Indian Army ranks and insignia

The Indian Army (IA), the land component of the Indian Armed Forces, follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile British Indian Army (BIA).

## History

[edit]

The Indian Army Ensign.

### 1947–1950

[edit]

Upon the establishment of India's independence in 1947, the country became a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. Nevertheless, the armed forces, namely, the British Indian Army (BIA), the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) and the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) - under the helm of King George VI as the Commander-in-Chief - retained their respective pre-independence ranks and corresponding insignia.[1] In the Army's case, the service retained its pre-independence insignia, comprising the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star, called the pip.

### 1950–present

[edit]

In May 1949, Lord Mountbatten, the inaugural Governor-General of India, dispatched a note to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, titled Names and Insignia of Indian Armed Forces, containing a list of suggestions regarding the nomenclature of the armed forces that were to be enforced upon the dominion's conversion to a republic.[2] In the note, Mountbatten proposed that the Tudor Crown, worn on the epaulettes of ranks of Majors and above should be replaced by the Lion Capital of Ashoka and that the pip should be replaced by the Star of India or another form of star.[2]

In September 1949, Nehru forwarded the proposals to the country's minister of defence, Baldev Singh, recommending Mountbatten's suggestions, which were consequently enforced upon India's emergence as a republic on 26 January 1950.[2][3][1] Simultaneously, the King's Commission, which was granted to commissioned Indian officers of the BIA was also changed to Indian Commission on the same date; and at a subsequent date the King's Colours of the various armed regiments were laid to rest at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.[2]

## Structure

[edit]

Presently, the Army's rank hierarchy is divided into three broad categories:[4]
Group-A: Commissioned Officers (Officers)
Group-B: Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO)
Group-C: Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO), also referred as Other Ranks (OR)

Equivalent ranks of Indian military  Commission  | Indian Navy | Indian Army | Indian Air Force

|
|
|

Commissioned  | Admiral of the fleet | Field marshal | Marshal of the Indian Air Force
Admiral | General | Air chief marshal
Vice admiral | Lieutenant general | Air marshal
Rear admiral | Major general | Air vice marshal
Commodore | Brigadier | Air commodore
Captain | Colonel | Group captain
Commander | Lieutenant colonel | Wing commander
Lieutenant commander | Major | Squadron leader
Lieutenant | Captain | Flight lieutenant
Sub lieutenant | Lieutenant | Flying officer
Junior commissioned  | Master chief petty officer 1st class | Subedar major[Alt 1] | Master warrant officer
Master chief petty officer 2nd class | Subedar[Alt 2] | Warrant officer
Chief petty officer | Naib subedar[Alt 3] | Junior warrant officer
Non-commissioned  | Petty officer | Havildar/Daffadar | Sergeant
Leading seaman | Naik/Lance daffadar | Corporal
Seaman 1 | Lance naik/Acting Lance-Daffadar | Leading aircraftsman
Seaman 2 | Sepoy/Sowar | Aircraftsman

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.

### Special ranks

[edit]

Rank group  |

|

Chief of Defence Staff |

### Commissioned Officers

[edit]

Rank group  | General / flag officers  | Senior officers  | Junior officers

|
|
|

Indian Army[5]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Field marshal
फील्ड मार्शल | General
जनरल | Lieutenant general
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल | Major general
मेजर जनरल | Brigadier
ब्रिगेडियर | Colonel
कर्नल | Lieutenant colonel
लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल | Major
मेजर | Captain
कैप्टन | Lieutenant
लेफ्टिनेंट
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

The Army has ten commissioned officer (officer) ranks, which are designated as Group-A service ranks and are equivalent to the All India Services.

