UKPSC RO ARO Salary 2025: In-Hand Pay, Job Profile and Promotion Complete Guide

The posts of Review Officer and Assistant Review Officer under the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission are among the most sought-after government jobs in the state. A stable desk job at the Uttarakhand Secretariat in Dehradun, a decent monthly salary, and a clear promotion path — these three things make this post genuinely attractive for graduates across Uttarakhand.

This page covers everything you need to know before applying — actual in-hand salary for both posts, how salary grows year by year, what work you actually do, how promotion works, and whether these are gazetted posts or not.

For complete details on eligibility, syllabus, and the full selection process, see our main guide on UKPSC RO ARO recruitment.

UKPSC RO ARO Pay Scale — 7th Pay Commission

Both posts fall under Pay Band 2 of the 7th Pay Commission but at different pay levels.

PostHindi NamePay LevelPay Scale
Review Officer (RO)Samiksha AdhikariLevel 8₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100
Assistant Review Officer (ARO)Sahayak Samiksha AdhikariLevel 7₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400

The pay scale above shows only the basic pay range. Your actual monthly take-home is different once allowances are added and deductions are made. The detailed breakup is given below.

UKPSC ARO In-Hand Salary 2025 — Level 7

A freshly joined ARO starts at a basic pay of ₹44,900 at Pay Level 7. Here is what the salary looks like in the first month after all additions and deductions.

ComponentAmount
Basic Pay₹44,900
Dearness Allowance (DA ~55%)₹24,695
House Rent Allowance — Dehradun Y city (15%)₹6,735
Transport Allowance₹3,600 + DA
Gross Salary~₹82,000 – ₹85,000
NPS Deduction (10% of Basic + DA)₹6,960
Income Tax (approximate)₹2,000 – ₹3,000
In-Hand Salary~₹72,000 – ₹76,000

UKPSC RO In-Hand Salary 2025 — Level 8

A freshly joined RO starts at ₹47,600 basic pay — ₹2,700 more than an ARO at entry level.

ComponentAmount
Basic Pay₹47,600
Dearness Allowance (DA ~55%)₹26,180
House Rent Allowance — Dehradun Y city (15%)₹7,140
Transport Allowance₹3,600 + DA
Gross Salary~₹87,000 – ₹92,000
NPS Deduction (10% of Basic + DA)₹7,370
Income Tax (approximate)₹3,000 – ₹4,000
In-Hand Salary~₹76,000 – ₹82,000

How Salary Grows Every Year

Every year on 1st July, you automatically receive a 3 percent annual increment on your basic pay. On top of that, Dearness Allowance is revised twice a year — in January and July. This means your take-home salary keeps increasing every year even without a promotion.

Basic pay progression over the years:

Year of ServiceARO Basic Pay (Level 7)RO Basic Pay (Level 8)
At Joining₹44,900₹47,600
Year 2₹47,600₹50,500
Year 3₹49,000₹52,000
Year 5₹52,000₹55,200
Year 8₹57,000₹60,400
Year 10₹60,400₹64,000

This is only the basic pay growth. DA revision adds further increase on top of this every six months.

UKPSC RO ARO Allowances and Benefits

Beyond the basic salary, several allowances and benefits are part of the total package.

Allowance or BenefitDetails
Dearness Allowance (DA)Approximately 55% of basic pay, revised twice a year
House Rent Allowance (HRA)15% of basic pay for Dehradun — classified as Y city
Transport Allowance₹3,600 plus DA per month
Medical FacilityGovernment medical access or reimbursement
Leave Travel Concession (LTC)Travel expenses covered during leave — for self and family
Children Education AllowanceAvailable for school-going children
Annual BonusPaid during festival season
NPS PensionNational Pension System — retirement benefit
Probation Period2 years after joining

UKPSC RO ARO Job Profile — What Work Do You Actually Do

This is a completely desk-based job. There is no field posting. Both RO and ARO officers work inside the Uttarakhand Secretariat in Dehradun. The work of both posts is different from each other.

What an ARO Does

ARO is the entry-level post. The work is primarily clerical and administrative support within the secretariat.

  • Maintaining file records, diaries, and related documents
  • Preparing pending file records and demand letters
  • Drafting official letters and correspondence for the department
  • Comparing and checking fresh file copies
  • Maintaining confidentiality of manuals and official documents
  • Handling typing work if no dedicated clerk or typist is posted
  • Basic data entry and computer-related tasks

This is why only ARO candidates are required to clear a typing test and computer knowledge test during the selection process. RO candidates are not required to take this test because supervisory work does not involve direct typing duties.

