Colonel (India)

Military rank of India

Colonel
कर्नल

Rank insignia of a colonel of the Indian Army

Country|  India
Service branch|  Indian Army
Abbreviation| Col
Rank group| Senior officers
Rank| Colonel
NATO rank code| OF 5
Pay grade| Level 13
Next higher rank| Brigadier
Next lower rank| Lieutenant colonel
Equivalent ranks| Captain (Indian Navy)
Group Captain (Indian Air Force)

Colonel is a rank in the Indian Army. Like other armies, this rank is higher than lieutenant colonel. It is equivalent to captain in the Indian Navy and group captain in the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Army has followed the British Army rank system since India's independence from the British Empire in 1947. However, the St Edward's Crown in the rank insignia was replaced with the National Emblem of India, symbolising the sovereignty of the Government of India.

## Appointments

[edit]

This section contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (February 2024)

|

This section's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Colonels in the Indian Army command battalion-sized units (infantry battalions, artillery regiments, armoured regiments).[1] Until the 1980s, battalions (and equivalents) were commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Colonels also serve as staff officers in divisions like Colonel General Staff (Col GS) and Colonel Administration (Col Adm). At Army headquarters, colonels hold the appointments of directors of directorates and branches.

## Insignia

[edit]

The badges of rank have two five-pointed stars and the National emblem above.[2] The gorget patches of a colonel consist of crimson patches with golden braids.

## Pay scale

[edit]

Colonels are at pay level 13, with a monthly pay between ₹130,600 and ₹215,900 with a monthly service pay of ₹15,500. This is the first selection-grade rank. The promotion to the rank can happen through selection or on time-scale basis. A minimum of 15 years of commissioned service is required for an officer to be considered in the selection grade. This is the highest rank which may be attained by officers on time-scale promotion if not promoted to colonel by selection after 26 years of commissioned service.[3][4][5]

## Colonel of the regiment

[edit]

The colonel of the regiment (COR) is a tradition and position that the Indian Army has inherited from the British Army, as have other armies of the commonwealth. The post of COR is an elected post. All officers including and above the rank of colonel vote as do all battalion commanding officers (CO). The vote of the COs represents the vote of their soldiers. The COR is a senior officer of the regiment, usually the senior-most, who is a father-figure to the regiment and looks after the interests of the regiment. Thus, they are usually general officers or brigadiers. On ceremonial occasions, the COR wears the rank badges of a colonel rather than their actual rank.

## Famous colonels

[edit]

* Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore \- Olympic Silver medalist, former Minister of State for Youth affairs and Sports and Member of parliament from Jaipur Rural
* Narendra 'Bull' Kumar \- mountaineer known for expeditions in the Himalayas, Karakoram and the Siachen Glacier
* Balbir Singh Kular \- field hockey player for India who won the Asian Games Gold in 1966 and the Olympic Bronze in 1968
* Ajay Kothiyal \- mountaineer and first Indian to climb Mt Manaslu, former Aam Aadmi Party and current Bharatiya Janta Party politician
* Colonel Jojan Thomas
* Col Rajiv Bhargwan
* Col Shivender Kanwar - known for being the Commanding officer of elite 9 Para SF unit, had sustained over 30 gunshot wounds. Post-retirement he founded Team Global Security Solutions Pvt Ltd, specialising in high-level security services.
* Col Kaushal Kashyap - A distinguished officer of the 21 Para (Special Forces) unit, and awarded the Shaurya Chakra in 2007 for his exceptional bravery during operations against militants in Northeast India.

## See also

[edit]

* Army ranks and insignia of India

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Organisation of Indian Army". indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
2. ^ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in.
3. ^ "Government of India: Report of the Seventh Central Pay Commission" (PDF). 20 November 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015.
4. ^ DelhiJune 29, India Today Web Desk New; June 29, India Today Web Desk New; Ist, India Today Web Desk New (29 June 2016). "7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?". India Today.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
5. ^ "Pay Scale of Officers - Join Indian Navy | Government of India". www.joinindiannavy.gov.in.

* v
* t
* e

Military ranks and insignia by country

* List of comparative military ranks

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with
limited recognition|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Former|

* People's Republic of Angola
* Biafra
* Bophuthatswana
* Ciskei
* Kingdom of Egypt
* Ethiopian Empire
* Katanga
* People's Republic of Mozambique
* Rhodesia
* South West Africa
* Transkei
* Venda
* Zaire

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Apartheid States in Southern Africa

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Enlisted:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Other:
* Marine Corps
* Space Force
* Warrant officer
* Opposing forces
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Former|

* Canada (pre-Unification)
* Confederate States of America
* Union
* Army
* Navy
* Costa Rica
* Republic of Cuba
* Empire of Brazil
* Panama
* Republic of Texas
* Army
* Navy
* United States Army enlisted
* World War I
* World War II

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* PR of China
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Rocket Force
* Armed Police
* India
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Border Roads Organisation
* Paramilitary forces
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North
* South
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Marines
* Civil Armed Forces
* Maritime Security Agency
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan (Republic of China)

