Army ranks and insignia of India

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
India has a field marshal rank, but it is mostly honorary. It does not currently exist in the army organizational structure; however, two officers were conferred with this rank, namely the late Field Marshal Manekshaw and the late Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa.

A field marshal, unlike other officers, does not draw a pension. He gets the full pay of a general equal to the Chief of the Army Staff until his death. He wears full uniform on all official occasions and runs an office in army headquarters. He also has a dedicated secretariat of his own.

Commissioned officers
Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command units anywhere from company to army size. Dress insignia are in gold (outlined in red for those of two-star rank and higher) and in silver for field insignia.

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.

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.