Minimum wages for security guards (Oct 2026)
Central sphere rates for watch and ward staff from 1 Oct 2026. Pick your area and whether the guard carries arms to see the daily, monthly and annual wage, and what it costs you.
Area A: Delhi, Greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kanpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida.
Basic is fixed in the order. VDA (variable dearness allowance) moves with CPI-IW every April and October.
Do these rates apply to your client?
What moved, and by how much
Basic stayed the same. VDA rose by ₹60 to ₹83 a day depending on area and duty, which is the whole increase.
Central sphere, watch and ward, from 1 Oct 2026
Tap a cell to load it in the explorer. Monthly = daily × 26.
| Area | Duty | Basic | VDA | Per day | Per month | Apr 2024 / day |
|---|
Statutory cost on top of the wage
For the area and duty you picked above, per month. Excludes uniform, relievers, service charge and GST.
Need a full client quote?
Add relievers, uniform, gratuity, service charge and GST for any headcount.
Open the guard cost calculatorPrivate client? Your state’s rate applies
Every state and union territory notifies its own minimum wage for security guards, usually by skill level and zone. Many revise the dearness part twice a year, on dates that differ from the central sphere. The rates differ from the central ones above, so check the current notification before you quote.
State guides with current rates, zones and employer cost:
Other state? Pick it and we will send you the current rate on WhatsApp.
When rates change
1 April
VDA revised on the average CPI-IW for July to December.
1 October
VDA revised on the average CPI-IW for January to June. Oct 2026 used 424.80 to 431.42.
Update your payroll from the effective date even if the order comes out a day or two before. The next revision is due 1 Apr 2027. Get an alert when it is out.
Minimum wage questions agencies ask
What is the minimum wage for a security guard from 1 Oct 2026?
In the central sphere, an unarmed guard in Area A gets ₹1,024 a day (₹637 basic + ₹387 VDA), or ₹26,624 a month at 26 days. Armed guards in Area A get ₹1,111 a day.
How is the monthly rate calculated?
Daily rate × 26. This is the convention used for monthly-rated workers in the central sphere orders.
Do central sphere rates apply to guards at a private office?
No. Central sphere rates apply at central government establishments such as banks, central PSUs, railways, airports and ports. Private and state-run sites follow the state’s notified minimum wage.
How often does VDA change?
Twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October, based on the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW). The next revision is on 1 Apr 2027.
Which law sets these rates now?
The Code on Wages, 2019. The Oct 2026 VDA order (File No. 6/1/2026-VDA dated 30 Sep 2026) was issued under Section 69(2) of the Code.