Government jobPay Level 4Group CNon‑gazetted
Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)
उप निरीक्षक (केंद्रीय नारकोटिक्स ब्यूरो)
Pay Level 4 uniformed post via SSC CGL in the Central Bureau of Narcotics — field checks on licensed opium cultivation.
Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) · Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) · central government
In-hand pay at joining, per month
₹42,000–₹50,000
Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.
- Exam
- SSC CGL
- Qualification
- Graduate
- Age limit
- 18–27 years
- Transfers
- Within your allotted zone/region
- Work hours
- Long field days in the crop season; office hours otherwise
- Probation
- 2 years
Estimated in-hand / month
₹44,500
Gross ₹48,780 · CTC ≈ ₹6.5 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Sub-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
- Measuring licensed poppy fields and checking cultivators' records
- Assisting at opium weighment centres
- Patrolling against illegal cultivation and diversion
- Assisting Inspectors in seizures and NDPS cases
- Maintaining registers and licence records
A typical day
In the crop season you are out in the villages with a measuring chain and registers, verifying each licensed plot and reporting excess area. At weighment time you work long days at a centre while farmers tender their opium. The rest of the year is office work on licences and preventive rounds. Postings are in rural opium belts, and facilities are basic.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) (joining)
Pay Level 4
₹42,000–₹50,000 in-hand
Inspector
8–12 years · Level 7 · via dpc
₹72,000–₹84,000 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 from a recognised university. Age 18–27. 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 fully expanded, walk 1,600 m in 15 minutes. Women: height 152 cm, weight 48 kg, walk 1 km in 20 minutes. Height relaxable for some categories. The cycling test does not apply to this post.
The good
- Uniformed post with a direct promotion to Inspector at Level 7
- Low cost of living in posting areas
- Small cadre
The hard parts
- Level 4 pay
- Postings confined to rural parts of three states
- Seasonal field work is physically demanding
Postings
CBN units in the opium-growing districts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, with headquarters at Gwalior.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)?+
Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) is a Pay Level 4 post with a starting basic pay of ₹25,500. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹42,000–₹50,000 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 (Central Bureau of Narcotics)?+
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Age: 18–27 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 (Central Bureau of Narcotics)?+
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).
Is this the same as Inspector in CBN?+
No. Inspector is a Level 7, Group B post. Sub-Inspector is the Level 4, Group C post below it.
Compare with similar posts
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.
Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC)
टैक्स असिस्टेंट
Pay Level 4 desk job in the Income Tax or GST/Customs department via SSC CGL — mostly office work, steady hours.
Havaldar (CBIC and CBN)
हवलदार (सीबीआईसी / सीबीएन)
Pay Level 1 uniformed post via SSC MTS in the GST, Customs and Narcotics departments — guard, escort and support duties.
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
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Sources
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.