What an RO Does

RO is the supervisory post. The Review Officer is responsible for reviewing and approving the work done by the ARO.

  • Reviewing files and documents prepared by the ARO
  • Finalizing demand letters and official correspondence
  • Managing the complete file movement within the allotted section
  • Coordinating between departments on official matters
  • Maintaining the privacy of confidential manuals and records
  • Guiding and supervising junior staff including AROs

In simple terms — the ARO prepares the work, the RO reviews and clears it.

Is UKPSC RO ARO a Gazetted Post

This is one of the most commonly asked questions and most websites either give a wrong answer or skip it entirely.

Direct answer: Both RO and ARO are Non-Gazetted posts.

PostGazetted Status
ARO — Level 7Non-Gazetted
RO — Level 8Non-Gazetted
Section Officer — Level 9-10First Gazetted Post

This means your name will not appear in a gazette notification at the time of joining. The gazetted officer status is received only after promotion to Section Officer.

UKPSC RO ARO Promotion and Career Growth

Promotion in this cadre is based on seniority and a departmental promotion examination. There is no interview — neither at the time of joining nor during promotion.

Full promotion hierarchy:

PostPay LevelStatus
ARO (Sahayak Samiksha Adhikari)Level 7Non-Gazetted
RO (Samiksha Adhikari)Level 8Non-Gazetted
Section OfficerLevel 9 – 10Gazetted
Under SecretaryLevel 11 – 12Gazetted
Deputy SecretaryLevel 12 – 13Gazetted

ARO to RO — How Long Does It Take

Typically 5 to 8 years. The actual timeline depends on three factors — your position in the seniority list, clearing the departmental promotion examination, and the number of vacant RO seats available at the time.

RO to Section Officer — How Long Does It Take

The same seniority and departmental exam based process continues. Realistically, reaching Section Officer level takes around 10 to 15 years of total service from the date of joining as ARO.

How Much Does Salary Jump on Promotion

When an ARO is promoted to RO, the pay is re-fixed from Level 7 to Level 8. One additional increment is granted at the time of fixation. For example, if an ARO has reached a basic pay of ₹52,000 at the time of promotion, the RO basic pay gets fixed at approximately ₹53,600 to ₹55,200 — a jump of ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 in basic pay in a single step. Since DA and HRA are calculated as a percentage of basic pay, the overall monthly salary increase is significantly higher.

Where to Check Official Salary Data

Many websites still show the old ₹9,300 to ₹34,800 pay band figure which belonged to the 6th Pay Commission. That is completely outdated. Always verify from official sources only.

UKPSC Official Website

Visit psc.uk.gov.in and open the official RO ARO recruitment notification PDF. The pay scale and pay level are clearly mentioned in the advertisement itself.

Uttarakhand Treasury Department

Visit ekosh.uk.gov.in — this is the Directorate of Treasuries, Pension and Entitlements, Uttarakhand. The official 7th Pay Commission government orders for Uttarakhand state employees are available here.

Uttarakhand Finance Department

Visit uk.gov.in and check the Finance Department circulars for the current DA rate. Uttarakhand state DA may differ slightly from the central government DA rate, so always check the state circular separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between RO and ARO in UKPSC?

RO is the supervisory post at Pay Level 8. ARO is the entry-level post at Pay Level 7. An ARO prepares files, drafts letters, and handles clerical tasks. An RO reviews, approves, and supervises the work done by the ARO.

What is the starting in-hand salary of UKPSC ARO?

A freshly joined ARO can expect an in-hand salary of approximately ₹72,000 to ₹76,000 per month. This figure varies slightly depending on the current DA rate and city classification of the posting location.

What is the starting in-hand salary of UKPSC RO?

A freshly joined RO can expect an in-hand salary of approximately ₹76,000 to ₹82,000 per month at the time of joining.

Is UKPSC RO ARO a gazetted post?

No. Both RO and ARO are Non-Gazetted posts. The first gazetted rank in this promotion hierarchy is Section Officer, which comes after promotion from RO.

What is the probation period for UKPSC RO ARO?

The probation period is 2 years after joining.

Where is the posting for UKPSC RO ARO?

Posting is primarily at the Uttarakhand Secretariat in Dehradun or at the UKPSC office. This is a completely office-based job with no field posting.

How long does it take for ARO to get promoted to RO?

Based on seniority and clearing the departmental promotion exam, it typically takes 5 to 8 years.

By how much does the salary increase every year?

Every year on 1st July, a 3 percent annual increment is applied to the basic pay. Additionally, Dearness Allowance is revised in January and July each year, which further increases the monthly take-home salary.