparable job in the private sector, on the basis of ‘Cost To Company’ (CTC) you would be astounded to find the returns of an Army man very attractive.

Indian Army has a better life for you if you dare to join the Indian Army. After the 6th pay commission, the pay scale of an Indian army officer has increased. Not only pay scale, there are multiple allowances for Indian army officers. Also, The Seventh Pay Commission has already been constituted by the Government and the pay scales of all Cental Government employees shall be revised wef 01Jan 2016 as and when the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission are finalised and approved by the Government . So one can expect a substantial increase in pay /perks as enumerated above.

UPSC CDS 2016 Officer Entry Pay scale and Allowances

UPSC CDS Exam 2 2016 Pay Scale

Pay Scale of Army Officers and equivalent ranks in Air Force and Navy

Rank	Pay Band ( )
Lt. to Major	15,600-39,100 ( PB-3 )
Lt. Col. to Maj Gen.	37,400-67,000 ( PB-4 )
Lt. Gen. HAG Scale	67,000/- ( annual increment @ 3% ) – 79.000
HAG Scale* (* Admissible to 1/3rd of total strength of Lt. Gens)	75,500/- ( annual increment @ 3% ) – 80,000
VCO / AS / Army Cdr / Lt Gen ( NFSG )	80,000/- ( Fixed )
COAS	90,000/- ( Fixed )

Grade pay:

The promotion from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel is on time scale basis and thereafter on selection basis subject to fulfillment of requisite service condition. The pay scale and promotion criteria is as follows: –

Due to restructuring of the officer’s cadre on recommendations of AVS committee, promotion period has been reduced and Time Scale promotion has been increased upto the rank of Col ( equivalent ) and rank of Lt Col ( TS ) has been abolished. Col ( TS ) ( equivalent ) is entitled to Grade pay of 8700/- P.M.

A Fixed sum of 6000/- PM is also payable as Military Service Pay ( MSP ) to the officers from the rank Lt. to Brig.

Stipend during training at Service Academies : Fixed Stipend 21,000/- per month ( 15,600/- as pay in Pay Band plus Grade Pay of 5,400/- ) for the entire duration of training.

Qualification Pay and Grant:
Officers possessing certain prescribed qualifications are entitled to lumpsum Qualification Grant of 6,000/-, 9000/-, 15000/- or 20,000/- based on the qualification held by them.The Army Aviators ( Pilots ) serving in Army Aviation Corps are entitled to the Qualification Pay, based on the Qualification held by them as under :

1. Master Aviation Instructor 500/- p.m.
2. Senior Aviation Instructor Class I – 400/- p.m.
3. Senior Aviation Instructor Class II – 280/- p.m.
4. Aviators holding Master Green Card – 400/- p.m.
5. Aviators holding Green Card – 280/- p.m.

The Army Aviators ( Pilots ) serving in the Army Aviation Corps are entitled to flying allowance as under :

1. Brig. and above 10,500/-
2. Maj to Col 14,000/-
3. Capt and Equivalent 11,000/-
4. Lt and Equivalent 9,000/-

Allowances :

1. Dearness Allowances are admissible at the same rates and under the same conditions as are applicable to the Civilian Gazetted Officers from time to time.
2. A kit maintenance allowance of 400/- p.m.
3. Depending upon rank and area of posting, Officers posted to Field Areas will be eligible for compensatory Highly active Field Area Allowance at the rate of 6,780/- to 8,400/- p.m., Compensatory Field Area Allowance at the rate of 4,200/- to 5,200/- p.m. and Compensatory Modified Field Area Allowance at the rate of 1,600/- to 2,000/- p.m.
4. In addition to the Compensatory Field Area Allowance, officers posted to areas situated at a height of 9,000 ft and above are entitled for High Altitude Allowance in the range of 1,060 p.m. to 11,200 pm depending upon rank of the officer and place of posting.
5. Siachen Allowance at the rate of 14,000/- per month will be admissible in addition to Compensatory Field Area Allowance to officers of all ranks. This allowance is, however, not admissible in conjunction with High Altitude / Uncongenial climate allowance.
6. Uniform allowance : Initial allowance for a one time kit @ 14,000/- and 3,000/- for every three years.
7. Free rations are provided to all officers.
8. Transport allowance : Transport allowance @ 3,200/- + DA thereon p.m. in A-1/A class cities and 1,600/- + DA thereon p.m. at other places shall be admissible to officers.
9. Children Education Allowance.
10. In the case of allowances specific to Defence Forces, the rates of these allowances have been further enhanced by 50% as Dearness Allowance has gone up by 100%.
11. State Govt. of Sikkim has approved a cash incentive of 1.5 lac ( Rupees One lakh fifty thousand only ) to successful candidates of Sikkim for all Officers entry scheme.