Army ranks and insignia of India
Encyclopedia
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.
rank, but it is mostly honorary. It does not exist in the present army organization structure, however two distinguished officers of the Indian Armed forces have been conferred with the Rank. They are Late Sam Manekshaw
and Late K M Cariappa.
! rowspan=2 | Army Ranks
! rowspan=2 | Insignia
! rowspan=2 | Notes
! colspan=3 | Pay Structure
|-
! Basic Pay !! Grade Pay !! MSP
|- align="center"
|General
(held only by the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee or Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army
) ||
|Gold national emblem
outlined in red
over a gold star
outlined in red,
all over a crossed gold
baton and scimitar
outlined in red.
| 90,000 rupees (fixed) || - || -
|- align="center"
| Lieutenant General
VCOS
Army Commanders
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 |Gold national emblem
outlined in red
over a crossed gold
baton and scimitar
outlined in red.
| 80,000 rupees (fixed) || - || -
|- align="center"
| Lieutenant General
Top 33.3%
by seniority
| 75,000-80,000 rupees
(HAG+) up to 80,000 rupees || - || -
|- align="center"
| Lieutenant General
(Remainder)
| 67,000-79,000 rupees
(HAG) up to 79,000 rupees || - || -
|- align="center"
|Major General
||
|Gold star
outlined in red
over a crossed gold
baton and scimitar
outlined in red.
| rowspan=4 | 37,400-67,000 rupees
(PB-4)
| 10,000 rupees || -
|- align="center"
|Brigadier
||
|Gold national emblem
over three gold stars
in a triangle formation.
| 8,900 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Colonel
||
|Gold national emblem
over two gold stars.
| 8,700 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Lieutenant Colonel
||
|Gold national emblem
over one gold star.
| 8,000 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Major
||
|Gold national emblem.
| rowspan=3 | 15,600-39,100 rupees
(PB-3)
| 6,600 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Captain ||
|Three gold stars.
| 6,100 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Lieutenant
||
|Two gold stars.
| 5,400 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
* Second lieutenant rank is no longer used, all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants.
!Junior Commissioned Officer
Ranks !! Insignia
|-
|Subedar Major || Gold national emblem with stripe
|-
|Subedar
/Risaldar
* || Two Gold stars with stripe
|-
|Naib Subedar/Naib Risaldar* || One Gold star with stripe
|-
|}
!Warrant Officer
Ranks !! Insignia
|-
||Warrant officer (Army Postal Service) ||
|}
!Non Commissioned Ranks !! Insignia
|-
|Regimental Havildar Major - Obsolete Appointment ||
|-
|Regimental Quarter Master Havildar - Obsolete Appointment ||
|-
|Company Havildar Major/Squadron Daffadar Major* ||
|-
|Company Quarter Master Havildar/Squadron Quarter Master Daffadar* ||
|-
|Havildar
/Daffadar
* ||
|-
|Naik
/Lance Daffadar
*
|
|-
|Lance Naik
/Acting Lance Daffadar* ||
|-
|Sepoy
/Sowar
* ||
|}
* Equivalent Cavalry
/Armoured Corps
rank
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer 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
India has a Field MarshalField Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
rank, but it is mostly honorary. It does not exist in the present army organization structure, however two distinguished officers of the Indian Armed forces have been conferred with the Rank. They are Late Sam Manekshaw
Sam Manekshaw
Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, MC "Sam Bahadur" was a Field Marshal of the Indian Army. His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars...
and Late K M Cariappa.
Officer ranks, insignia and pay structure
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="5"! rowspan=2 | Army Ranks
! rowspan=2 | Insignia
! rowspan=2 | Notes
! colspan=3 | Pay Structure
|-
! Basic Pay !! Grade Pay !! MSP
|- align="center"
|General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
(held only by the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee or Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army
Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army
The Chief of the Army Staff is the commander and usually the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Army. The position is abbreviated as COAS in Indian Army cables and communication....
) ||
|Gold national emblem
outlined in red
over a gold star
outlined in red,
all over a crossed gold
baton and scimitar
outlined in red.
| 90,000 rupees (fixed) || - || -
|- align="center"
| Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
VCOS
Army Commanders
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 |Gold national emblem
outlined in red
over a crossed gold
baton and scimitar
outlined in red.
| 80,000 rupees (fixed) || - || -
|- align="center"
| Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Top 33.3%
by seniority
| 75,000-80,000 rupees
(HAG+) up to 80,000 rupees || - || -
|- align="center"
| Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
(Remainder)
| 67,000-79,000 rupees
(HAG) up to 79,000 rupees || - || -
|- align="center"
|Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
||
|Gold star
outlined in red
over a crossed gold
baton and scimitar
outlined in red.
