Updated November 2026 · Sources: CPWD DSR / DAR prefaces and CPWD circulars
Quick answer: DSR is CPWD's price list: it gives the rate for each item of work, for example ₹ per sqm of plastering. DAR is the working sheet behind each price: it shows how much cement, sand and labour, plus water charges, GST and the contractor's profit, make up that rate.
Engineers use DSR to prepare estimates and tenders, and DAR to check a rate or work out one that isn't listed. Below: which edition to use in 2026, what's in Vol 1 and Vol 2, how a rate is built, and how to adjust DSR rates for your city and today's prices.
What is DSR?
DSR – Delhi Schedule of Rates is CPWD's rate book for civil works. Every item of work has a number, a full description, a unit (cum, sqm, metre, each…) and a rate.
The rates are worked out from Delhi market prices of materials and minimum wages, which is why it is called the Delhi Schedule of Rates. For DSR 2023, CPWD used Delhi market rates of April 2023 and the minimum wages in force from 01.04.2023 (Central Govt. or Delhi Govt., whichever is higher).
Although it is made for Delhi, DSR is used across India by CPWD, Indian Railways (which adopted DSR 2023 in 2025), PSUs, many state departments and private consultants. For other places and later dates, the rates are adjusted with the cost index.
What is DAR?
DAR – Delhi Analysis of Rates (also called AOR, Analysis of Rates) is the companion book. For each DSR item, it shows the full working:
- quantity and rate of each material (cement, sand, aggregate, steel…)
- labour needed (mason, beldar, coolie, bhisti…) with days and wage rates
- sundries, scaffolding and hire charges
- then the additions: water charges, GST and contractor's profit and overheads
Use DAR when an item is not in DSR, when you need to change a material or a quantity, or when you must justify a rate.
DSR vs DAR at a glance
| DSR (Schedule of Rates) | DAR (Analysis of Rates) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gives you | The final rate per unit | The step-by-step working behind that rate |
| Used for | Estimates, bills of quantities, tenders | Rate justification, non-schedule items, modified items |
| Size | Short entries (description + rate) | Long entries (full breakdown per item) |
| Current civil edition | DSR 2023, Vol 1 & Vol 2 | DAR 2023, Vol 1 & Vol 2 |
Which edition is current?
| Book | Current edition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DSR – Civil (Vol 1 & 2) | DSR 2023 | Kept up to date by numbered correction slips. No separate civil DSR 2024 or 2025 has been issued. |
| DAR – Civil (Vol 1 & 2) | DAR 2023 | Companion to DSR 2023 |
| DSR – Electrical & Mechanical | DSR (E&M) 2025 | Released by CPWD on 1 May 2025, with correction slips |
| Horticulture & Landscaping | 2025 | DSR, DAR and Specifications in one book |
| Plinth Area Rates (PAR) | PAR 2025 | For quick preliminary estimates per sqm of plinth area |
What is in Vol 1 and Vol 2?
The civil DSR is split into two volumes by sub-head (SH). Vol 1 opens with the basic rates of labour and materials; the item rates follow in numbered sub-heads.
📘 Vol 1: Basic rates + SH 1–12
Labour & material basic rates · 1 Carriage of Materials · 2 Earth Work · 3 Mortars · 4 Concrete Work · 5 Reinforced Cement Concrete · 6 Brick Work · 7 Stone Work · 8 Marble & Granite · 9 Wood & PVC Work · 10 Steel Work · 11 Flooring · 12 Roofing
📗 Vol 2: SH 13 onwards
13 Finishing · 14 Repairs to Buildings · 15 Dismantling & Demolishing · 16 Road Work · 17 Sanitary Installations · 18 Water Supply · 19 Drainage · 20 Pile Work · 21 Aluminium Work · 22 Water Proofing · plus newer sub-heads added in recent editions
Sub-head names can change slightly between editions. Use the contents page of your edition for the exact list.
How a DSR rate is built (from DAR)
Every rate in DSR comes from an analysis in DAR. The order of additions is always the same:
Illustrative example (round numbers only, not a real DSR item). Analysis for 10 sqm of cement plaster:
Add 1% water charges on W ............ + ₹20.00 → X = ₹2,020.00
Add GST on X (factor as given in DAR) . + G → Y = ₹2,020.00 + G
Add 15% CP&OH on Y .................. + 0.15 × Y → Z
Rate per sqm ......................... Z ÷ 10
The GST multiplying factor is printed in DAR for each edition. Take it from the edition you are using, and don't apply your own GST percentage.