The highest attainable rank in the Army's officer cadre is that of the Field Marshal, a ceremonial five-star rank immediately superior to full General.[4] It is awarded exclusively to deemed recipients for recognition of exceptional service and leadership during wartime; however, it does not feature in the Army's organizational structure.[4] In the Army's history, only two four-star officers have ever been promoted to the rank: Gen. S. H. F. J. Sam Manekshaw in 1973 and Gen. K. M. Cariappa in 1986. Recipients are considered to be serving officers until their death.[6]

The highest operational rank is General, which is held exclusively by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). The first Indian to be promoted to the rank was then-Lt. Gen. K. M. Cariappa, following his appointment as the second Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Army in January 1949.[7]

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a rotational position deemed the highest uniformed designation-cum-professional head of the armed forces, is also held by four-star officer drawn from the Army or the Navy or the Air Force.[8] However, CDS appointees do not wear the corresponding insignia of their respective service, but are rather allotted a unique insignia independent of that service's rank hierarchy: a crimson-colored epaulette, adorned with the tri-service emblem of the armed forces.[9] As of 2024, only two four-star officers from the Army have been appointed to the position.[10]

### Junior commissioned officer and non-commissioned ranks

[edit]

Rank group  | Subordinate Officers (SO)  | Non commissioned officers (NCO)  | Constables

|
|
|

Indian Army[5]

* v
* t
* e

|  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia
Subedar-major
सूबेदार मेजर | Subedar
सूबेदार | Naib subedar
नायब सूबेदार | Havildar
हवलदार | Naik
नायक | Lance naik
लांस नायक | Sepoy
सिपाही
Cavalry ranks  | Risaldar Major
रिसालदार मेजर | Risaldar
रिसालदार | Naib Risaldar
नायब रिसालदार | Daffadar
दफ़ादार | Lance Daffadar
लांस दफ़ादार | Acting Lance Daffadar
एक्टिंग लांस दफ़ादार | Sowar
सवार

* The title Risaldar replaces Subedar in ranks in cavalry, armored regiments, Remount Veterinary Corps and animal transport battalions of Army Service Corps.
* Naib Risaldar was called Jemadar until 1965.
* Daffadar, Lance Daffadar and Acting Lance Daffadar \- these ranks replace the titles of Havildar, Naik and Lance Naik in cavalry, armored regiments, Remount Veterinary Corps and animal transport battalions of Army Service Corps.
* Sowar replaces the rank Sepoy in cavalry, armored regiments, Remount Veterinary Corps and animal transport battalions of Army Service Corps.

## Former ranks

[edit]

Former/Discontinued Ranks | Officers  |  | Non-commissioned officers

|
|
|

Shoulder
Insignia |  | Arm |  |  |  |
Rank | Second
Lieutenant |  | Regimental
Havildar
Major | Regimental
Quartermaster
Havildar | Company
Havildar
Major | Company
Quartermaster
Havildar

The rank of Second Lieutenant is no longer in use; all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants. Notable past holders include 2Lt. Arun Khetarpal, 2Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, and other ranks including CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat and CQMH Abdul Hamid.

The appointments of Regimental Quartermaster Havildar and Regimental Havildar Major are no longer used in the Indian Army (except for the Regiment of Artillery and Army Air Defence) and those duties are now performed by JCOs.[11][12][13]

## Rank descriptions

[edit]

* Indian Army Ranks can be classified into three categories.
* Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to All India Services & Group "A" Service officers.[14]
* Junior Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to Group B Gazetted officers.[15]
* Other Ranks comprising non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

### Officers

[edit]

Equivalent ranks of Indian Armed Forces (click to enlarge)

Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command anywhere from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps and the whole army.

At the time of joining, all Indian Army officers are inducted as officer cadets. The rank of officer cadet is denoted by an officer's uniform with no insignia.

Indian Army officers are continually put through different courses and assessed on merit throughout their career, for promotions and appointments. Substantive promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent (subject to clearance of Part B and Part D exam for Major and Lieutenant Colonel)[16][17] and 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.[18][19][20] Civilian equivalents are in accordance with government policies on functional allocation of duties in staff billets, otherwise the rank structure of the armed forces is different from the civilian with regard to years of service and vacancies available.

