Ajit Doval Salary 2026: Basic Pay, Pay Level & What’s Officially Known

Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), draws an officially disclosed basic pay of ₹1,37,500 per month at Pay Level 18 of the Central Government pay matrix. This figure comes directly from the PMO’s proactive disclosure under the Right to Information Act, most recently updated as of 30 September 2025. His exact gross and in-hand salary cannot be established from that disclosure alone, because the PMO document provides the basic-pay figure without an individual allowance or deduction breakdown for Doval.

This article breaks down what is officially verified about Ajit Doval salary, why the commonly circulated “₹2.5 lakh” figure should not be treated as an official gross-salary figure, and how to interpret the distinction between basic pay, gross salary, and in-hand pay.

Quick Answer: Ajit Doval Salary

Component	Amount / Status
Basic Pay	₹1,37,500/month
Pay Level	Level 18
Illustrative Gross Estimate (2026)	~₹2.73 lakh/month*
Exact Gross	Not publicly disclosed
Exact In-Hand	Not publicly disclosed

*Illustrative calculation using publicly available Central Government rates and clearly stated assumptions; not an official PMO gross-salary figure. See methodology below.

Important: The figure ₹2,50,000 shown against Level 18 in the pay matrix is the maximum of the pay scale, not Doval’s actual basic pay. His disclosed basic pay is ₹1,37,500. Any gross or in-hand figure beyond the basic pay is an estimate that depends on applicable allowances and deductions.

Ajit Doval’s Official Salary: What the PMO Data Shows

The PMO publishes details of monthly remuneration of officers and staff as part of its proactive disclosure under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act. The relevant disclosure (as on 30 September 2025) lists Ajit Doval as:

• Designation: National Security Advisor
• Pay Level: Level-18 (₹2,50,000 ceiling)
• Basic Pay: ₹1,37,500

This places him at the highest pay level in the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) matrix, which is shared by positions such as the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The NSA position is a senior advisory role attached to the PMO.

What the PMO document does not provide: The disclosure lists basic pay and pay level but does not itemize Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, or deductions for individual officers. As a result, Doval’s exact gross salary and take-home pay are not officially established.

How We Estimate Gross Salary (Methodology)

To provide a useful reference point, here is a transparent illustrative calculation using publicly available Central Government rates and clearly stated assumptions. This is an estimate, not an official PMO figure, and assumes HRA applicability.

Component	Rate / Rule	Amount on ₹1,37,500 basic
Basic Pay	Fixed	₹1,37,500
Dearness Allowance (DA)	60% of basic (from Jan 2026)	₹82,500
House Rent Allowance (HRA)	30% of basic (X-category city assumption)	₹41,250
Transport Allowance (TPTA)	Level 9+: ₹7,200 + DA thereon (TPTA city)	₹11,520
Illustrative Gross Estimate		~₹2,72,770/month

Notes on this calculation:

• DA: For the illustrative 2026 calculation, DA is taken at 60% of basic pay. The rate was increased from 58% to 60% effective 1 January 2026, per the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure Office Memorandum No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B), dated 22 April 2026.
• HRA: Rates are currently 30% (X cities), 20% (Y cities), and 10% (Z cities) after DA crossed 50%. The HRA assumption is illustrative. We do not have an official PMO document stating that Doval personally receives 30% HRA. The calculation assumes X-category city applicability for illustration. New Delhi is an X-category city under the HRA classification.
• Transport Allowance (TPTA): Per the Ministry of Finance Office Memorandum No. 21/5/2017-E.II(B) dated 7 July 2017, employees at Pay Level 9 and above posted in TPTA-listed cities are entitled to ₹7,200 + DA thereon. With DA at 60%, this amounts to ₹7,200 + ₹4,320 = ₹11,520/month. The applicable transport arrangement for Doval is not individually disclosed in the PMO remuneration statement. Therefore, ₹11,520 is used only as an illustrative TPTA calculation and should not be treated as his confirmed personal allowance.
• What is excluded: This estimate does not account for special allowances, official entertainment allowances, or any position-specific compensations that may apply.
• Deductions are not reflected: The actual in-hand amount would be lower after employee PF contribution, CGHS contribution, income tax, and professional tax.