Cost index: using DSR outside Delhi or after its base date
DSR rates are Delhi rates on a base date. To use them in another city, or later in time, CPWD issues a building cost index for Delhi (usually from 1 April and 1 October) and for other stations. The index is published on a Plinth Area Rates (PAR) base of 100.
PAR 2023 was built on that same Delhi index of 107, so on the PAR 2023 base, DSR 2023 = 100.
Cost index over DSR (%) = (Current index − Base index of DSR) ÷ Base index × 100
The rule that matters: the current index and the DSR base index must be on the same PAR base. Never multiply a raw index directly onto DSR rates.
DSR Cost Index Calculator (adjust DSR 2023 rates to your city)
What it does: DSR 2023 rates are Delhi prices from April 2023. Prices in your city today are higher or lower, and CPWD publishes a number called the cost index for each city to show the difference. Type in your estimate total at DSR rates and your city's cost index, and the calculator shows how much to add (as % and ₹) and the final estimate.
Under the DSR preface, the technical sanctioning authority decides rates of non-schedule items from market rates, and the cost index is not added to those.
How to prepare an estimate with DSR
- Take off quantities from the drawings, item by item, in the DSR unit (cum, sqm, metre, each).
- Find the matching DSR item by sub-head (e.g. SH 13 Finishing for plaster) and copy its item number, full description and rate.
- Apply the latest correction slips to the items you use.
- Multiply quantity × rate for each item and total them (the estimate at DSR rates).
- Add the cost index for your station and date (see the calculator above). Don't add it to non-schedule items.
- Price non-schedule items by analysis on DAR lines or market rates, as approved by the competent authority.
- Add contingencies and other provisions as per your department's rules. Read the estimate with CPWD Specifications.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing editions: using DSR 2021 rates with a cost index meant for DSR 2023.
- Different bases: applying an index on one PAR base against a DSR base on another.
- Adding GST again: since DSR 2021, the rates already include the effect of GST (DAR shows the GST factor).
- Ignoring correction slips issued after the edition.
- Adding the cost index to market-rate (non-schedule) items.
- Using a "DSR 2025" for civil works, when that edition is the Electrical & Mechanical schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of DSR and DAR?
DSR = Delhi Schedule of Rates. DAR = Delhi Analysis of Rates (also called AOR, Analysis of Rates). Both are published by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
Is there a CPWD DSR 2025 or 2026 for civil works?
For civil works the edition in force is DSR 2023, updated through correction slips. The 2025 edition is the Delhi Schedule of Rates for Electrical & Mechanical works, released on 1 May 2025.
What is the difference between DSR Vol 1 and Vol 2?
Vol 1 has the basic rates of labour and materials and sub-heads 1 to 12 (carriage, earth work, mortar, concrete, RCC, brick work, stone, marble, wood, steel, flooring, roofing). Vol 2 starts at sub-head 13 Finishing and covers repairs, dismantling, road work, sanitary, water supply, drainage, pile work, aluminium work, water proofing and newer sub-heads.
What is the cost index of DSR 2023?
The DSR 2023 preface gives its cost index as 107 with reference to CPWD Delhi Plinth Area Rates 2021 (base 100 on 01.04.2021). On the PAR 2023 base, DSR 2023 corresponds to 100.
Can I use DSR in Punjab or other states?
Yes, many departments use CPWD DSR with the cost index of their station. Punjab PWD also has its own Common Schedule of Rates (CSR). You can search Punjab CSR 2020 rates here.
Where can I download DSR 2023 and DAR 2023 PDFs?
All volumes, older editions, DSR (E&M) 2025 and Plinth Area Rates are on our CPWD Publications page.
Key takeaways
- DSR = final rates; DAR = the analysis behind them.
- Current civil edition: DSR 2023 + DAR 2023, with correction slips. DSR 2025 is Electrical & Mechanical.
- Vol 1 = basic rates + SH 1–12; Vol 2 = SH 13 Finishing onwards.
- DAR build-up: materials + labour + sundries → +1% water → +GST → +15% CP&OH.
- Apply the cost index on the same PAR base: (current − base) ÷ base × 100.
References: CPWD Delhi Schedule of Rates 2023 (Vol 1, Preface); CPWD Delhi Analysis of Rates; CPWD Plinth Area Rates 2023; CPWD release of DSR (E&M) 2025 (1 May 2025). Always check the latest correction slips and cost index circulars on cpwd.gov.in.