Army ranks and insignia of India: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Overview of the ranks and insignia of the Indian Army}}

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[[Indian Army]] Ranks can be broadly classified into three categories: Commissioned Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks.

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.

{{Equivalent ranks of Indian military}}

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 [[Sam Manekshaw|Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw]] and the late [[Kodandera Madappa Cariappa|Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Field Marshal KM Cariappa : The First Indian Chief of Independent India |url=https://www.aviation-defence-universe.com/field-marshal-km-cariappa-the-first-indian-chief-of-independent-india/ |website=Aviation & Defence Universe |publisher=Aviation & Defence Universe |ref=The Government of India conferred the rank of Field Marshal on Cariappa in 1983.}}</ref>

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 (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]]. They wear full uniforms on all official occasions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces? |url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Highest-ranks-in-Indian-Armed-Forces/#.53j2ve5ta |ref=Field Marshals hold their rank for life, there is no retirement and they are considered as serving officers till their death. This also means that they do not draw a pension and are on the payroll for the rest of their lives. Like other army officers, Field Marshals are required to be in full uniform during any official occasion.}}</ref>

===Current ranks===

| colspan=2| Honorary/<br />War time rank

| colspan=2| Held by the<br>[[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]] ([[Chief of Defence Staff (India)#/media/File:Rank insignia for India CDS.svg|with different insignia]])<br>and/or the<br>[[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]]

;Enlisted ranks

! Rank group|| colspan=10| Junior commissioned officers || colspan=12| Non commissioned officer || colspan=14| Enlisted

* [[Risaldar Major]] in cavalry and armoured regiments

* [[Risaldar]] in cavalry and armoured regiments

* [[Naib Risaldar]] in cavalry and armoured regiments. Called [[Jemadar]] until 1965.

* [[Sowar]] in cavalry and armoured regiments

The appointments of [[Havildar|Regimental Quartermaster Havildar]] and [[Havildar|Regimental Havildar Major]] are no longer used in the [[Indian Army]] and those duties are now performed by JCOs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Personnel Services Directorate |title=Psdte311212 |url=http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/writereaddata/documents/psdte311212.pdf |access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=DSR Volume I, Chapter IV—JCOs, WOs, OR AND NON-COMBATANTS (ENROLLED) |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/RTI/rti/DSR/DSR_VOLUME_1/CHAPTER_04/53.htm |date=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109212304/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/RTI/rti/DSR/DSR_VOLUME_1/CHAPTER_04/53.htm |archive-date=9 November 2014 |website=Indian Army |access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kumar |first=M. K. Sunil |title=Rules of the Raj hindering havildars' promotion |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article283262.ece |date=16 May 2012 |newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=3 August 2015}}</ref>

Indian Army officers are continually put through different courses and assessed on merit throughout their career, for promotions and appointments. Substantive promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent (subject to clearance of Part B and Part D exam for Major and Lieutenant Colonel) <ref>{{cite web|last1=Times|first1=Hindustan|title=Army defers key annual promotion exam amid LoC tensions|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/army-defers-key-annual-promotion-exam-amid-loc-tensions/story-J0Ub4DBggvuhUBOa3kR0rO.html|website=Hindustan Times|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=India|first1=USI|title=PROSPECTUS|url=http://usiofindia.org/Courses/Prospectus/|website=USI|publisher=USI of India|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref> and 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 few vacancies, most of the officers retire at the rank of Colonel and only a few make it to the rank of Brigadier and above.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Government of India |title=MoD Letter No. 1/55/2008 D(Pay/Services)—Terms and Conditions of Service |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/PS010113.pdf |date=4 November 2008 |website=Indian Army |publisher=Government of India, Ministry of Defence |access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tirkey |first1=Ajay |title=Ministry of Defence Resolution—Sixth Central Pay Commission |url=http://mod.gov.in/writereaddata/6thCPC/PAYSERVICES-notification.pdf |date=30 August 2008 |newspaper=[[The Gazette of India]] |access-date=4 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095821/http://mod.gov.in/writereaddata/6thCPC/PAYSERVICES-notification.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NCC Spl entry Scheme|url=http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/NotificationPDF/Noftn_NCC-39_Course.pdf|website=joinindianarmy.nic.in|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref> Civilian equivalents are in accordance with government policies on functional allocation of duties in staff billets, otherwise the rank structure of the armed forces is different from the civilian with regard to years of service and vacancies available.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

