Indian Navy ranks and insignia

The following graphs presents the officer ranks of the Indian Navy. These ranks generally correspond with those of Western militaries, and reflect those of the British military ranks.

Officer ranks

Equivalent ranks of Indian Armed Forces (click to enlarge)

While the provision for the rank of Admiral of the Fleet exists, it is primarily intended for major wartime use and honour. No officer of the Indian Navy has yet been conferred this rank. Both the Army and Air Force have had officers who have been conferred with the equivalent rank – Field Marshals Sam Manekshaw and Cariappa of the Army and Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF) Arjan Singh.

The highest ranked naval officer is the Chief of Naval Staff.

India uses the Midshipman rank in its navy, and all future officers carry the rank upon entering the Indian Naval Academy. They are commissioned Sub-lieutenants upon finishing their course of study.

Officer rank insignia of Indian Navy

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Shoulder
Sleeve
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet1	Admiral2	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant	Sublieutenant
1 Honorary/wartime rank. 2 Held only by the Chief of the Naval Staff

Equivalent ranks of Indian military
Indian Navy	Indian Army	Indian Air Force
Admiral of the Fleet	Field Marshal	Marshal of the 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
Lt. Commander	Major	Squadron Leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight Lieutenant
Sub Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying Officer

JCO's and Other Ranks

Rank Insignia of the Indian Navy - JCO's and Other Ranks

	Junior Commissioned Officer				Other Ranks
Shoulder				Arm
Rank	Master Chief Petty Officer 1st Class	Master Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class	Chief Petty Officer		Petty Officer	Leading Seaman	Seaman 11	Seaman 21
1 No Insignia

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• Army ranks and insignia of India
• Air Force ranks and insignia of India
• Indian Coast Guard
• Naval Police Ranks Indian Navy

External links

• World Rank Insignia site