Indian Army officers undergo various courses such as Young Officers Course, Junior Command Course, Defence Services Staff College course at DSSC Wellington, Management Development Programme: Senior Defence Management Course, Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management (Secunderabad), Higher Command Courses, NDC courses at various premier institutions of Armed Forces for promotions. The same is applicable to officers other two services namely Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

Rank  | Epaulette Insignia  | Description  | Appointments  | Superannuation Age/Tenure  | Rank flag  | Pay level

|
|
|
|
|
|

Field marshal
(FM)  |  | Five-star rank
Awarded exclusively in recognition of exceptional service and leadership during wartime.
Ceremonial, not included in Army organizational hierarchy.  | Appointed by order of the Government of India
* S. H. F. J. Manekshaw \- Promoted 1973
* K. M. Cariappa \- Promoted 1986  | Recipients are considered serving officers unto the date of demise.[4] |  | —
General
(Gen)  |  | Four-star rank
Highest ranking general officer in Army organizational hierarchy.  | Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
(Only if appointee is an Army flag officer)[21]
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)
| CDS: 65 (or) 3 years of service; whichever is earlier.[4]
COAS: 62 (or) 3 years of service; whichever is earlier.  |
(COAS)  | 18 (apex)
Lieutenant general
(Lt Gen)  |  | Three-star rank
Second-highest general officer in Army organizational hierarchy.  | Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) (Only if appointee is an Army general officer)

Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS)
Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCOAS)
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief \- (GOC-in-C)
GOCs of Field corps
General Staff
Heads of other directorates. Head of the Assam Rifles.

| 60  |
(VCOAS)

(DCOAS)  | 17/15
Major general
(Maj Gen)  |  | Two-star rank
Third-highest general officer in Army organizational hierarchy.  | General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Divisions

Additional Director Generals Commandants/Director Generals of various institutions/organizations and other appointments.

| 58  | Guidon in red, with army crest at the hoist, two stars at the fly  | 14
Brigadier
(Brig)  |  | One-star rank | Brigade Commander
Brigadier General Staff (BGS)
Deputy Director Generals of directorates
Diplomatic military attaché and other appointments  | 56  | Triangular pennon in red, with army crest at the hoist, one star at the fly  | 13A
Colonel
(Col)  |  | (-)  | Colonel General Staff (Col GS)
Directors and other appointments[22]
CO of battalion / regiment / equivalent unit (Infantry, Artillery, Armored), appointment varies by corps/regiments  | 54  | (-)  | 13
Lieutenant colonel
(Lt Col)  |  | (-)  | Second in command of battalion / regiment / equivalent unit (Infantry, Artillery, Armored), appointment varies by corps/regiments  | NA  | (-)  | 12A
Major
(Maj)  |  | (-)  | Company/equivalent unit commander, appointment varies by corps/regiments  | NA  | (-)  | 11
Captain
(Capt)  |  | (-)  | Varies by corps/regiments  | NA  | (-)  | 10B
Lieutenant
(Lt)  |  | (-)  | Varies by corps/regiments  | NA  | (-)  | 10
Officer Cadet (GC/LC)  | IMA tag  | Professional training at National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA).[23] | Gentleman Cadet (GC)
Lady Cadet (LC)[23] | 1 to 5 years  | (-)  | —

In the Indian Army, officer cadets are known as Gentlemen Cadets or Lady Cadets. Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) join the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA)/Officer's Training Academy (OTA) after going through the Service Selection Board (S.S.B.) interview. Gentlemen Cadets undergo a pre-commission training programme at NDA, IMA/OTA, which is equally divided into terms.

### Junior commissioned officers

[edit]

Junior commissioned officers are promoted from non-commissioned officers and are broadly equivalent to warrant officers in the British Army. Senior non-commissioned officers are promoted to JCO rank on the basis of merit and seniority, restricted by the number of vacancies. In between the Commissioned Officer and the NCOs lies the Junior Commissioned Officers. They are treated with great respect as they have a minimum of 28 yrs and over service and are referred to as Sahab by all ranks.[24]

The current living recipients of the Param Veer Chakra are all from JCO ranks namely Bana Singh Retd, Sanjay Kumar, and Yogendra Singh Yadav.

