Pay Level 18 salary
Basic pay ₹2,50,000 to ₹2,50,000 (1 stage). In-hand estimates use DA 60% (January 2026).
| Service | Basic | In-hand (Y city) | In-hand (X city) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining | ₹2,50,000 | ₹3,11,713 | ₹3,32,876 |
| 5 years | ₹2,50,000 | ₹3,11,713 | ₹3,32,876 |
| 10 years | ₹2,50,000 | ₹3,11,713 | ₹3,32,876 |
| 15 years | ₹2,50,000 | ₹3,11,713 | ₹3,32,876 |
| 20 years | ₹2,50,000 | ₹3,11,713 | ₹3,32,876 |
Assumes yearly increments and no promotion or MACP.
Who is at Level 18
The Cabinet Secretary, and the chiefs of the three armed services on the defence pay matrix.
Level 18 is a single fixed pay of ₹2,50,000, the highest in the government.
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 18
None of the posts profiled here starts at this level.