Calculate your night duty allowance
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The NDA formula
Capped basic = min(Basic pay, ₹43,600)Rate per unit = (Capped basic + Capped basic × factor × DA%) ÷ 200NDA = ceil( Rate per unit × Night hours ÷ 6 )The factor is 1.30 for running staff and 1.00 for stationary staff. One unit is six hours.
Capped basic = ₹35,400 → rate per unit = ₹315
Units = 30 ÷ 6 = 5.00 → NDA = ₹1,576
The ceiling catches people out
Basic pay above ₹43,600 does not increase NDA. Two people on very different basic pay can draw the same night duty allowance once both are past the ceiling — only DA and the hours worked change the figure after that.
Common questions
How is Night Duty Allowance calculated?
Take your basic pay, but not more than the ceiling of 43,600 rupees. Add DA on that figure, raised by the 30% pay element if you are running staff. Divide the result by 200 to get the rate for one unit. One unit is six hours of night duty, so multiply by your night hours divided by six. The result is rounded up.
What is the NDA formula?
NDA equals (capped basic pay plus capped basic pay multiplied by the staff factor multiplied by DA percent divided by 100), all divided by 200, then multiplied by night hours divided by six, rounded up. The staff factor is 1.30 for running staff and 1.00 for stationary staff.
Is there a basic pay limit for NDA?
Yes. Basic pay is capped at ₹43,600 for this calculation. If your basic pay is higher, NDA is still worked out on ₹43,600 — going above the ceiling does not raise your night duty allowance.
How many hours make one NDA unit?
Six hours of night duty make one unit. Partial units count proportionally, and the final amount is rounded up to the next rupee.
Does DA affect NDA?
Yes. DA is applied before the division by 200, so every DA revision raises night duty allowance too. DA is currently 60%.
Is night duty allowance taxable?
Yes. Night duty allowance is fully taxable as part of salary income.
Official sources
Rules and rates on this page come from the departments below. Where a figure matters to you, check it against the current order — RailStaff is not the authority for it.
- Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) — night duty allowance rules and the pay ceiling
- Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) — service rules for central government employees
- Income Tax Department — taxability of allowances
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