Former|

* Artsakh
* China
* Empire
* Republic (1912–1949)
* Dutch East Indies
* East Turkestan (Second Republic)
* People's Republic of Kampuchea
* Imperial Iran
* Imperial Japan
* Army
* Navy
* Korea
* Empire
* Liberation Army
* Kingdom of Laos
* Manchukuo
* Mengjiang
* Mongolian People's Republic
* Vietnam
* State
* South
* South Yemen
* Tibet
* Tuva

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Europe|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Army
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Air and Space Force
* Foresters
* Germany
* Georgia
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Land Forces
* Coast Guard
* Ireland
* Italy
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Carabinieri
* Finance Guard
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* North Macedonia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Cossacks
* Between 1994 and 2010
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Officers:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Other:
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Vatican

States with
limited recognition|

* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* Transnistria

Former|

* Albania
* Kingdom
* People's Socialist Republic
* Austria–Hungary
* Army
* Navy
* Bulgaria
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Independent State of Croatia
* Czechoslovakia
* German Empire
* Weimar Republic
* Nazi Germany
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* East Germany
* Kingdom of Greece
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* France
* Napoleonic Grand Army
* Hungary
* Kingdom
* People's Republic
* Italy
* Kingdom
* Social Republic
* Ottoman Empire
* Polish People's Republic
* Republika Srpska
* Romania
* Kingdom
* Socialist Republic
* Russian Empire
* White Movement
* Slovakia (First Republic)
* Soviet Union
* 1918–35
* 1935–40
* 1940–43
* 1943–55
* 1955–91
* Spain
* 2nd Republic
* State
* Yugoslavia
* Kingdom
* Socialist Federal Republic
* Federal Republic

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Oceania|

* Australia
* Fiji
* New Zealand
* Papua New Guinea
* Tonga
* Vanuatu

Comparative|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Language|

| Anglophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

|

Arabophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Francophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Gendarmerie
* Officers
* Enlisted

Hispanophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Lusophone|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Military police
* Officers
* Enlisted

Post-Soviet states|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Commonwealth of Nations|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

European Union|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air force
* Officers
* Enlisted

NATO|

* Army
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Navy
* Officers
* Enlisted
* Air Force
* Officers
* Enlisted

Comparative ranks of

* Star ranking
* WWI
* Officers
* WWII
* Officers
* Women's services
* Marine forces
* Space forces
* Gendarmeries
* UK and US

* v
* t
* e

Indian Army

Leadership|

* Minister of Defence
* Chief of Army Staff
* Vice Chief of Army Staff
* GOCs-in-C (Army Commanders)
* Adjutant General
* Military Secretary
* Master General of the Ordnance
* Serving Generals

Components
and
Commands|

* Territorial Army
* National Cadet Corps
* Indian Military Training Team

| Army Commands|

| Operational Commands|

* Central Command
* Eastern Command
* Northern Command
* Southern Command
* South Western Command
* Western Command

|

Functional Commands|

* Army Training Command

Joint Commands|

* Andaman and Nicobar Command
* Strategic Forces Command
* Defence Cyber Agency
* Defence Space Agency
* Armed Forces Special Operations Division

Active Corps|

* I Corps
* II Corps
* III Corps
* IV Corps
* IX Corps
* X Corps
* XI Corps
* XII Corps
* XIV Corps
* XV Corps
* XVI Corps
* XVII Corps
* XXI Corps
* XXXIII Corps

Arms & Services|

| Combat Arms|

| Regiments|

* Mechanised Infantry
* Guards
* Parachute
* Punjab
* Madras
* Grenadiers
* Maratha LI
* Naga
* Rajputana Rifles
* Rajput
* Jat
* Sikh
* Sikh LI
* Dogra
* Garhwal Rifles
* Kumaon
* Assam
* Bihar
* Mahar
* JAK Rifles
* JAK LI
* 1 GR
* 3 GR
* 4 GR
* 5 GR
* 8 GR
* 9 GR
* 11 GR
* Ladakh Scouts
* Arunachal Scouts
* Sikkim Scouts

|

Corps|

* Artillery
* Armoured
* Army Aviation
* Army Air Defence
* Engineers (Madras, Bengal, Bombay)
* Signals
* Intelligence

Services|

* Education (Military Music Wing)
* Medical
* Ordnance
* Postal Service
* Army Service Corps
* Electronics and Mechanical Engineers
* Military Police
* Remount and Veterinary
* Pioneer
* Defence Security Corps
* Military Engineer Services
* Military Farms Service
* Military Nursing Service

Military Academies|

| Education & Training|

* Sainik School
* Armed Forces Medical College
* Ajmer Military School
* Bangalore Military School
* Belgaum Military School
* Chail Military School
* Dholpur Military School
* Rashtriya Indian Military College

|

Colleges|

* Army Cadet College
* Army Public School
* Army War College
* College of Military Engineering
* Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School
* High Altitude Warfare School
* Indian Military Academy
* Commandant of the Indian Military Academy
* Military College of Telecommunication Engineering
* Officers Training Academy

Tri-Service Institutions|

* Defence Services Staff College
* National Defence Academy
* National Defence College
* College of Defence Management
* Military Institute of Technology

Other topics|

* History
* Military operations
* Awards and decorations
* Ranks and insignia
* Army Day
* Judge Advocate General's Department
* Judge Advocate General

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template