Pay Fixation on Promotion for Army Officers

Overview

The source distinguishes substantive and in-situ promotions. Substantive time-scale promotion depends on prescribed reckonable commissioned service, professional requirements, and fitness. In-situ promotion is a temporary placement pending posting to a suitable appointment. Pay requires the applicable promotion authority and effective service documentation (printed pages 23-29; PDF pages 34-40).

What the handbook says

Substantive promotion through Lieutenant Colonel is by time scale after the prescribed reckonable commissioned service, provided the professional examination and fitness conditions are met. Colonel (Time Scale) is separately addressed for officers not promoted to Colonel by selection (printed page 23; PDF page 34).

The source treats in-situ promotion separately. For Brigadier and above, it describes a maximum period of six months pending posting to a suitable appointment. The later cited extension to Colonel also uses a six-month limit and states that the officer is admitted pay in the rank of the appointment against which promoted (printed pages 28-29; PDF pages 39-40).

What this means

Promotion eligibility and pay fixation are related but distinct decisions. First establish the type of promotion, promotion authority, effective date, and completed notification. Then apply the pay rule governing the officer's lower and promoted levels. This source range does not provide a complete pay-fixation calculation (printed pages 23-29; PDF pages 34-40).

Who this applies to

• Time-scale promotion remains subject to the required reckonable service, professional examination, and fitness (printed page 23; PDF page 34).
• Reckonable-service rules differ across general cadre, AMC, ADC, AMC non-technical, RVC, MNS, Territorial Army, Special List, and Short Service officers (printed pages 23-28; PDF pages 34-39).
• In-situ promotion is not a general entitlement; it applies under the source's vacancy, rank, approval, appointment, and posting conditions (printed pages 28-29; PDF pages 39-40).

Rates and dates

There is no standalone monetary rate in the cited promotion chapter. Pay depends on the promoted rank and the separate pay-fixation rules (printed pages 23-29; PDF pages 34-40).

The source states that the general-cadre time-scale changes described for Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel (Time Scale) took effect from 16 December 2004 (printed pages 23-24; PDF pages 34-35). It states that the Colonel in-situ provisions took effect from 1 August 2009, while noting that further MoD orders had not been received by the handbook date (printed page 29; PDF page 40).

What you may need

• the promotion or upgradation order and effective date;
• the Gazette notification or applicable service notification;
• evidence of reckonable commissioned service, required examination, fitness, and selection where applicable (printed page 23; PDF page 34); and
• for in-situ promotion, the vacant appointment, approving authority, and proposed next regular appointment (printed pages 28-29; PDF pages 39-40).

Authorities and source references

• GoI, MoD letter No. 18(1)/2004-D(GS-I), 21 December 2004 (printed pages 23 and 26; PDF pages 34 and 37)
• Regulations for the Army, 1987, and Army Rule 2(iii), for the cited SSC context (printed page 27; PDF page 38)
• MS Branch, Army Headquarters letter No. 04477/MS 9B/P, 7 October 1986 (printed page 29; PDF page 40)
• MS Branch letters No. 04502/MS Policy, 14 May 2009, and No. 04477/MS Policy, 19 August 2009, with MoD ID No. 19(28)/2009-D(MS), 20 May 2009 (printed page 29; PDF page 40)

Related guidance

• Annual increments
• Pay matrix

About this guidance

This is a plain-language summary for general information. It is not an official order or an authority for a claim. Confirm the applicable order and your individual eligibility with the competent authority or PCDA(O) before acting.