A District Magistrate (DM) or District Magistrate is an IAS officer who is responsible for the entire district. There is no administrative officer higher than the DM in a district unless that district is the division headquarters.
The article from MSN discusses the salary structure and career progression of a District Magistrate (DM) in India. A DM, who is typically an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer, starts with a basic salary of around Rs 56,100 per month at the entry-level (Level 10) of the 7th Pay Commission. This salary can increase with annual increments, promotions, and additional allowances like Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance (TA). Over time, as they move up the pay scales, their salary can significantly increase; for instance, at Level 14, the basic pay can go up to Rs 1,44,200. The article also mentions that DMs receive various perks including government accommodation, security, and other facilities. Appraisals and promotions are based on performance, seniority, and the availability of higher posts, with no fixed annual appraisal amount but rather a system where salary increases with each promotion to a higher pay level.