Bottom line: The commonly cited ₹2.5 lakh figure should not be treated as Doval’s current official gross salary. A calculation using the stated current DA and HRA rates produces a higher estimate, but the PMO does not publish an individual gross-salary breakdown. The figure remains an estimate.

Sources for This Calculation

Input	Source	Link
Basic Pay, Pay Level	PMO proactive disclosure (as on 30 Sept 2025)	PMO Monthly Remuneration (Sept 2025)
DA rate of 60%	Ministry of Finance, Dept. of Expenditure OM No. 1/1(i)/2026-E.II(B), dated 22 April 2026	DA Order — Mint report
HRA rates (30/20/10%)	Central Government HRA rules — CWC Circular dated 29 Oct 2025	HRA Circular (CEWACOR)
Transport Allowance	MoF Dept. of Expenditure OM No. 21/5/2017-E.II(B), dated 7 July 2017	TA Rates — Gazette notification
Longest-serving NSA	PIB Press Release, 1 August 2026	PIB Release

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Basic Pay vs Gross vs In-Hand: Why the Distinction Matters

One of the most common sources of confusion in salary discussions is the difference between CTC, gross salary, and in-hand salary. Here is how these apply to Doval’s compensation:

Term	Meaning	Doval’s Salary
Basic Pay	Fixed component before allowances	₹1,37,500 (official)
Gross Salary	Basic + all allowances	Illustrative estimate ~₹2.73 lakh (not official)
Net / In-Hand	Gross minus deductions	Not officially disclosed

Media reports have cited figures ranging from “around ₹2 lakh” to “approximately ₹2.5 lakh” for Doval’s total monthly compensation. These figures should not be treated as official PMO figures. Those figures may not reflect the current allowance assumptions used in this article, including 60% DA and the illustrative 30% HRA rate for X-category cities. However, because the PMO does not publish Doval’s individual allowance breakdown, any gross figure beyond the basic pay remains an estimate.

Ajit Doval’s Pay Level and Entitlements

The PMO disclosure places the NSA at Pay Level 18, the apex level of the 7th CPC pay matrix.

Salary Components (Cash Compensation)

• Basic Pay: ₹1,37,500/month (official)
• Dearness Allowance (DA): 60% of basic pay for the illustrative 2026 calculation
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): Applicable at 30% for X-category cities, 20% for Y-category, 10% for Z-category
• Transport Allowance (TPTA): ₹7,200 + DA for Level 9+ in TPTA cities (₹11,520 with 60% DA), subject to applicable rules

Official Facilities and Entitlements (Non-Cash)

These are not salary components but position-related entitlements:

• Z+ Security Cover: Highest level of VIP protection
• Government Accommodation: High-security official residence
• Official Transport: Vehicle with escort and security detail
• Official Travel: For diplomatic and security engagements
• Office and Secretariat Support: NSCS staff and infrastructure

These facilities are not cash salary components and should not be added to the published basic-pay figure when estimating monthly cash compensation.

Ajit Doval Profile

Detail	Information
Full Name	Ajit Kumar Doval
Current Position	National Security Advisor
Age	81 (born 20 January 1945)
Joined IPS	1968 (Kerala cadre)
PMO Role Since	May 2014
Pay Level	Level 18
Basic Pay	₹1,37,500/month (official, as on 30 Sept 2025)

Doval is the longest-serving National Security Advisor in India’s history, officially confirmed in a 2026 PIB release. He was reappointed in June 2024 for a third term.

Regarding his rank: the official appointment notification states that Doval will be assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence during his term in office. This is a protocol/rank assignment and does not automatically mean every Cabinet Minister cash allowance applies to the NSA position. His salary follows the Central Government pay matrix at Level 18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Takeaway

The only officially verified salary figure for Ajit Doval is his basic pay of ₹1,37,500 per month at Pay Level 18, as disclosed by the PMO. An illustrative calculation using current DA (60%), HRA (30%), and Transport Allowance (₹11,520) produces an estimated gross of approximately ₹2.73 lakh per month, but this is not an official PMO disclosure. The commonly cited ₹2.5 lakh figure should not be treated as Doval’s current official gross salary, though the exact gross remains an estimate because the PMO does not publish an individual allowance breakdown. When reading articles that cite a single “salary” figure for Doval, check whether they are referring to basic pay, gross salary, or in-hand salary — these are three different numbers, and conflating them leads to inaccurate conclusions.

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