| rowspan=4 | 37,400-67,000 rupees
(PB-4)
| 10,000 rupees || -
|- align="center"
|Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
||
|Gold national emblem
over three gold stars
in a triangle formation.
| 8,900 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
||
|Gold national emblem
over two gold stars.
| 8,700 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
||
|Gold national emblem
over one gold star.
| 8,000 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
||
|Gold national emblem.
| rowspan=3 | 15,600-39,100 rupees
(PB-3)
| 6,600 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Captain ||
|Three gold stars.
| 6,100 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
|Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
||
|Two gold stars.
| 5,400 rupees || 6,000 rupees
|- align="center"
Commissioned Officer Ranks
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="5"!Junior Commissioned Officer
Junior Commissioned Officer
Junior commissioned officer is a term describing a group of military ranks found in the Indian Army, Pakistan Army, Bangladesh Army and Nepal Army. Those soldiers holding JCO rank receive a commission from the President,...
Ranks !! Insignia
|-
|Subedar Major || Gold national emblem with stripe
|-
|Subedar
Subedar
Subedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...
/Risaldar
Risaldar
Risaldar , meaning "the commander of a risala " in Persian, is a mid-level rank in cavalry and armoured units of the Indian Army. Risaldars generally command squadrons....
* || Two Gold stars with stripe
|-
|Naib Subedar/Naib Risaldar* || One Gold star with stripe
|-
|}
Warrant Officer Ranks
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="5"!Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Ranks !! Insignia
|-
||Warrant officer (Army Postal Service) ||
|}
Non Commissioned Ranks
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="5"!Non Commissioned Ranks !! Insignia
|-
|Regimental Havildar Major - Obsolete Appointment ||
|-
|Regimental Quarter Master Havildar - Obsolete Appointment ||
|-
|Company Havildar Major/Squadron Daffadar Major* ||
|-
|Company Quarter Master Havildar/Squadron Quarter Master Daffadar* ||
|-
|Havildar
Havildar
Havildar ) was the Military 'In Charge' of a Fort during the times of Maratha Empire. In the British Indian Army it was equivalent rank to Sergeant, next above Naik, and is still used in the modern Indian Army and Pakistan Army. The cavalry equivalent is Daffadar...
/Daffadar
Daffadar
Daffadar was the equivalent rank to Sergeant in the cavalry of the British Indian Army, the next rank up from Lance Daffadar. The equivalent in other units was Havildar. Like a British sergeant, a Daffadar wore three rank chevrons....
* ||
|-
|Naik
Naik (military rank)
Naik is the equivalent rank to Corporal in the Indian Army and Pakistan Army, and previously in the British Indian Army and the Camel Corps, ranking between Lance Naik and Havildar. In cavalry units the equivalent is Lance Daffadar. Like a British Corporal, a Naik wears two rank chevrons....
/Lance Daffadar
Lance Daffadar
Lance Daffadar is the equivalent rank to Corporal in Pakistan, Indian and British Indian Army cavalry units, ranking between Acting Lance Daffadar and Daffadar. In other units the equivalent is Naik...
*
|
|-
|Lance Naik
Lance Naik
Lance Naik is the equivalent rank to Lance Corporal in the Pakistan and Indian Armies and before 1947, in the British Indian Army, ranking below Naik. In cavalry units the equivalent is Acting Lance Daffadar. Like a British Lance Corporal, he wore a single rank chevron....
/Acting Lance Daffadar* ||
|-
|Sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
/Sowar
Sowar
Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian, was originally a rank during the Mughal period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states...
* ||
|}
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
/Armoured Corps
Armoured corps
Armoured corps may refer to:* Armor Corps * I Armored Corps * Pakistan Army Armoured Corps* Indian Armoured Corps * Indian Army Armoured Corps * Malaysian Royal Armoured Corps* Rhodesian Armoured Corps...
rank
List of Grade 'A' or Class-I (Gazetted) ranks
- GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
- Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
- Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
- BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
- Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
- MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
- Captain
- LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
List of Grade 'B' or Class-II (Gazetted) ranks
- Subedar-MajorSubedar-MajorSubedar-Major is the senior rank of Junior Commissioned Officer in the Indian and Pakistani Armies, and formerly Viceroy's Commissioned Officer in the British Indian Army.nirmala...
(infantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and other arms)/Risaldar-MajorRisaldar-MajorRisaldar-major was originally a cavalry officer of the British Indian Army, the rank was created in 1886 - a risaldar-major was the most senior risaldar of the regiment...
(cavalryCavalryCavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and armour) - SubedarSubedarSubedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...
/RisaldarRisaldarRisaldar , meaning "the commander of a risala " in Persian, is a mid-level rank in cavalry and armoured units of the Indian Army. Risaldars generally command squadrons.... - Naib Subedar/Naib Risaldar