Government jobPay Level 7Group BNon‑gazetted
Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)
निरीक्षक (केंद्रीय नारकोटिक्स ब्यूरो)
Pay Level 7 post in the Central Bureau of Narcotics via SSC CGL — licensing of opium cultivation and narcotics enforcement.
Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) · Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) · central government
In-hand pay at joining, per month
₹72,000–₹84,000
Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.
- Exam
- SSC CGL
- Qualification
- Graduate
- Age limit
- 18–30 years
- Transfers
- Within your allotted zone/region
- Work hours
- Long, irregular hours in the crop and weighment season; office hours otherwise
- Probation
- 2 years
Estimated in-hand / month
₹76,316
Gross ₹83,700 · CTC ≈ ₹11.3 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.
New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.
What you will actually do
- Supervising licensed opium poppy cultivation and measuring fields
- Overseeing weighment and collection of opium from licensed farmers
- Preventive checks against diversion and illegal cultivation
- Seizures, arrests and case work under the NDPS Act
- Processing licences and returns for narcotic drugs and controlled substances
A typical day
The work changes with the season. During the crop months you are in villages measuring fields, checking that cultivators stay within their licensed area, and later sitting at weighment centres for long days as opium is tendered. Off-season there is office work on licences, registers and pending cases, plus preventive patrols when information comes in. Travel is by road into rural areas, and facilities at field camps are basic.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) (joining)
Pay Level 7
₹72,000–₹84,000 in-hand
Superintendent (Group B gazetted)
10–18 years · Level 8 · via dpc
₹76,000–₹88,000 in-hand
Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.
How to get in
Staff Selection Commission
- 1.Tier-I computer-based test
- 2.Tier-II computer-based test (including computer knowledge module)
- 3.Physical standards and physical test check by the department
- 4.Document verification
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Age 18–30. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
Physical standards: Men: height 157.5 cm, chest 81 cm (expanded), walk 1,600 m in 15 minutes and cycle 8 km in 30 minutes. Women: height 152 cm, weight 48 kg, walk 1 km in 20 minutes and cycle 3 km in 25 minutes. Relaxations apply for some categories; check the notification.
The good
- Level 7 pay with a small, close-knit cadre
- Specialised enforcement work few other posts offer
- Lower cost of living in posting towns
The hard parts
- Postings limited to three states, mostly small towns
- Seasonal field work is physically demanding
- Small cadre means limited vacancies and slow promotion
Postings
CBN is headquartered in Gwalior and its field units are concentrated in the opium-growing districts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (for example Neemuch, Kota and Lucknow). Expect small towns rather than metros.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)?+
Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) is a Pay Level 7 post with a starting basic pay of ₹44,900. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹72,000–₹84,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.
What is the qualification and age limit for Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)?+
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Age: 18–30 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
Which exam do I need to clear for Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)?+
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).
Is CBN the same as NCB?+
No. The Central Bureau of Narcotics is under the Finance Ministry and mainly regulates legal opium and controlled substances. The Narcotics Control Bureau is under the Home Ministry and is an enforcement and coordination agency.
Compare with similar posts
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निरीक्षक (केंद्रीय उत्पाद शुल्क / सीजीएसटी)
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उप निरीक्षक (सीबीआई)
Investigating officer post in the Central Bureau of Investigation via SSC CGL — corruption, bank fraud and special crime cases.
Books to prepare for SSC CGL
- See on Amazon
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
The standard practice book for arithmetic. Strong on volume of questions; weak on shortcuts, so pair it with solved papers.
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SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers
Kiran Prakashan
Thousands of actual SSC questions sorted by topic. The quickest way to see what is really asked.
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Objective General English
S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
Grammar rules with exam-style practice sets. Good for error spotting and sentence improvement.
All 7 books for SSC CGL, CPO and other graduate-level exams
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Sources
- SSC CGL 2026 notice (official PDF)
- Staff Selection Commission — official website
- Central Bureau of Narcotics
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.