JCOs are entrusted with supervisory roles and the three JCO ranks are Subedar Major, Subedar and Naib Subedar. JCOs are equivalent in status to Group B (Gazetted) of Government of India.[25]

Junior commissioned officers are treated as a separate class and hold many additional privileges. In the army, they have a separate mess (the JCO's mess), get well-furnished family quarters, and are authorized to travel in AC II-tier on the railways.[26]

Ranks and abbreviations  | Insignia  | Description  | Retirement Age  | Pay level

|
|
|
|

Infantry and other arms  | Cavalry and Armour
Subedar Major (Sub Maj)  | Risaldar Major (Ris Maj)  |  | Golden national emblem with stripe  | After 34 years service or at the age of 54, whichever is sooner.[27] | 8
Subedar (Sub)  | Risaldar (Ris)  |  | Two golden stars with stripe  | After 30 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is sooner.[27] | 7
Naib Subedar (Nb Sub)  | Naib Risaldar (Nb Ris)  |  | One golden star with stripe  | After 28 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is sooner.[27] | 6

JCOs are currently enrolled as jawans and few of them get promoted to officers over a period of time-based on their performance and on their ability to clear promotion examinations. A few JCOs are directly enrolled as religious teachers and in certain technical arms such as the Corps of Engineers. As of 2021, the Indian Army is discussing a proposal to directly enrol Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) in all arms of the service to address the shortage of commissioned officers. According to the proposal, the Indian Army will directly induct JCOs who have cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The UPSC will conduct an entrance examination, which would be followed by an SSB interview and a medical examination. Selected candidates would then be trained for one and a half years before joining the units as JCOs. Subsequently, they would be promoted to officers up to the rank of Colonels based on their length of service and qualifications.[28]

### Other ranks

[edit]

Other ranks in the Indian Army include Non-Commissioned Officers ("NCOs") and 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 and abbreviations  | Insignia  | Description  | Retirement Age  | Pay level

|
|
|
|

Infantry and other arms  | Cavalry and armour
Havildar (Hav)  | Daffadar (Dfr)  |  | Three chevrons | After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is sooner.[27] | 5
Naik (Nk)  | Lance Daffadar (L/Dfr)  |  | Two chevrons | After 23 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is sooner.[27] | 4
Lance Naik (L/Nk)  | Acting Lance Daffadar (ALD)  |  | One chevron | After 19 years service or at the age of 48, whichever is sooner.[27] | 3

#### Soldiers

[edit]

Ranks  | Insignia  | Retirement Age

|
|

Infantry and other arms  | Cavalry and armour  | Pay level
Sepoy | Sowar | No insignia  | After 15 years, 56 Days service or at the age of 42, whichever is sooner.[27] | 3

A sepoy is a rank equivalent to Private in most Commonwealth armies. Many regiments and corps use other distinctive and descriptive names instead of sepoys. These distinctive equivalents for Sepoy include:

Corps | Designation | Abbreviation

|
|

Regiment of Artillery and Army Air Defence | Gunner | Gnr
Rifle regiments | Rifleman | Rfn
Parachute Regiment | Paratrooper | Ptr
Grenadiers | Grenadier | Gdr
Brigade of the Guards | Guardsman | Gdsmn
Corps of Engineers | Sapper | Spr
Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers | Craftsman | Cfn
Corps of Signals | Signalman | Sigmn

## Honorary ranks

[edit]

### Brevet

[edit]

Honorary ranks and honour, also called brevet, are granted in the Indian Army, and its branches such as India Territorial Army (TA), for various reasons. These ranks may not entitle the rank holder to pay, pension, or perks (e.g. ranks given to celebrities).

#### Retiring Soldiers

[edit]

Since the time of the British Raj,[29] exemplary soldiers who are about to retire are given honorary ranks, usually a few days before their retirement, although these ranks can be granted at any time. Examples include the grant of the rank of Field Marshal, which is rarely granted. Most frequently, honorary ranks that are granted are those of junior commissioned officers, which are granted 1 or 2 weeks before retirement.

