Pay Level 13 salary
Basic pay ₹1,23,100 to ₹2,15,900 (20 stages). In-hand estimates use DA 60% (January 2026).
| Service | Basic | In-hand (Y city) | In-hand (X city) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining | ₹1,23,100 | ₹1,74,864 | ₹1,87,296 |
| 5 years | ₹1,42,700 | ₹1,96,001 | ₹2,09,781 |
| 10 years | ₹1,65,400 | ₹2,20,480 | ₹2,35,823 |
| 15 years | ₹1,91,800 | ₹2,48,950 | ₹2,66,109 |
| 20 years | ₹2,15,900 | ₹2,74,939 | ₹2,93,756 |
Assumes yearly increments and no promotion or MACP.
Who is at Level 13
Director in the Government of India; Selection Grade of Group A services (after about 13 years); Commandant in the CAPFs; Additional Commissioner in the tax services.
No general competitive exam recruits directly at this level. You reach it by promotion, most often after entering a Group A service at Level 10 through an exam such as the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The only direct entries are a small number of specialist, medical, scientific and lateral-entry posts that UPSC advertises individually for people who already have experience.
Jobs you can join directly at Level 13
None of the posts profiled here starts at this level.
How people reach Level 13
Promotion steps from the posts profiled on this site. Timelines are typical ranges, not guarantees.
- Group Captain and aboveStarting as Air Force Officer, Flying Branch (Pilot) · By selection
- Colonel and aboveStarting as Army Officer, Permanent Commission (CDS, Indian Military Academy) · By selection, from about 15–18 years; many officers do not get selected
- CommandantStarting as Assistant Commandant (CAPF) · Typically 15–20 years of total service
- Chief Medical Superintendent and aboveStarting as Assistant Divisional Medical Officer (Railways) · By selection later in the career
- Additional Legislative Counsel and aboveStarting as Assistant Legislative Counsel (Indian Legal Service, Grade IV) · Further service
- Colonel and aboveStarting as Defence Officer through NDA (Army, Navy, Air Force) · By selection, from about 15–18 years; many officers do not get selected
- Superintending EngineerStarting as Engineering Services Officer (UPSC ESE) · After 13–15 years
- Selection GradeStarting as IAS Officer (Indian Administrative Service) · After 13 years
- Joint Director / DirectorStarting as Indian Economic Service (IES) Officer · After 9–13 years
- Counsellor / DirectorStarting as Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer · After 13 years
- Joint Director / DirectorStarting as Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Officer · After 9–13 years
- Junior Administrative Grade and Selection Grade (SP / SSP)Starting as IPS Officer (Indian Police Service) · After 9 and 13 years
- Additional CommissionerStarting as IRS Officer (Customs and Indirect Taxes) · After 13–14 years
- Additional CommissionerStarting as IRS Officer (Income Tax) · After 13–14 years
- Scientist / Engineer 'SF' and aboveStarting as Scientist / Engineer 'SC' (ISRO) · Through periodic merit reviews
- Chief Medical Officer (Non-Functional Selection Grade)Starting as Medical Officer, Central Health Service · After about 13 years
- Captain and aboveStarting as Navy Officer, Executive Branch (CDS, Indian Naval Academy) · By selection
- Specialist Grade I / ProfessorStarting as Specialist Grade III Assistant Professor (Central Health Service) · Time-bound, after further service