SPG Commando salary in 2026 starts with the officer’s own parent-force pay. The Special Protection Group doesn’t hire directly. Everyone on the Prime Minister’s protection detail comes on deputation from the IPS, the Central Armed Police Forces, state police, and other forces. While posted to the SPG, they receive a special allowance, and published figures for it vary widely.
One figure is confirmed. Under the 7th Pay Commission, SPG personnel receive a dress allowance of ₹27,800 a year on operational duty and ₹21,225 on non-operational duty. That split shows that SPG pay depends on whether you’re on operational or non-operational duty. The main SPG allowance is widely reported to follow the same principle.
| SPG Pay 2026 | Details |
| Recruitment | Deputation only (no direct entry) |
| Base pay | Parent-force pay level and basic |
| SPG special allowance | Reported between ~30% and ~55% of basic (not officially published) |
| Dress allowance (operational) | ₹27,800/year |
| Dress allowance (non-operational) | ₹21,225/year |
| DA | 60% from January 2026 |
| Director, SPG | Level 17: ₹2,25,000 |
Who Serves in the SPG
The SPG was formed in 1985. It draws personnel from:
- The Indian Police Service, which provides the senior leadership
- Central Armed Police Forces, including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB
- State police forces and other organisations
Personnel keep their parent pay level. A CRPF Constable stays at Level 3, and an Inspector stays at Level 7. The force is headed by a Director at Level 17.
Deputations are for a fixed term, commonly reported as about three to five years. After that, personnel return to their parent force, and the SPG allowance stops.
What the SPG Protects Today
Some older salary articles still list former Prime Ministers and their families as SPG protectees. That’s out of date. After the SPG (Amendment) Act, 2019, SPG protection covers:
- The sitting Prime Minister and immediate family members living with them
- A former Prime Minister and family members living with them, for five years after leaving office
This narrower role matters because the SPG’s work, and the split between operational and non-operational pay, is built around protecting the Prime Minister.
The SPG Allowance: What’s Confirmed and What Isn’t
For the NSG, the government published a clear order setting its Special Security Allowance at 40% of basic pay. The SPG’s equivalent rate hasn’t been published in the same way, so reports vary:
- Some salary guides say the allowance is up to 55% of basic pay.
- Others describe a split of about 50% for operational duty and 30% for non-operational duty.
- Some commentary says the 7th Pay Commission linked SPG’s allowance to the NSG’s 40%.
Treat all these percentages as estimates. The only way to know the exact figure is from the SPG’s pay orders for your posting.
Sample Gross Pay: Two Ranks, Two Allowance Rates
These examples show SPG pay at 30% and 50% allowance rates, to cover the range reported. They assume Delhi, government accommodation (so no HRA), 60% DA, and a 10% NPS deduction.
| Component (₹) | CAPF Constable (L3) @ 30% | @ 50% | CAPF Inspector (L7) @ 30% | @ 50% |
| Basic pay | 21,700 | 21,700 | 44,900 | 44,900 |
| DA @ 60% | 13,020 | 13,020 | 26,940 | 26,940 |
| SPG allowance | 6,510 | 10,850 | 13,470 | 22,450 |
| Transport Allowance + DA | 5,760 | 5,760 | 5,760 | 5,760 |
| Gross | 46,990 | 51,330 | 91,070 | 1,00,050 |
| Less: NPS | 3,472 | 3,472 | 7,184 | 7,184 |
| Approx. in-hand | ~43,520 | ~47,860 | ~83,890 | ~92,870 |
The dress allowance is paid on top, at ₹27,800 a year on operational duty, which is about ₹2,300 a month. Other entitlements from the parent force, such as ration money for eligible ranks, depend on deputation rules.
At these income levels, income tax is nil for a Constable. For an Inspector at the higher allowance rate, annual income comes close to the ₹12 lakh rebate limit.
Housing and Working Conditions
SPG personnel are generally given government accommodation close to where the protectee lives. For many, that means Delhi, where housing is expensive, so this is a significant benefit.
The work is demanding:
- Long, irregular shifts that follow the Prime Minister’s schedule
- Frequent travel, within India and abroad
- Constant readiness, with regular training and fitness assessments
SPG vs NSG
| SPG | NSG | |
| Role | Close protection of the Prime Minister | Counter-terrorism and hostage rescue |
| Recruitment | Deputation | Deputation |
| Special allowance | Reported ~30–55%; not officially published | 40% of basic (MHA order) |
| Deputation allowance | As per SPG rules | Not payable with the 40% allowance |
Both forces recruit experienced personnel from other services and pay them a percentage-based allowance on top of parent-force pay. Only the NSG’s rate is clearly published.
FAQs
Q1. What is an SPG Commando’s salary per month in 2026?
It depends on parent-force rank. A CAPF Constable in the SPG takes home roughly ₹43,500–47,900 a month, and an Inspector roughly ₹83,900–92,900, depending on the SPG allowance rate. The dress allowance is paid on top.
Q2. How much is the SPG special allowance?
There’s no published official rate. Reports range from about 30% to 55% of basic pay, with operational duty paying more than non-operational duty. Your SPG pay order will confirm the exact figure.
Q3. Who does the SPG protect in 2026?
The sitting Prime Minister and immediate family members living with them. Under the 2019 amendment, former Prime Ministers and family members living with them are covered for five years after leaving office.
