Skip to main content

Salary and Promotions of Air Force Officers

The Indian Air Force provides a career with a handsome pay and perks. The Air Force Officers get the due promotions in their career as they go ahead with their services. The job is challenging and with the promotion, the challenge becomes bigger.


The Indian Air Force provides an outstanding pay along with a career filled with prospects. Apart from the nationalism, patriotism and honour; the IAF is known to take care of its employees with good pay and other benefits. The job offers challenges but it offers the due salary also.

Salary & Allowances of Indian Air Force Officers

The IAF Officers start to earn even before they get Commission from the IAF. During the last year of their training, they will start receiving a stipend of Rs. 21,000 per month. When the Commission is given to them, then their salary break-up will be as follows:

  • Pay in the Pay Band Rs. 15,600-39,100 (Same for Flying, Technical, Ground Duty)
  • Grade Pay will be Rs. 5,400
  • Military Service Pay will be Rs. 6,000
  • Dearness Allowance @ 107 per cent amounts to Rs. 28,890
  • Kit Maintenance Allowance will be Rs. 500
  • Transport Allowance will be Rs. 3,200 + DA ( in major cities) OR Rs. 1,600 + DA ( in other cities)
  • Flying Allowance will be Rs. 11,250 per month for Flying Branch
  • Technical Allowance will be Rs. 2,500 per month for Technical Branch

Additional Benefits Granted to IAF Officers:

  • Furnished accommodation, electricity, water, domestic help etc. at no or low charges
  • LTC scheme for vacation
  • Benefits like free Hospital, canteen benefits
  • Lifetime Pension (if service is at least 20 years)

The Monthly Package of the IAF Officers would be:

  • Flying Branch: Rs. 74,264
  • Technical Branch: Rs. 65,514
  • Ground Duty Branch: Rs. 63,014

Promotions in Indian Air Force

Promotions in the IAF are based on timescale for the first three ranks. After this, the promotions are based on selection depending on the frequency with which positions become free. Promotion after this stage becomes steeper due to the pyramidal promotional structure. Hence, for this purpose, there exists a Time Scale (TS) promotion. Here are the details of the promotion policy:

Time Scale (TS) promotion

(a) The Air Force presently recruits Commissioned Officers as Flying Officers (Lieutenants). However, the Technical Officers who are engineers are given ante-date in seniority of 2 years for pay and promotion compared to other Officers of the IAF. The reason is to attract the best possible talent in the technical field.

(b) Officers after serving as Flying officers for 3 years are promoted to Flight lieutenants. However the Officers must pass a departmental examination referred to as Promotion Examination 'B'. This examination consists of papers in General Knowledge, Staff duties and Professional subject. An officer must secure 50% to pass this examination.

(c) On completion of six years of total service an Officer of the IAF is granted the rank of Squadron Leader.

(d) To go further up in the hierarchy, all Officers must pass promotion exam ‘C’. This exam consists of papers on Current affairs, Air Power, Air Force Law and General Service training. An Officer becomes a Wing Commander after 12 years of service.

Flying Officer
Flight Lieutenant
Squadron Leader
Wing Commander

Promotions Based on Seniority and Merit

Promotions above the rank of Wing Commander are based on seniority and merit. An Officer of the Flying Branch will become eligible for consideration to the rank of Group Captain after completing 16 years of service.

Ground Duty Officers, who are non flyers, will be considered for Group Captain Rank after 18 years of service. He will face Promotion Board No. 1, which is presided over by the Air Officer in Charge Personnel (AOP).

Subsequent promotions to the rank of Air Commodore and Air Vice Marshal come under No. 2 Promotion Board of which the Vice Chief is the presiding officer. All recommendations of the Promotion Boards (1 and 2) are put for approval to the Ministry of Defence, which has the last say in all the matters of promotion.

Group Captain
Air Commodore
Air Vice Marshal
Air Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Marshal of the Air Force

Labels:
Location: bendre layout, Gubbi cross, DR Bendre Layout, Kothanur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560077, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Explained: What is Army Aviation Corps, the youngest Corps of the Indian Army

A look at the Army Aviation Corps’ history and its relevance in modern day battlefields, including in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism (CI-CT) operations. Representative Image The Army Aviation Corps (AAC), the youngest Corps of the Indian Army, celebrated its 35th Corps Day on November 1. We take a look at the arm that adds an air dimension to the Army’s capabilities, its history, and its relevance in modern day battlefields, including Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism (CI-CT) operations. The roots of Army Aviation Corps The origin of the AAC can be traced back to the raising of the Army Aviation wing of the Royal Air Force in India in 1942, and the subsequent formation of the first Indian Air Observation Post in August 1947. The Air Observation Post units primarily acted as artillery spotters – which are the elements that help the artillery in directing the fire and also giving air support to ground forces. In the wars of 1965 and 1971, the Air Observation Post helicop...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explained: India-US defence deals - BECA, LEMOA & COMCASA

At 2+2 meeting next week, the two countries will look to push intelligence sharing pact BECA . With key deals LEMOA and COMCASA already signed, what does it mean for defence, particularly in light of LAC standoff? India and US have signed the LEMOA in 2016, COMCASA in 2018 and BECA is scheduled for the third 2+2 ministerial meeting (on November 3rd) India and the US are preparing for the third 2+2 ministerial meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark T Esper in New Delhi on October 26-27. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E Biegun visited India last week to lay the groundwork for the high-level visits 2+2 in 2018. One of the items on the agenda will be the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) — a pact with deep military implications. In the last two meetings, agreements known as LEMOA and COMCASA were signed; now, with BECA, these have been dubbed the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

India's S-400, Nuke Subs, Rafales pose a serious threat to Pak - FM Qureshi

India’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defence systems, via a deal signed last year and worth $5.43 billion, has unnerved Pakistan, with Foreign Minister Shah Mohammed Qureshi describing the S-400s as destabilising weapon systems which could affect the region's strategic stability. Delivery of the first S-400 system is likely to take place in 2020. Expressing his apprehension about the arms purchase by India, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mohammed Qureshi has called on global powers to be "mindful" of their responsibility in terms of arms supplies to the region. "The introduction of new destabilising weapon systems, such as the S-400 anti-ballistic missile system, could further accentuate challenges to strategic stability. They can encourage a misadventure by an adversary, under a false sense of security," FM Shah Mohammed Qureshi said on Wednesday in Islamabad. Last October, India inked a $5.43 billion defence contract with Russia to purchase of five S-400 air...
Post a Comment
Read more