#### Prominent citizens as brand ambassadors

[edit]

In order to inspire Indian youths to join the Indian Army, and to acknowledge contribution towards the nation, honorary ranks are awarded to the accomplished and eminent personalities who act as brand ambassadors for the defence forces. The following were awarded honorary titles:[citation needed]

* Indian Army's Territorial Army (TA)
* Kapil Dev, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel, TA,(Punjab Regiment) cricketer[30]
* Mohanlal Viswanathan, 2009, Lieutenant Colonel, TA,(Madras Regiment), Malayalam actor and filmmaker[31]
* Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 2011, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Parachute Regiment), cricketer[32]
* Abhinav Bindra, 2011, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Sikh Regiment), sport shooter and politician[32]
* Deepak Rao, 2011, Major, TA (Parachute Regiment), military trainer and author[32]
* Nana Patekar, 1990-2013, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Maratha Light Infantry), actor[33]

#### Foreign trainees of India's military academies

[edit]

See also: Strategic partners of India

Trainees of foreign nations who are trained by the military academies of India, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) or the Indian Military Academy (IMA), are sometimes awarded honorary ranks in the Indian Army. The trainees are usually from friendly armies, such as the Singapore Army.

### Reciprocal awarding of honorary ranks to other nations

[edit]

#### Nepal

[edit]

Since 1950, when former Indian Army Chief General K. M. Cariappa visited Nepal, awarding the highest reciprocal honorary ranks to the newly appointed serving chiefs of each other's armies is a practice followed by India and Nepal. For example, in 2009 the newly appointed Nepal Army Chief General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung was decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Indian army at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi by the President of India who is also the Supreme Commander of Indian Army. Similarly, in 2010 the newly appointed Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh was awarded the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army at Shital Niwas in Kathmandu by the President of Nepal who is also the Supreme Commander of Nepal Army.[34]

#### British Colonial era: Indian Army ranks to British Army

[edit]

Some members of the ruling families of Princely states were given ceremonial honorary ranks during the colonial era.[29]

An 1832 journal reports that during the colonial British raj era, the Commander-in-Chief of British Army (ex officio role of the serving Monarch of Britain) promulgated an order directing that the Lieutenant Colonel of H.M. (Royal British Army) can not be superseded by the East India Company's Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel. Whenever an Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel was promoted to Colonel, all the British Army's Lieutenant Colonels who were deployed with the Indian Army and had the equal date and rank with the newly appointed Colonel of Indian Army were also mandatorily given the local Indian Army's honorary rank of Colonel from the date of his Lieutenant Colonelcy with British Army. This unfair system preserved the fictional equivalency of British Army officers with Indian Army officers while denying the officers of the Indian Army their hard-earned honours and ranks within their peculiar service. This was not a reciprocal system, i.e. Lieutenant Colonel of East India Company (EIC) (Indian Army) were not promoted to Colonels rank when a British Army Lieutenant Colonel of equal date and rank was promoted to Colonel's rank in Indian army. For example, when a ranked Lieutenant Colonel of Bengal Army was promoted to Colonel he was ranked 34th on the general list, he superseded 33 other Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army, along with him all of the British Army's Lieutenant Colonel serving with the Bengal Presidency were also given the honorary rank of Colonel of Bengal Presidency and they superseded 33 Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army who were their seniors. The army officers of EIC appealed against this derogatory and non-reciprocal system in EIC's Court of Directors. EIC directors had no authority to revoke or amend the order issued by the British monarch.[35]

## Retired officers: form of address

[edit]

On 21 July 2014, the Indian Army issued a circular for retired personnel informing them that the correct form of addressing a retired officer is "Rank ABC (Retd) and not Rank (Retd) ABC",[36] a correct example is: "Brigadier Sant Singh (Retd)". The stated rationale of army was, "Rank never retires, it is an officer who retires."[36] This form of address applies to both living and deceased officers.[36]

