Pay Level 16 starts at a basic pay of ₹2,05,400 and rises to ₹2,24,400 over 4 cells. With DA at 63% from 1 July 2026, the entry gross salary is ₹4,08,158 a month in an X city and about ₹2,84,562 in hand.
X cities are the big metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune); Y cities are other large cities and state capitals; everywhere else is Z. Transport allowance is at the higher (TPTA) rate in X and Y cities. The government also adds 14% of basic + DA (₹46,872) to your NPS account.
📊 Level 16 pay matrix: all 4 cells
Cell
Basic pay
DA (63%)
Gross (X city)
In-hand (X city)
Cell 1
₹2,05,400
₹1,29,402
₹4,08,158
₹2,84,562
Cell 2
₹2,11,600
₹1,33,308
₹4,20,124
₹2,91,785
Cell 3
₹2,17,900
₹1,37,277
₹4,32,283
₹2,92,304
Cell 4
₹2,24,400
₹1,41,372
₹4,44,828
₹2,96,651
One annual increment moves you to the next cell (about 3%). A promotion or MACP moves you to the next level, to the cell equal to or just above your current basic after one notional increment.
ℹ️ About Level 16
Old grade pay (6th CPC)
HAG+ (₹75,500–80,000)
Old pay band
HAG+
Typical posts
HAG+ posts such as some Director General and Principal Chief posts
Number of cells
4
Entry → maximum basic
₹2,05,400 → ₹2,24,400
Entry annual gross (X city)
₹48,97,896
Examples of posts are typical; the exact level depends on the department's recruitment rules.
At the entry basic of ₹2,05,400 and DA 63%, in-hand salary is about ₹2,84,562 (X city), ₹2,70,431 (Y city) and ₹2,52,262 (Z city) a month, after NPS, CGHS, CGEGIS and estimated income tax.
What was the grade pay for Level 16?
Level 16 corresponds to the 6th CPC grade pay HAG+ (₹75,500–80,000) in HAG+.
How much is DA on Level 16 basic pay?
At 63%, DA on the entry basic of ₹2,05,400 is ₹1,29,402 a month.