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TNPSC DSP salary: Level 22 pay for Deputy Superintendent of Police
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Deputy Superintendent of Police (Category-1) is at Level 22 of the Tamil Nadu pay matrix in the 2025 TNPSC Group 1 notification (No. 04/2025). Level 22 runs from ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 a month in basic pay, and a direct recruit starts at ₹56,100. The notification listed 7 DSP vacancies out of 70 in the Group 1 recruitment. It is the police post among the Group 1 posts.
Pay level and basic pay
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Post | Deputy Superintendent of Police (Category-1), Police Department |
| Pay level | Level 22 |
| Pay range | ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 per month |
| Starting basic pay | ₹56,100 |
| 2025 vacancies | 7 of 70 across six Group 1 posts |
| Age as on 1 July 2025 | 21 to 34 for Others; 21 to 39 for reserved categories |
| Persons with benchmark disability | Not eligible for this post |
The notification prints "Level 22" only. The range is from Schedule-I of G.O. Ms. No. 303 (11 October 2017), summarised on the salary hub. The DSP's pay level is the same as the Deputy Collector and the other four Group 1 posts. Age relaxations for ex-servicemen and other groups are in para 4.1.
What is added to basic pay
Dearness allowance is added on basic pay, and house rent allowance and any city compensatory allowance follow the place of posting. Police officers' allowances and facilities depend on the Police Department's orders, which the notification does not list, so check them before relying on a gross figure. Deductions include professional tax, income tax and the retirement-scheme contribution for the post. Annual increments move pay one cell down Level 22 on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October.
What a DSP does
The notification does not list duties. A Deputy Superintendent of Police typically heads a police sub-division, supervising the police stations in it: maintaining law and order, supervising crime investigation, handling important cases, and acting as a link between the district Superintendent and the station-level officers.
Promotion
A DSP can be promoted to Additional Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police grades under service rules and seniority. Officers of the state police service can also be considered for appointment to the Indian Police Service by selection, subject to eligibility and vacancies. Each promotion carries a higher pay level.
How to get the post
DSP is filled through Group 1, with the same stages as the other posts: a screening prelims (200 questions, 300 marks), a Mains with a qualifying Tamil Eligibility Test and three General Studies papers of 250 marks each, and an interview of 100 marks. The notification has post-specific conditions for DSP in its eligibility paragraphs, including the disability condition above, so read them in full. See the Group 1 exam pattern, the syllabus and the interview guide. The 2026 planner lists a new Group 1 notification, so check the current one for posts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the starting salary of a DSP in TNPSC Group 1?
₹56,100 a month in basic pay at Level 22, before allowances and deductions.
How many DSP vacancies were there in the 2025 notification?
7 of the 70 Group 1 vacancies. Vacancy numbers and the post list change by cycle, so read the current notification.
Is DSP the same as IPS?
No. DSP is a Tamil Nadu state police service post recruited by TNPSC, whereas IPS officers are recruited by the UPSC. State police officers can be inducted into the IPS by promotion.
Official sources
- TNPSC Group 1 Notification No. 04/2025: posts, levels, age and scheme of examination.
- G.O. Ms. No. 303, Finance (Pay Cell), 11 October 2017: the pay matrix.
Check the latest Group 1 notification before applying.
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