The average salary of an NSG commando is INR 10 lakh per annum. The NSG commando is required to possess qualities like speed, stealth, a pursuit for perfection, quick thinking, an element of surprise, etc.
NSG stands for the National Security Guard, and in India, on average, the salary of an NSG commando is INR 10 Lakhs per annum. The annual monthly salary of NSG Commandos ranges between INR 80,000 to INR 3,00,000 lakh. They are also widely known as 'Black at Commandos.' A Federal Contingency Deployment Force exists to fight off times of danger in any part of our country. NSG is a counter-terrorism force and is equipped to come into action in exceptional situations.
The personnel in the NSG force are generally from the Central Police Armed Force or the Indian Army; there are two types of allowances provided to a National Security Guard commando.
What is the NSG Commando Salary in India?
A National Security Guard commando is a skilled officer who has worked actively in the Indian army or the police forces. This Black Cat commando is a counter-terrorist working on eradicating evil from the country.
On average, the salary of an NSG commando is INR 10 Lakhs per annum, and the Indian NSG Commando salary per month comes under INR 83,333 per month. The Para Commando salary can vary depending on the rank in the police or army.
Below are the allowances offered to NSG personnel after the 7th Pay Commission.
- Special forces allowance for NSG Commando - INR 27,000 per month
- Deputation allowance for NSG Commando - INR 5,000 per month
NSG Commando Rank wise Salary Details
The rank wise details of different posts are as follows:
| Post Name | Salary |
| Director General | INR 2,00,000 - 3,00,000 |
| Additional Director General | INR 1,50,000 - 2,00,000 |
| Inspector General | INR 1,35,000 - 1,50,000 |
| Deputy Inspector General | INR 1,25,000 - 1,35,000 |
| Group Commander | INR 1,00,000 - 1,25,000 |
| Squadron Commander | INR 90,000 - 1,00,000 |
| Team Commander | INR 80,000 - 90,000 |
| Assistant Commander Grade I | INR 70,000 - 80,000 |
| Assistant Commander Grade II | INR 65,000 - 70,000 |
| Assistant Commander Grade III | INR 60,000 - 65,000 |
| Ranger Grade I | INR 55,000 - 60,000 |
| Ranger Grade II | INR 50,000 - 55,000 |
| Combatised Tradesman | INR 30,000 - 40,000 |
Salary for Lower Ranks
The NSG Commando monthly salary for the lower ranks is as follows:
| Post Name | Salary |
| Constable/Sepoy Level | INR 25,000 – INR 40,000 |
| Head Constable | INR 35,000 – INR 50,000 |
| Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) | INR 40,000 – INR 60,000 |
| Sub-Inspector (SI) | INR 50,000 – INR 70,000 |
| Inspector | INR 60,000 – INR 80,000 |
| Assistant Commandant | INR 75,000 – INR 1,00,000 |
| Deputy Commandant and Above | INR 1,00,000+ (varies based on seniority and experience) |
NSG Commando Allowances and Benefits
The allowances and perks benefited to the NSG Commandos are as follows:
| Type of Allowance | Amount |
| Special Forces Allowance | INR 25,000 - 30,000 |
| Deputation Allowance | INR 10,000 |
| Risk & Hardship Allowance | INR 25,000 - INR 40,000 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | 42% |
| Field Area & Special Forces Allowance | INR 17,000 |
| Housing & Accommodation | 9% to 27% |
| Medical Benefits | As per the Requirement |
| Travel & Transport Allowance | INR 3000 - INR 7000 |
| Pension & Retirement Benefits | Depends on the post at which the candidate is during their retirement |
Impact of the 8th Pay Commission on the Salary of NSG Commandos
The Central Government has announced the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission in the coming year 2026. This will bring favourable changes to the salary structure of NSG Commandos with the increase of basic pay and other allowances.
