Triservices Crest. | |
Military Manpower | |
---|---|
Active troops | 1,325,000 (3rd) |
Reserve forces | 1,155,000 (7th) |
Paramilitary forces | 1,293,300 (4th) |
Components | |
Indian Army | |
Indian Air Force | |
Indian Navy | |
Indian Coast Guard | |
Paramilitary forces of India | |
Strategic Nuclear Command | |
History | |
Military history of India | |
Ranks | |
Air Force ranks and insignia | |
Army ranks and insignia | |
Naval ranks and insignia |
The following tables present the ranks of the Azad Hind Fauj. 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.
Ranks and Insignia[]
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.
Ranks | Insignia | Notes |
---|---|---|
Field marshal | National emblem over a crossed baton and saber in a lotus blossom wreath. | Only two appointments have ever been made. |
General | National emblem over a five-pointed star, all over a crossed baton and saber. | Held only by the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee or Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army |
Lieutenant general | National emblem over crossed baton and saber. | |
Major general | Five-pointed star over crossed baton and saber. | |
Brigadier | National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation. | |
Colonel | National emblem over two five-pointed stars | |
Lieutenant Colonel | National emblem over five-pointed star. | |
Major | National emblem. | |
Captain | Three five-pointed stars. | |
Lieutenant | Two five-pointed stars. | |
Second lieutenant | Five-pointed star. | The rank of second lieutenant is no longer used and all new officers are commissioned as lieutenants. |
Junior commissioned offiJunior 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. The lowermost rank of Sepoy is different in different arms of the army. In the Artillery the Sepoy is called a 'gunner', in Engineers 'Sapper', in infantry regiments with 'Rifle' suffix a Sepoy is called a 'Rifleman', in Signals it is known as 'Signaller' , in the Parachute Regiment it is a 'Paratrooper', In the Armoured Corps it is the 'Sowar', in rest of the arms it is simply the Sepoy.
Ranks | Insignia | |
---|---|---|
Infantry and other arms | Cavalry and armour | |
Quartermaster havildar | Quartermaster duffadar | Gold national emblem with three chevrons |
Havildar | Daffadar | Three rank chevrons |
Naik | Lance daffadar | Two rank chevrons |
Lance naik | Acting lance daffadar | Single rank chevron |
Sepoy (Sipahi)/Jawan | Sowar | Plain shoulder badge only |
See also[]
References[]
- "Bharat Rakshak:Indian Land Forces". Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090519201442/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Heraldry/Ranks/23-Rank-Insignias.html.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Army ranks and insignia of India and the edit history here.