Army ranks and insignia of India

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Indian Armed Forces

Military Manpower

Active troops 1,325,000 (3rd)

Reserve forces 1,155,000 (7th)

Paramilitary forces
1,293,300 (4th)
and CAPF

Components

Indian Army

Indian Air Force

Indian Navy

Paramilitary forces of India

Central Armed Police Forces

Strategic Nuclear Command

History

Military history of India

Ranks

Air Force ranks and insignia

Army ranks and insignia

Naval ranks and insignia

The following tables present the ranks of the Indian army. These ranks generally correspond with those of
Western militaries, and in particular reflect those of the British and Commonwealth armies. Traditional names for
ranks are still used, as well as Western names.

Contents
[hide]

 1Field marshal
 2Ranks and Insignia
o 2.1Current ranks
o 2.2Ranks that are no longer in use
 3Rank descriptions
 o 3.1Commissioned officers
o 3.2Junior commissioned officers
o 3.3Other ranks
 3.3.1Non-commissioned officers
 3.3.2Soldiers
 4Retired Officers: Form of Address
 5See also
 6References
 7External links

Field marshal[edit]
Main article: Field Marshal (India)
India has a field marshal rank, but it is mostly ceremonial. There are no field marshals in the army organizational
structure at present and it has been conferred on only two officers in the past, the late Field Marshal Sam
Manekshaw and the late Field Marshal K M Cariappa.[citation needed]
Field marshals hold their rank for life, and are considered to be serving officers until their death. Unlike other
officers, they do not draw a pension. A field marshal gets the full pay of a general equal to the Chief of the Army
Staff. He wears full uniform on all official occasions and runs an office in army headquarters. He also has a
dedicated secretariat of his own.[citation needed]

Ranks and Insignia[edit]

[show]

Equivalent ranks of Indian military

Current ranks[edit]
Ranks of the Indian Army- Officer ranks

Equivalent
OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
NATO code

Shoulder
Insignia

Field Lieutenant Major Lieutenant

Rank General2 Brigadier Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant
Marshal1 General General Colonel

 1
Honorary/wartime rank.
 2
Held only by the Chief of the Army Staff

Ranks of the Indian Army - JCOs and Other Ranks

Junior Commissioned Officer Other ranks

 Shoulder
Arm
Insignia

Subedar Naib Lance

Rank Subedar2 Havildar Naik Sepoy4
Major1 Subedar3, Naik

 1
Risaldar Major in cavalry and armoured regiments
 2
Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments
 3
Naib Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments. Called Jemadar until
1965.
 4
No Insignia

Ranks that are no longer in use[edit]

The rank of Second Lieutenant is no longer in use; all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants.
The appointments of Regimental Quartermaster Havildar and Regimental Havildar Major are no longer used in
the Indian Army and those duties are now performed by JCOs.[1][2][3]

Ranks of the Indian Army no longer in use

Officers Non-commissioned officers

Shoulder
Arm
Insignia

Company
Regimental Regimental Company
Second Quartermaste
Rank Havildar Quartermaster Havildar
Lieutenant1 r
Major Havildar Major
Havildar

Notable holders include Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid.

Rank descriptions[edit]
Commissioned officers[edit]

Equivalent ranks of Indian Armed Forces(click to enlarge)

Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command everywhere from platoon/company to brigade,
division, corps & the whole army.
Indian Army officers are continually put through different courses & assessed on merit throughout their career, for
promotions and appointments. Substantive promotions up to lieutenant colonel or equivalent are based on time in
service whereas those for colonel and above are based on selection, with promotion to colonel also based on
time served. Due to steep hierarchy and few vacancies, most of the officers retire at the rank of Colonel and only
a few make it to the rank of Brigadier and above.[4][5][6] Civilian equivalents are determined based on pay bands
and ranks, however the rank structure of the armed forces are entirely different from civilian counterparts due to
years of service and vacancies available in the armed forces.
Indian Army officers undergo various courses such as Young Officers Course & Junior Command Course,
Defence Services Staff College course for commanding officers (colonel) & other commands at DSSC
Wellington, Management Development Programme: Senior Defence Management Course, Higher Defence
Management Course at the College of Defence Management (Secunderabad) & Higher Command Courses for
Brigadiers and above. The same is applicable to officers other two services namely Indian Navy & Indian Air
Force
Dress insignia are in Gold/Black based on regiments of the officers commissioned (outlined in red for those of
two-star rank and higher) and in Silver/Gold for field insignia.