## See also

[edit]

* Comparative military ranks
* Indian Air Force ranks and insignia
* Indian Navy ranks and insignia
* Coast Guard ranks and insignia of India
* Border Roads Organisation ranks and insignia of India
* Paramilitary forces ranks and insignia of India
* Police ranks and insignia of India
* Indian Army cap badges

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Chhina, Man Aman Singh (2 September 2022). "Explained: How India adopted its military flags and badges based on Lord Mountbatten's suggestions". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
2. ^ a b c d "How India adopted its military flags and badges based on Lord Mountbatten's suggestions". optimizeias.com. 3 September 2022.
3. ^ "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive.
4. ^ a b c d e "Rank for Indian Army". atharvafoundation.in.
5. ^ a b "Indian Army Rank Badges". indianarmy.nic.in. Indian Army. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
6. ^ "Gaurav Arya's Claims About Army, Sam Manekshaw's Pensions Are Fake". www.thequint.com. 1 July 2020.
7. ^ "CARIAPPA TO BE FULL GENERAL" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. 14 January 1949. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
8. ^ "India to now get chief of defence staff, will be a 4-star general". The Times of India. 25 December 2019.
9. ^ "A sneak peek of CDS uniform, insignia". The Economic Times. 1 January 2020.
10. ^ "Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd) is India's 2nd Chief of Defence Staff". India Today. 28 September 2022.
11. ^ Personnel Services Directorate. "Psdte311212" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2015.
12. ^ "DSR Volume I, Chapter IV—JCOs, WOs, OR AND NON-COMBATANTS (ENROLLED)". Indian Army. 2014. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
13. ^ Kumar, M. K. Sunil (16 May 2012). "Rules of the Raj hindering havildars' promotion". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
14. ^ Singh, Navdeep. "Clarification on the nature of 'Group-A' services". India Military Info. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
15. ^ "JCOs are Gazetted". The Times of India.
16. ^ "Army defers key annual promotion exam amid LoC tensions". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
17. ^ India, USI. "PROSPECTUS". USI. USI of India. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
18. ^ Government of India (4 November 2008). "MoD Letter No. 1/55/2008 D(Pay/Services)—Terms and Conditions of Service" (PDF). Indian Army. Government of India, Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
19. ^ Tirkey, Ajay (30 August 2008). "Ministry of Defence Resolution—Sixth Central Pay Commission" (PDF). The Gazette of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
20. ^ "NCC Spl entry Scheme" (PDF). joinindianarmy.nic.in. Indian Army. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
21. ^ "Cabinet approves creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff in the rank of four star General". pib.gov.in. 24 December 2019.
22. ^ "Structure of Indian Army". Centre for Defence Careers. 17 September 2020.
23. ^ a b "JOINING INSTRUCTIONS OFFICERS TRAINING ACADEMY, CHENNAI" (PDF). joinindianarmy.nic.in.
24. ^ "The indomitable Subedar Major". The Tribune.
25. ^ "Army corrects JCO status after 6 years". DNA.
26. ^ "Benefits, and challenges military personnel and their families face".
27. ^ a b c d e f g "Report of the Seventh Central Pay Commission" (PDF). Government of India. November 2015. pp. 397–398. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
28. ^ "Indian Army to recruit 14000 JCOs Soon". Jagran Prakashan Ltd. Jagran Prakashan Ltd.
29. ^ a b Sharma, Gautam (1996). Nationalisation of the Indian Army, 1885-1947. Allied Publishers. p. 11\. ISBN 978-81-7023-555-2.
30. ^ Theemergingindia. "Kapil-Dev-appointed-Lieutenant-Colonel-Indian-Army 2008". THE EMERGING INDIA. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
31. ^ "Mohanlal inducted into Territorial Army". NDTV. 9 July 2009.
32. ^ a b c "Ms Dhoni, Abhinav Bindra and Dr Deepak Rao Granted Honorary Rank in Territorial Army". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
33. ^ "When Nana Patekar left Bollywood and served in the Indian Army, did this for the country during Kargil War". fristpost.com. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
34. ^ "Army chief made honorary General of Nepal Army". Hindustan Times. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
35. ^ May-Aug 1832, The Asiatic journal and monthly register for British and foreign India, China, and Australasia, The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and its Dependencies, Parbury, Allen and Company, vol III, pp 66.
36. ^ a b c Sura, Ajay (3 August 2014). "Rank never retires, officer does: Army". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 13 September 2015.