About National Security Guards (NSG)
National Security Guards, also known as Phantoms, train with the best tools at their disposal and are devoted to protecting the people and the country. The Black Cat Commando force is called upon in exceptional situations where the skillset and experience of a special task force are needed.
It would not be wrong to say the officers admitted to the NSG are our other military forces' cream. Various groups that fall under NSG are mentioned below:
- Special Action Group
- Special Ranger Group
- Special Composite Group
- National Bomb Data Centre
Roles of Different Groups in NSG
NSGs are the elite force available with the best military officers. Any officer would feel lucky and proud to get a chance to be part of the Phantom Force. All in all, NSG commandos ultimately justify the name Phantom.
Various groups that fall under NSG, as mentioned in the introduction, are discussed below.
Special Action Group
The special action group is the NSG's principal strike unit, and the members of the special action group are picked exclusively from the Indian army. The commandos part of this group is responsible for counter-terrorism, counter-hijacking operations, etc.
Special Ranger Group
The commandos in this group are responsible for the security of VIPs. Commandos admitted to this force are drawn from the Indian Army State Police Force.
Special Composite Group
These groups are tasked with counter-terrorist actions and are deployed in 5 regions - Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Gandhinagar.
National Bomb Data Centre
The National Bomb Data Centre group was formed in 1988, and a role was structured as defined in 2000. As the name suggests, this group's commandos must monitor and analyze all bombing incidents across the country. The officials admitted in the National Bomb Data Centre group are either from the military or the Indian army.
Eligibility to Become an NSG
The crucial prerequisite to joining NSG is to be a part of the armed forces, like the Central Police Armed Force and the Indian Army. To simplify the entire selection process, the process has been explained in three parts below:
NSG Pre-selection Training
Pre-selection training is nothing more than the shortlisting of the eligible candidates for the next phase. The following are the Pre-selection training criteria:
- For a candidate from the Indian army, you need three years of experience and five years for someone coming in from the police force.
- The age of the candidate should not be of age for more than 35 years.
- The candidate should meet the standard physical and medical requirements.
- In the shortlisting process itself, various physiological and physical tests are also performed.
NSG Qualification Training
Qualification training is essential training for three months, followed by advanced training for nine months. The following are the qualification training criteria:
- Activities like fighting in severe conditions and jumping from heights are carried out to ensure that they can perform under stress.
- The selection gets hard here, and the dropout rate is about 70-80%.
NSG Final Advanced Training
The final advanced training lasts for nine months with intensive activities. The following are the final advanced training criteria:
- Candidates go through activities like surveillance, bomb defusal, unarmed combat, reflex training, etc.
- Candidates completing both the basic and advanced training are selected for NSG and provided additional training.
- The advanced and basic training is held in the National Security Guard training center in Manesar, Haryana.
What are the Skill-Sets Required for an NSG?
National Security Guards are popularly known as the Black Cat commandos. A National Security Guard is not much unlike a cat. They need to be quiet, quick, and let their work make noise.
The following are some skills required to be an NSG commando:
- Agility
- Stealth
- Pursuit of excellence
- Disciplined
- Strong reflexes
- Vigilant
- Ability to perform under challenging conditions
- Never say never attitude
- Devotion to serving the country
- Leadership skills
NSG Commandos and their History
NSG commandos, being a counter-terrorism force, come into action whenever the country is invaded to harm. The NSG commandos' training is not limited to activities like hijacking, be it air or water. They are trained in bomb defusal, investigation post-blast, and hostage rescue operations.
However, over the years, the NSG commandos' role somehow expanded to provide personal security to influential people like politicians, actors, etc. It wasn't until earlier this year, January 2020, that the NSG force went back from VIP security to the same responsibilities they had before.
The Union Cabinet decided in 1984 to start a new task force to fight off terrorism in our country. The bill for creating the same was introduced two years later, in August. The president approved the bill on September 22nd, 1986, and the Black Cat Commandos or National Security Guard force came into existence.
