Indian Army 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.

Field marshal

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.

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.

Ranks and Insignia

Current ranks

Ranks of the Indian Army- Officer ranks

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Shoulder
Rank	Field Marshal1	General2	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant
1Honorary/wartime rank. 2Held only by the Chief of the Army Staff or Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee

Ranks of the Indian Army - JCOs and Other Ranks

	Junior Commissioned Officer				Other ranks
Shoulder				Arm
Rank	Subedar Major1	Subedar2	Naib Subedar3,		Havildar	Naik	Lance Naik	Sepoy4
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 no longer in use

The rank of Second Lieutenant is no longer in use; all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants.

The Havildar appointments of Company Quartermaster Havildar, Company Havildar Major, Regimental Quartermaster Havildar and Regimental Havildar Major are no longer used in the Indian Army and those duties are now performed by JCOs.

Ranks of the Indian Army no longer in use

	Officers		Non-commissioned officers
Shoulder		Arm
Rank	Second Lieutenant1		Regimental Havildar Major	Regimental Quartermaster Havildar	Company Havildar Major	Company Quartermaster Havildar

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

Other Information

Commissioned officers

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 less vacancies, most of the officers retire at the rank of Colonel and only a few make it to the rank of Brigadier and above. 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 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.

Ranks	Insignia	Notes	Retirement Age
Field marshal	National emblem over a crossed baton and saber in a lotus blossom wreath.	Only two appointments have ever been made.	Not applicable. Life Long
General	National emblem over a five-pointed star, all over a crossed baton and saber.	Held only by the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. Pay Band 90,000 fixed at equivalent to Cabinet Secretary of India	3 years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Lieutenant general	National emblem over crossed baton and saber.	By selection. 28 years of commissioned service required. Lt Gens appointed as Vice Chief of Army Staff/Army Commanders/Equivalent at Pay Band 80,000 Apex Grade fixed. Lt General/HAG Scale: 67000-(annual increment @ 3%) -79000 HAG + Scale: Admissible to 1/3rd of total strength of Lt Generals 75500-(annual increment @ 3%) –80000	60
Major general	Five-pointed star over crossed baton and saber.	By selection. 25 years of commissioned service required. Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 10,000	58
Brigadier	National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation.	By selection. 23 years of commissioned service required. Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 8,900	56
Colonel	National emblem over two five-pointed stars	Colonel & above are Selection Grade. 15 years of commissioned service required for selection. Duration of Time Scale promotion to Colonel is 26 years of commissioned service. Pay Band 37,400-67,000 GP 8,700	54
Lieutenant Colonel	National emblem over five-pointed star.	on completion of 13 years reckonable commissioned service. Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP 7,600
Major	National emblem.	on completion of 6 years reckonable commissioned service. Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP 6,600
Captain	Three five-pointed stars.	on completion of 2 years reckonable commissioned service. Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP 6,100
Lieutenant	Two five-pointed stars.	on commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer in Pay Band 15,600-39,000 GP 5,400
Second lieutenant	One Five-pointed star.	The rank of second lieutenant is no longer used and all new officers are commissioned as lieutenants.

Junior commissioned officers

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

Ranks		Insignia
Infantry and other arms	Cavalry and armour
Subedar major	Risaldar major	Gold national emblem with stripe
Subedar	Risaldar	Two gold stars with stripe
Naib subedar	Naib risaldar	One gold star with stripe

Non-commissioned officers

Non-commissioned officers ("NCOs") are soldiers promoted to positions of responsibility, and are broadly similar to junior non-commissioned officers in Western armies.

Ranks		Insignia
Infantry and other arms	Cavalry and armour
Havildar	Daffadar	Three rank chevrons
Naik	Lance daffadar	Two rank chevrons
Lance naik	Acting lance daffadar	Single rank chevron
Sepoy (Sipahi) / Jawan		Plain shoulder badge only

Retired Officers: Form of Address

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 "Brigadier ABC (Retd) and not Brig (Retd) ABC". The reason for this was stated as being, "Rank never retires, it is an officer that retires."

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• Indian military

References

• "Bharat Rakshak:Indian Land Forces".

External links

• World Rank Insignia site
• Rank Insignias - Indian Army