Retirement
Ranks Insignia Notes
Age

Not
National emblem over a crossed baton and Only two appointments have ever been
Field marshal applicable.
saber in a lotus blossom wreath. made.
Life Long

Held only by the Chief of Army Staff of 3 years as

the Indian Army. Pay Band 90,000 fixed COAS or at
National emblem over a five-pointed star, at equivalent to Cabinet Secretary of India the age of
General
all over a crossed baton and saber. 62,
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level whichever
18, 2,50,000 is earlier.

By selection.
36 years of commissioned service
required.
Lieutenant generals appointed as Vice
Chief of Army Staff/Army
Commanders/Equivalent at Pay Band
80,000 Apex Grade fixed. Proposed level
National emblem over crossed baton and & pay in 7th CPC: Level 17, 2,25,000
Lieutenant general 60
saber. HAG + Scale: Admissible to 1/3rd of
total strength of Lt Generals 75500-
(annual increment @ 3%) –80000
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
16, 2,05,400
Lt General/HAG Scale: 67000-(annual
increment @ 3%) -79000 Proposed level
& pay in 7th CPC: Level 15, 1,82,200

By selection.
32 years of commissioned service
Five-pointed star over crossed baton and required.
Major general 58
saber. Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 10,000
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
14, 1,44,200

National emblem over three five-pointed By selection.

Brigadier 56
stars in a triangular formation. 25 years of commissioned service
 required.
Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 8,900
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
13A, 1,34,400

Colonel & above are Selection Grade.

15 years of commissioned service
required for selection. Duration of Time
National emblem over two five-pointed Scale promotion to Colonel is 26 years of
Colonel commissioned service. 54
stars
Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 8,700
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
13, 1,25,700

on completion of 13 years reckonable

commissioned service.
Lieutenant Colonel National emblem over five-pointed star. Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 8,000
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
12A, 1,16,700

on completion of 6 years reckonable

commissioned service.
Major National emblem. Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP 6,600
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
11, 69,400

on completion of 2 years reckonable

commissioned service.
Captain Three five-pointed stars. Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP 6,100
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
10B, 61,300

on commissioning into Indian Army as an

Officer in Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP
5,400
Lieutenant Two five-pointed stars.
Proposed level & pay in 7th CPC: Level
10, 56,100

Junior commissioned officers[edit]

Junior commissioned officers are commissioned as officers from the ranks and are broadly equivalent to warrant
officers in Western armies.

Ranks

Insignia Retirement Age

Infantry and other Cavalry and
arms armour

Gold national emblem After 34 years service or at the age of 54,

Subedar major Risaldar major
with stripe whichever is sooner.

After 30 years service or at the age of 52,

Subedar Risaldar Two gold stars with stripe
whichever is sooner.
 After 28 years service or at the age of 52,
Naib subedar Naib risaldar One gold star with stripe
whichever is sooner.

Other ranks[edit]
Other ranks in the Indian army include non-commissioned officers ("NCOs") and ordinary soldiers ("sepoys" or
"jawans")

Non-commissioned officers[edit]
Non-commissioned officers ("NCOs") are soldiers promoted to positions of responsibility, and are equivalent to
junior non-commissioned officers (sergeants and corporals) in Western armies.

Ranks

Insignia Retirement Age

Infantry and other Cavalry and
arms armour

Three rank After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is

Havildar Daffadar
chevrons sooner.

Two rank After 24 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is

Naik Lance daffadar
chevrons sooner.

Acting lance Single rank After 22 years service or at the age of 48, whichever is
Lance naik
daffadar chevron sooner.

Soldiers[edit]

Ranks

Insignia Retirement Age

Infantry and other Cavalry and
arms armour

Plain shoulder badge After 19 years service or at the age of 42, whichever
Sepoy Sowar
only is sooner.

1. . TNN. Retrieved 13 September 2015.