| Crimson patches with five golden stars and golden laurel wreath

|Held by the [[Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army]] and [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)|Chief of Defence Staff]], if from the army (but with slightly [[Chief of Defence Staff (India)#/media/File:Rank insignia for India CDS.svg|different insignia]]). Equivalent to [[Cabinet Secretary of India]]

36 years of commissioned service required.

Lieutenant generals appointed as Vice Chief of Army Staff/Army Commanders/Equivalent at Pay Level 17,

| [[Major general (India)|Major General]]

[[Junior commissioned officer]]s are promoted from [[non-commissioned officer]]s and are broadly equivalent to [[Warrant Officer|warrant officers]] in Western armies. Senior non-commissioned officers are promoted to JCO rank on the basis of merit and seniority, restricted by the number of vacancies. In between the Commissioned Officer and the NCOs lies the Junior Commissioned Officers. They are treated with great respect as they have a minimum of 28 yrs and over service and are referred to as ''Sahab'' by all ranks.<ref>{{cite news |title=The indomitable Subedar Major |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/column/the-indomitable-subedar-major-702697 |agency=The Tribune}}</ref>  

Junior commissioned officers are treated as a separate class and hold many additional privileges. In the army, they have a separate mess (the JCO's mess), get well-furnished family quarters, and are authorized to travel in AC II-tier on the railways.<ref>{{cite news |title=Benefits, and challenges military personnel and their families face. |url=https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/benefits-and-challenges-military-personnel-and-their-families-face-1554315886721.html}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title=Insignia For Junior Commissioned Officers |url=https://www.embibe.com/exams/indian-army-ranks/ |website=Embibe}}</ref>

! width=20%; colspan=2|Ranks

| [[Subedar major]]

| [[Risaldar major]]

| [[Subedar]]

| [[Risaldar]]

| [[Naib subedar]]

| [[Naib risaldar]]

! width=20%; colspan=2|Ranks

| [[Havildar]]

| [[Daffadar]]

| [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]

| [[Lance Daffadar]]

| [[Lance Naik]]

| [[Acting Lance Daffadar]]

| Plain shoulder badge only

| After 15 years 56 Days service or at the age of 42, whichever is sooner.<ref name="7th_pay"/>

Many arms have separate designation for ''sepoys''-

*[[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] - [[Gunner (rank)|Gunner]], abbreviated as Gnr.

*[[Rifle regiment#Indian Army|Rifle regiments]] - [[Rifleman]], abbreviated as Rfn.

*[[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] - [[Paratrooper]], abbreviated as Ptr.

*[[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]] - [[Grenadier]]

*[[Brigade of the Guards]] - [[Guardsman]]

*[[Indian Army Corps of Engineers|Engineers]] - [[Sapper]]

*[[Indian Army Corps of Signals|Corps of Signals]] - [[Signaller|Signalman]]

** [[Mohanlal|Mohanlal Viswanathan]], 2009, Lieutenant Colonel, TA ([[Madras Regiment]]), Malayalam actor.<ref name="reciprocal3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 July 2009 |title=Mohanlal inducted into Territorial Army |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mohanlal-inducted-into-territorial-army-397652 |website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>

