Table of Contents
The Kerala PSC Departmental Test does not come with a salary of its own. It is not a recruitment exam. It is a service test for people who already hold a government post, and its effect on pay is indirect: it decides whether your increments are released, whether your service is confirmed and whether you become eligible for promotion to a higher-paid post. This guide explains how Kerala PSC Departmental Test Posts salary 2026 works for the posts linked to the Departmental Test, what the test changes about your pay, and how to check the exact scale for your own post.
Pay scales, allowances and rates are fixed by Government Orders and can change with each pay revision. The figures in this blog are for general understanding. Always confirm your own scale in your service book, your department’s orders and the latest Kerala Finance Department Government Orders.
Kerala PSC Departmental Test and Salary 2026: Quick Overview
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Does the test have its own salary? | No. It is a service requirement for existing employees |
| Who sets the pay scale? | The Government of Kerala, through pay revision orders and the post’s special rules |
| How does the test affect pay? | It can affect increments, confirmation and eligibility for promotion, depending on your department’s rules |
| Where do I find my exact scale? | In your service book, the Kerala PSC notification for the post and the current pay revision Government Order |
| Pass mark | 40% in each paper |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark for each wrong answer |
How Salary Works for Kerala Government Posts
1: Which Year First Assembly Election was held in Kerala?
Kerala government employees are paid on a scale of pay, not a single fixed amount. A scale has a starting figure and a ceiling, with regular steps in between called increments.
| Component | What it means |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | The figure on your scale at your current stage |
| Increment | A step-up in basic pay, normally given annually if you are eligible |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | An allowance that is revised from time to time to offset price rise |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Depends on the class of the place where you work |
| Other allowances | Depend on the post and department, such as special pay or other allowances applicable to your office |
| Deductions | Contributions such as provident fund or contributory pension scheme, insurance and tax as applicable |
Gross salary is basic pay plus the allowances that apply to you. Take-home pay is gross salary minus deductions.
Enroll in Kerala's Top-rated Kerala PSC Coaching Program!
സർക്കാർ ജോലി എന്ന സ്വപ്നം ഇനി സ്വപ്നം മാത്രമല്ല! Join Entri's Kerala PSC Coaching Programs
Join Now!The Current Pay Revision: What You Should Know
The Eleventh Pay Revision Commission of Kerala submitted its report in January 2021, and the Government revised pay and allowances with effect from 1 July 2019 through G.O.(P) No. 27/2021/Fin dated 10/02/2021. In its report, the commission proposed a minimum salary of Rs 23,000 and a maximum of Rs 1,66,800 for state government employees, with a minimum increment of Rs 700 and a maximum of Rs 3,400.
Media reports at the time said the next pay revision was expected around 2026. Since a revision can change scales and allowances, check the Finance Department website and recent Government Orders for the latest position before relying on any figure.
Kerala PSC Departmental Test Posts Salary 2026 – LD Clerk
The LD Clerk is one of the most common entry posts through Kerala PSC, and many Departmental Tests (for example the Account Test (Lower) and the Manual of Office Procedure Test) are written by clerical and ministerial staff. Several exam-preparation sources list the LD Clerk scale as Rs 26,500 to Rs 60,700 under the revised pay structure. Treat this as an illustrative example and confirm it against the latest Kerala PSC notification for the post.
Salary and Pay Scales by Kerala PSC Departmental Test Posts 2026
The tests cover a very wide range of posts across departments, so there is no single scale for “Departmental Test posts”. The table below shows how pay generally relates to each test group.
| Test group | Posts typically linked | How to find the pay scale |
|---|---|---|
| Account Tests | Clerical, accounts and finance staff and officers | Check the scale for your post in the pay revision order and your service book |
| Manual and Office Procedure Tests | Ministerial staff in the Secretariat, district offices, Kerala PSC, KSRTC and PWD | Check the scale for your cadre in your department’s special rules |
| Divisional Accountants Test | Accounts staff in the Public Works Department | Check the scale for the Divisional Accountant post in the Kerala PSC notification (the transfer notification gives the post details) |
| KSEB Tests | Ministerial and executive staff of KSEB Ltd | Check KSEB’s own pay revision orders, which can differ from the state government scale |
| Revenue Test | Revenue department staff | Check the revenue department’s cadre scales |
| Judicial and law-based tests | Court, registration and probation staff | Check the relevant department’s scales |
| Excise, Forest, Police and Jail Tests | Enforcement and custodial staff | Check the scales for the specific cadre |
| Panchayat, Municipal and Local Fund Audit Tests | Local body and audit staff | Check local self-government service rules and scales |
| Other department-specific tests | Cooperative, labour, motor vehicles, legal metrology, port, housing board, education and animal husbandry staff | Check the scales for the specific post |
Some boards and corporations (for example KSEB, Khadi Board and others) adopt pay revision through their own orders, so their scales and dates can differ from the state government scale.
Enroll in Kerala's Top-rated Kerala PSC Coaching Program!
സർക്കാർ ജോലി എന്ന സ്വപ്നം ഇനി സ്വപ്നം മാത്രമല്ല! Join Entri's Kerala PSC Coaching Programs
Join Now!How the Kerala PSC Departmental Test Affects Your Salary
1. Increments
Where your service rules link the test to increments, failing to pass the prescribed test within the allowed time can lead to increments being withheld. Passing the test releases them. Over a long career, one missed increment step carries forward into every later year’s pay, so the impact grows with time.
2. Probation and confirmation
Declaration of probation and confirmation in service may require you to pass the prescribed tests. Confirmation matters for service benefits and for further progression.
3. Promotion
Eligibility for promotion to a higher post usually depends on passing the tests prescribed for that post. A promotion generally brings you onto a higher scale, with a higher starting pay and a higher ceiling. The test makes you eligible; it does not guarantee a promotion, which also depends on seniority, vacancies and the promotion panel.
4. Higher-level tests and higher-responsibility posts
Higher tests such as the Account Test (Higher) lead to posts with greater financial and supervisory responsibility, which usually sit on higher scales.
Kerala PSC Departmental Test Posts 2026 – Salary Growth Over a Career
| Stage | What drives your pay |
|---|---|
| Joining | Starting stage of the scale for your post |
| Early years | Annual increments, subject to probation and test requirements |
| Mid career | Increments, DA revisions and promotion to the next scale |
| Senior years | Higher scales, more allowances where applicable and the ceiling of the scale |
| Retirement | Pension and retirement benefits as per the rules applicable to you |
The actual numbers depend on the post, the department and the pay revision in force.
Do Departmental Test Posts Come With Extra Pay?
Some posts carry special pay or additional allowances, such as special allowances for particular offices or duties. These are fixed by Government Orders for specific posts. The Departmental Test itself does not carry a payment, but passing it keeps you eligible for the posts that do.
How to Check Your Exact Salary Scale
- Check your service book and your latest pay fixation order.
- Read the Kerala PSC notification for your post, which lists the scale of pay at the time of recruitment.
- Check the Finance Department Government Orders for the current pay revision and DA rates.
- Check your department’s special rules for promotion posts and their scales.
- Ask your office accounts section or establishment section if anything is unclear.
The Departmental Test is not a salary exam, but it protects and grows your salary. Passing the prescribed tests keeps your increments flowing, supports confirmation and opens the door to promotion to higher scales. Check your service rules, confirm your scale in the latest Government Orders, and prepare with practice on the Entri app.
