Government jobLevel 10 + MSPGroup AGazetted
Navy Officer, Executive Branch (CDS, Indian Naval Academy)
नौसेना अधिकारी (सीडीएस, भारतीय नौसेना अकादमी)
Permanent commission in the Navy through UPSC CDS for engineering or physics graduates — training at Ezhimala, then Sub-Lieutenant.
Indian Navy (through the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala) · Ministry of Defence · defence government
- Exam
- UPSC CDS
- Qualification
- Graduate
- Age limit
- 19–24 years
- Transfers
- Anywhere in India
- Work hours
- Watch system at sea; long deployments away from port
- Probation
- Training at the Indian Naval Academy followed by sea training on ships
Pay on commissioning / month
₹1,14,560
| Basic pay (Level 10) | ₹56,100 |
| Military Service Pay | ₹15,500 |
| Dearness Allowance (60%) | ₹42,960 |
Before income tax. Transport allowance, free rations, dress allowance and field, flying or other risk allowances are extra, and married or single accommodation is normally provided in place of HRA. There is no NPS deduction; pension is under defence rules. Rates as of January 2026.
A Sub-Lieutenant is the naval equivalent of an Army Lieutenant at Level 10. Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 a month during training at the Naval Academy.
What you will actually do
- Watchkeeping on the bridge of a warship
- Heading a department or division of sailors on board
- Operating and maintaining weapons, sensors and navigation systems
- Planning exercises, patrols and deployments
- Specialising later in navigation, gunnery, aviation, submarines or other branches
A typical day
At sea the day is divided into watches. You stand four hours on the bridge or in the operations room, then run your division, supervise maintenance and catch up on sleep before the next watch, for weeks at a time. Space is tight and there is no going home in the evening. In harbour the routine is closer to office hours, with duty days when you stay on board. Shore postings at headquarters and training schools come between sea tenures.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Navy Officer, Executive Branch (CDS, Indian Naval Academy) (joining)
Level 10 + MSP
Lieutenant
About 2 years, time-scale · via dpc
Lieutenant Commander
About 6 years, time-scale · Level 11 · via dpc
₹1,02,000–₹1,19,000 in-hand
Commander
About 13 years, time-scale · via dpc
Captain and above
By selection · Level 13 · via dpc
₹1,66,000–₹1,87,000 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
Union Public Service Commission
- 1.Written examination (English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, 100 marks each)
- 2.SSB interview (intelligence and personality test, about five days)
- 3.Medical examination
- 4.Merit list
Eligibility: A degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level. Open to unmarried men only through this entry. Age 19–24. No category-based age relaxation. Candidates must be unmarried and must not marry during training.
Physical standards: Naval medical standards, including eyesight and colour perception requirements for the executive branch, checked after the SSB.
The good
- Technical, well-equipped service with foreign port visits
- Postings mostly at coastal cities
- Permanent commission with pension
The hard parts
- Months at sea away from family
- Cramped living on board
- Open only to engineering or physics graduates through this entry
Postings
Ships and establishments at naval bases such as Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Karwar and Port Blair, with shore postings in Delhi and elsewhere.
Questions people ask
What is the salary of Navy Officer, Executive Branch (CDS, Indian Naval Academy)?+
On commissioning, pay is fixed at the start of Level 10: basic pay ₹56,100 plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500. With dearness allowance at 60% (January 2026) that comes to about ₹1,15,000 a month, before transport, field, flying and other allowances. Cadets get a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 a month during training at the service academy.
What is the qualification and age limit for Navy Officer, Executive Branch (CDS, Indian Naval Academy)?+
A degree in Engineering, or B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level. Open to unmarried men only through this entry. Age: 19–24 years. Relaxation: No category-based age relaxation. Candidates must be unmarried and must not marry during training.
Which exam do I need to clear for Navy Officer, Executive Branch (CDS, Indian Naval Academy)?+
UPSC CDS (Union Public Service Commission).
Can an arts or commerce graduate join the Navy through CDS?+
No. This entry needs an engineering degree, or B.Sc. with Physics, with Physics and Mathematics in Class 12.
Compare with similar posts
Army Officer, Permanent Commission (CDS, Indian Military Academy)
थल सेना अधिकारी, स्थायी कमीशन (सीडीएस, आईएमए)
Permanent commission in the Army for graduates through UPSC CDS — 18 months at IMA Dehradun, then Lieutenant.
Defence Officer through NDA (Army, Navy, Air Force)
एनडीए के माध्यम से रक्षा अधिकारी (थल सेना, नौसेना, वायु सेना)
Officer entry after Class 12 through UPSC NDA — three years at the academy, a degree, then a commission as an officer.
Air Force Officer, Flying Branch (Pilot)
वायु सेना अधिकारी, फ्लाइंग ब्रांच (पायलट)
Pilot in the Indian Air Force through UPSC CDS or AFCAT — fighter, transport or helicopter flying after training at Dundigal.
Sources
- UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2026 notice (official PDF)
- Join Indian Navy — official portal
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.