Since 1950, when former Indian army chief General [[K. M. Cariappa]] visited Nepal, awarding the highest reciprocal [[Brevet (military)|honorary rank]]s to the newly appointed serving chiefs of each other's armies is a practice followed by India and Nepal. For example, in 2009 the newly appointed [[Chief of Army Staff (Nepal)|Nepal Army Chief]] General [[Chhatra Man Singh Gurung]] was decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Indian army at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] in New Delhi by the [[President of India]] who is also the [[Indian Armed Forces#Overview|Supreme Commander of Indian Army]]. Similarly, in 2010 the newly appointed [[Chief of Army Staff (India)|Indian Army Chief]] General [[V. K. Singh]] was awarded the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army at [[Shital Niwas]] in Kathmandu by the [[President of Nepal]] who is also the [[Nepalese Armed Forces#SC|Supreme Commander of Nepal Army]].<ref name=reciprocal1>{{cite news | title = Army chief made honorary General of Nepal Army | url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/army-chief-made-honorary-general-of-nepal-army/story-KC2V94SmrdtKR9WJ0vUC2L.html |date = 22 December 2010 | newspaper = [[Hindustan Times]] | access-date = 28 May 2020 }}</ref>

Some members of the ruling families of [[Princely state]]s were given ceremonial honorary ranks during the colonial era.<ref name=reciprocal4>Lt. Col. Gautam Sharma, 1996, [https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=KHAWlzQdxxcC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=retiring+soldiers+are+given+honorary+ranks+in+indian+army&source=bl&ots=XjVJCB1dTS&sig=ACfU3U26y9f_U_iIfKBeZmCydYwH0xvAYQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYjKj6g9fpAhXBWisKHfA6BHc4ChDoATACegQIBRAB#v=onepage&q=retiring%20soldiers%20are%20given%20honorary%20ranks%20in%20indian%20army&f=false Nationalisation of the Indian Army, 1885-1947], pp 11.</ref>

An 1832 journal reports that during the colonial [[British raj]] era, the Commander-in-Chief of [[British Army]] ([[Ex officio member|ex officio]] role of the serving [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch of Britain]]) promulgated an order directing that the Lieutenant colonel of [[Her Majesty's Government (term)|H.M.]] (Royal British Army) can not be superseded by the [[East India Company]]'s Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel. Whenever an Indian Army's Lieutenant colonel was promoted to Colonel, all the British Army's Lieutenant Colonels who were deployed with the Indian Army and had the equal date and rank with the newly appointed Colonel of Indian Army were also mandatorily given the local Indian Army's honorary rank of Colonel from the date of his Lieutenant Colonelcy with British Army. This unfair system preserved the fictional equivalency of British Army officers with Indian Army officers while denying the officers of the Indian Army their hard-earned honours and ranks within their peculiar service. This was not a reciprocal system, i.e. Lieutenant Colonel of [[East India Company| East India Company (EIC)]] (Indian Army) were not promoted to Colonels rank when a British Army Lieutenant Colonel of equal date and rank was promoted to Colonel's rank in Indian army. For example, when a ranked Lieutenant Colonel of [[Bengal Presidency]]'s Indian Army was promoted to Colonel he was ranked 34th on the general list, he superseded 33 other Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army, along with him all of the British Army's Lieutenant Colonel serving with the [[Bengal Presidency]] were also given the honorary rank of Colonel of Bengal Presidency and they superseded 33 Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army who were their seniors. The army officers of EIC appealed against this derogatory and non-reciprocal system in EIC's Court of Directors. EIC directors had no authority to revoke or amend the order issued by the British monarch.<ref name=reciprocal2>May-Aug 1832, [https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=E8RGAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=Indian+army+reciprocal+ranks&source=bl&ots=s3dlnSHg35&sig=ACfU3U3alqis_SA_xBBdCQUkuhc4I1qwoQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_sY_M19bpAhW8H7cAHS0RCIUQ6AEwF3oECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Indian%20army%20reciprocal%20ranks&f=false The Asiatic journal and monthly register for British and foreign India, China, and Australasia], [[The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and its Dependencies]], Parbury, Allen and Company, vol III, pp 66.</ref>