Government doctor reveals ₹1.3 lakh in-hand salary after 28 years of service: ‘I’m going to quit’

A Chennai government doctor’s March 2026 payslip has caught the attention of social media, but not for the right reason.With an in-hand amount of 1.3 lakh rupees after 28 years of service, the post has sparked curiosity, surprise, and plenty of discussions online. (Unsplash/Representational Image)With an in-hand amount of 1.3 lakh rupees after 28 years of service, the post has sparked curiosity, surprise, and plenty of discussions online.Dr Jaison Philip shared the payslip on X (formerly Twitter) along with a picture of the document, asking friends for suggestions.The post quickly drew attention, with users reacting to the figure and debating whether it matched expectations for someone with nearly three decades of government service.Salary sparks online debate:According to the post, the salary reflects 28 years of government service, showing decades of work in the public sector.While some users commented on the long tenure, others raised questions about pay scales, pensions, and how government salaries evolve over a long career.Others pointed out that after so many years, the net amount seemed lower than expected, especially when compared with private sector pay.HT.com has reached out to the user for more details. This report will be updated when he responds.Doctor considers quitting:Dr Jaison Philip, replying to a comment on his post, said he plans to quit his government job and move to private practice. “Sir, that is what I am planning. Resigning & starting full time pvt practice,” he wrote in response to an X user who suggested he start a private practice.He reiterated his point about wanting to quit in a separate response, writing: “I am going to quit.”One user suggested he could move abroad since experienced doctors are in high demand, but he noted he felt it was too late for that.Also Read: Indian man in Poland shares work benefits beyond salary: ‘Flexible hours, paid leave, good work life balance’Check out the post here:Here’s how people reacted to the post:Social media users offered mixed views. Many noted that the in-hand figure seemed surprisingly low for 28 years of service, sparking discussions about taxes, pensions, and allowances.The post also raised questions about long-term financial planning in government roles.Users debated whether the compensation adequately reflects years of service and effort, while others discussed the challenges of reaching higher salary brackets in the public sector over decades.Several users compared it with private sector salaries, noting that similar years of work often result in much higher take-home pay outside government jobs.One of the users commented, “For 28 yrs experience, this pay is low , you could try in private hospitals. I have a question about whether there is no gratuity?”Also Read: ‘I was quite nervous but…’: Manipur doctor saves woman struggling to breathe on Tokyo-Delhi Air India flightA second user commented, “You are a highly experienced doctor, wouldn’t it be easier to go out of India? Like doctors are in high demand, right?”A third user commented, “Heavily underpaid. Why not consider moving to private hospitals?”A fourth user commented, “The best time to quit was 28 years ago. The second best time is now.”“Omg, I have 5 years, and my in-hand salary is more than this…” another user commented.