I am quoting something that I read on another site
Low price tag obtained at the cost of scientists?
So should we be proud about the low price tag? How much of this reduction in price has come from producing technology at lower cost using innovative methods and how much has come from underpaying human resources. Well the fact is that we have grossly underpaid our human resources to cut costs. The following table gives the salaries that ISRO scientists are paid (after the pay revision in the Sixth Pay Commission) and compares them to the salaries in the Information Technology sector in India.
Scientist B..... 0-4 years ....15,600-39,100+(5,400) .......... IT sector- Rs.30,000
Scientist C.....4-9 years.....15,600-39,100 +(6,600)............... IT sector Rs.58,000
Scientist D.......9-14 years..................15,600-39,100+(7,600).................IT sector Rs.100,000
Scientist E.....14-18 years....................39,200-67,000+(8,700)........IT sector Rs.142,000
Scientist F.....19-24 years.........39,200-67,000+(8,900).........ITsector Rs.183,000
Scientist G.......24 years...........39,200-67,000+(10,000)......IT sector Rs.225,000
Scientist H........24 years..........39,200-67,000+(12,000)..........IT sector Rs.225,000
(^These are the basic salary ranges for the given grade. The figures in the brackets are the grade pay. To get the gross salary add the grade pay and 30% HRA + 16% DA of the basic to current basic salary. DA is linked to the inflation and typically rises about 3% every four months and today stands at 16%. For example, a scientist B on joining would get 15,600 + 5,400 + (0.3+0.16) x 15,600 = 28, 176)
(*IT sector salary has been computed using the formula: annual salary after n years = Rs (3 + n x 1) lakhs, while not exact this formula gives a reasonably accurate lower bound. Most scientists have higher degrees like MTech and PhD, in which case the multiplicative factor can range between 1.1 to 1.5. Remember this is a lower bound for salaries in this sector. If you are aware of a better formula do let me know)
Now take a look at the following table to see how much Boeing and NASA are paying their scientists.
Organization and PostAverage Annual Salary
ISRO Scientist....$12,000
NASA Scientist........$88,000
Boeing Scientist..........$89,000
Should we feel great about the low price tag of Rs 386 crores for the Chandrayaan? Hardly.
I dream of being a space scientist but will actually become an accountant
While it is not necessary that our scientists should be paid salaries that equal those of NASA scientists, we must at least keep in view the Indian market conditions.
We must at least provide our scientists a decent standard of living. They shouldn't have to think how they will pay for the education of their children.
In a recent visit to a school when Dr. Abdul Kalam asked the students how many of them wanted to be engineers a few hands went up. When he asked how many wanted to to be doctors a few more hands went up. Finally when he asked how many wanted to be involved in the Mars mission, all hands went up. But the fact remains that very few young graduates are taking up a career with ISRO. When you are a ten year old you can afford to follow your dream. By the time you are ready to leave school reality sets in. More eighteen year olds in India prefer to be accountants than to be space scientists. ISRO hardly gets applications for its scientist posts.
For graduating students from top institutes like IISc or IITs, the top career choice is an MNC and not ISRO
World through Coloured Glasses: India's Moon Mission: Lets Not Feel Proud About the Low Price Tag