Government jobPay Level 7Group BNon‑gazetted
Sub-Inspector (CBI)
उप निरीक्षक (सीबीआई)
Investigating officer post in the Central Bureau of Investigation via SSC CGL — corruption, bank fraud and special crime cases.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) · Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions · 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
- 20–30 years
- Transfers
- Anywhere in India
- Work hours
- Irregular; long days during searches, traps and court deadlines
- Probation
- 2 years
Estimated in-hand / month
₹76,316
Gross ₹83,700 · CTC ≈ ₹11.3 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Sub-Inspector (CBI) · 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
- Investigating cases of corruption, bank fraud, economic offences and special crimes
- Collecting documents and evidence from banks, departments and companies
- Examining witnesses and recording statements
- Taking part in searches, traps and arrests
- Preparing case diaries and assisting with charge sheets
- Attending court for remand, evidence and trial follow-up
A typical day
A lot of the job is paperwork rather than chasing suspects. You spend hours reading bank records, tender files and seized documents, writing the case diary, and summoning witnesses to record statements. Some days are spent in court waiting for a hearing. A trap or search means an early start, a long day and a detailed report afterwards. Cases can require travel to other cities for a week or more at short notice.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Sub-Inspector (CBI) (joining)
Pay Level 7
₹72,000–₹84,000 in-hand
Inspector
5–8 years · via dpc
Deputy Superintendent of Police
Further 8–12 years · via dpc
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 20–30. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
Physical standards: Men: height 165 cm, chest 76 cm with expansion. Women: height 150 cm. Height relaxable by 5 cm for hill and tribal candidates. Distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, with or without glasses.
The good
- Real investigation work on important cases
- Level 7 pay plus a CBI-specific allowance
- Strong standing of the organisation
The hard parts
- Long, unpredictable hours and frequent travel
- All-India transfers
- Cases run for years, with repeated court appearances even after you move
Postings
CBI has branches in most state capitals and big cities. Posting is all-India based on vacancies, and transfers happen every few years. Training is at the CBI Academy in Ghaziabad.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Sub-Inspector (CBI)?+
Sub-Inspector (CBI) 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 Sub-Inspector (CBI)?+
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Age: 20–30 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 Sub-Inspector (CBI)?+
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).
Does a CBI Sub-Inspector wear a uniform?+
No. CBI officers work in plain clothes, though they hold police ranks.
Is there a physical test?+
SSC selection is by written exam, but CBI checks the prescribed physical standards and medical fitness before appointment.
Compare with similar posts
Sub-Inspector (NIA)
उप निरीक्षक (एनआईए)
Pay Level 6 investigator post in the National Investigation Agency via SSC CGL — terror and national-security cases.
Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED)
सहायक प्रवर्तन अधिकारी
Pay Level 7 post in the Enforcement Directorate via SSC CGL — money-laundering and foreign-exchange investigations.
Income Tax Inspector
आयकर निरीक्षक
Pay Level 7 post in the Income Tax Department via SSC CGL — part office, part field work verifying tax compliance.
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.
- See on Amazon
SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers
Kiran Prakashan
Thousands of actual SSC questions sorted by topic. The quickest way to see what is really asked.
- See on Amazon
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
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and does not affect which books we list.
Sources
- SSC CGL 2026 notice (official PDF)
- Staff Selection Commission — official website
- Central Bureau of Investigation
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.