Pay Level 17 salary
Basic pay ₹2,25,000 to ₹2,25,000 (1 stage). In-hand estimates use DA 60% (January 2026).
| Service | Basic | In-hand (Y city) | In-hand (X city) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining | ₹2,25,000 | ₹2,84,753 | ₹3,04,196 |
| 5 years | ₹2,25,000 | ₹2,84,753 | ₹3,04,196 |
| 10 years | ₹2,25,000 | ₹2,84,753 | ₹3,04,196 |
| 15 years | ₹2,25,000 | ₹2,84,753 | ₹3,04,196 |
| 20 years | ₹2,25,000 | ₹2,84,753 | ₹3,04,196 |
Assumes yearly increments and no promotion or MACP.
Who is at Level 17
Secretary to the Government of India; Chief Secretary of a state; Director General of Police heading a state force; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (head of force).
Level 17 is a single fixed pay of ₹2,25,000, with no increments.
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 17
None of the posts profiled here starts at this level.
How people reach Level 17
Promotion steps from the posts profiled on this site. Timelines are typical ranges, not guarantees.
- Apex Scale (Chief Secretary / Secretary to Government of India)Starting as IAS Officer (Indian Administrative Service) · After about 30 years, for those empanelled
- Deputy Comptroller and Auditor GeneralStarting as Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) Officer · After about 30 years, for a few
- SecretaryStarting as Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer · After about 30 years, for those empanelled
- Principal Chief Conservator of ForestsStarting as Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer · After 28–30 years