Links to related articles

* 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
* t
* e

Indian Armed Forces

* Indian Army
* Indian Navy
* Indian Air Force

Leadership|

* President
* Prime Minister
* Minister of Defence
* Defence Secretary
* National Security Advisor
* Chief of Defence Staff
* Chief of the Army Staff
* Chief of the Naval Staff
* Chief of the Air Staff
* Vice Chief of Defence Staff
* Director General Armed Forces Medical Services

Organisation|

| Ministry of Defence|

* Defence Production
* Defence Research and Development
* Ex-servicemen Welfare
* Military Affairs

|

Committees|

* Cabinet Committee on Security
* Chiefs of Staff Committee
* Defence Planning Committee
* Integrated Defence Staff
* Nuclear Command Authority
* National Security Council
* Standing Committee on Defence

Organisations|

* Armed Forces Tribunal
* Border Roads Organisation
* Defence Cyber Agency
* Defence Intelligence Agency
* Defence Research and Development Organisation
* Defence Space Agency

Commands|

| Joint|

* Andaman and Nicobar
* Chief
* Integrated Theatre
* Maritime Theatre
* Northern Theatre
* Special Operations
* Strategic Forces
* Chief
* Western Theatre

|

Army|

* Central
* Eastern
* Northern
* Southern
* South Western
* Training
* Western

Navy|

* Eastern
* Southern
* Western

Air Force|

* Central
* Eastern
* Maintenance
* Southern
* South Western
* Training
* Western

Personnel|

| Ranks and insignia|

* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Rank flags

|

Serving officers|

* Generals
* Admirals
* Marshals

Related|

* Academies
* Awards and decorations
* Women

Equipment|

| Army|

* Equipment

|

Navy|

* Active Ships
* Future
* Historical Ships
* Weapon Systems

Air Force|

* Active Aircraft
* Aircraft Squadrons
* Future
* Historical Aircraft

Others|

* Missiles
* Radars
* Weapons of mass destruction

Operations|

| Wars|

| Indo-Pakistani|

* 1947–1948
* 1965
* 1971
* Kargil War

|

Indo-China|

* 1962
* 1967

External
conflicts|

| Pakistan|

* Kashmir conflict
* Siachen conflict
* 2001–2002
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2014–2015
* 2016–2018
* 2019
* 2020–2021
* 2025

|

China|

* 1987
* 2017
* 2020–2021

* Congo Crisis
* Korean War
* Kuwait rescue
* Myanmar counter-insurgency
* Operation Cactus
* Operation Raahat
* Operation Devi Shakti
* Piracy off the coast of Somalia
* Sri Lankan Civil War

Annexations|

* Junagadh
* Hyderabad (Operation Polo)
* Dadra and Nagar Haveli
* Goa (Operation Vijay)

Insurgencies|

* Jammu and Kashmir
* Counter-insurgency operations
* 2016 LOC strike
* 2019 Balakot airstrike
* 2025 airstrike
* Northeast India
* Punjab
* Operation Blue Star
* Operation Woodrose

Auxiliary forces|

* Border Security Force
* Central Industrial Security Force
* Central Reserve Police Force
* Indian Coast Guard
* National Cadet Corps
* National Security Guard
* Paramilitary Forces
* Special forces
* Territorial Army

Other topics|

* Amar Jawan Jyoti
* Flag Day
* History
* Maritime Security Strategy
* Military bands
* National War Memorial
* President's Colour Award
* President's fleet review

* Category
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force

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