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.

History

Until 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the Indian Army utilised the British-pattern rank badges of the British Indian Army. Upon independence in 1947, India became a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations, but the old rank insignia, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star, was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."

Field marshal

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 Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and the late Field Marshal K M Cariappa.
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. They wear full uniform on all official occasions.

Ranks and insignia

Current ranks

;Officers
;Enlisted ranks
The rank of Second Lieutenant is no longer in use; all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants.
The appointments of Regimental Quartermaster Havildar and Regimental Havildar Major are no longer used in the Indian Army and those duties are now performed by JCOs.
Notable holders include 2Lt. Arun Khetarpal, 2Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat and CQMH Abdul Hamid.

Rank descriptions

Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command anywhere from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps & the Whole army.
Indian Army officers are continually put through different courses & assessed on merit throughout their career, for promotions and appointments. Substantive promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent 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. 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.
Indian Army officers undergo various courses such as Young Officers Course, Junior Command Course, Defence Services Staff College course at DSSC Wellington, Management Development Programme: Senior Defence Management Course, Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management, Higher Command Courses, NDC courses at various premier institutions of Armed Forces for promotions. The same is applicable to officers other two services namely Indian Navy and Indian Air Force
Dress insignia are in Gold/Black/Silver based on regiments of the officers commissioned
RanksDescriptionInsigniaCollar PatchNotesRetirement age
Field marshalNational emblem over a crossed baton and sabre in a lotus blossom wreath.Crimson patches with five golden stars and golden laurel wreathOnly two appointments have ever been made.Not applicable. Life Long
GeneralNational emblem over a five-pointed star, all over a crossed baton and sabre.Crimson patches with four golden stars and golden laurel wreathHeld by the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army and Chief of Defence Staff, if from the army. Equivalent to Cabinet Secretary of India
Pay Level 18 Rs. 250,000		3 years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Lieutenant GeneralNational emblem over crossed baton and sabre.Crimson patches with three golden stars and golden laurel wreath
Crimson patches with three golden stars 		By selection.
36 years of commissioned service required.
Lieutenant generals appointed as Vice Chief of Army Staff/Army Commanders/Equivalent/NFSG at Pay Level 17,
Rs.225,000
HAG + Scale: Admissible to 1/3rd of total strength of Lt Generals
Pay Level 16,
Rs.205,400 - 224,400
HAG Scale: Pay Level 15,
Rs. 182,200 - 224,100		60
Major GeneralFive-pointed star over crossed baton and sabre.Crimson patches with two golden starsBy selection.
28 years of commissioned service required.
Pay Level 14,
Rs. 144,200 - 218,200		58
BrigadierNational emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation.Crimson patches with one golden starBy selection.
25 years of commissioned service required.
Pay Level 13A,
Rs.1,39,600 - 2,17,600		56
ColonelNational emblem over two five-pointed starsCrimson patches with golden braidsColonel & above are Selection Grade.
15 years of commissioned service required for selection.
Duration of Time Scale promotion to Colonel is 26 years of commissioned service.
Pay Level 13,
Rs. 130,600 - 215,900		54
Lieutenant ColonelNational emblem over five-pointed star.-on completion of 13 years reckonable commissioned service subject to clearance of Part D exam.
Pay Level 12A,
Rs. 121,200 -212,400		NA
MajorNational emblem.-on completion of 6 years reckonable commissioned service subject to clearance of Part B exam.
Pay Level 11,
Rs. 69,400 - 207,200		NA
CaptainThree five-pointed stars.-On completion of 2 years reckonable commissioned service.
Pay Level 10B,
Rs. 61,300 - 193,900		NA
LieutenantTwo five-pointed stars.-On commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer in Pay Level 10
Rs. 56,100 - 177,500		NA

Junior commissioned officers

s are promoted from non-commissioned officers and are broadly equivalent to warrant officers in Western armies.

Other ranks

in the Indian Army include Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers

Non commissioned officers

s are soldiers promoted to positions of responsibility and are equivalent to junior non-commissioned officers in Western armies.

Soldiers

Honorary ranks

Brevet

Honorary ranks and honor, also called brevet, are granted in the Indian Army, and its branches such as India Territorial Army, for various reasons. These ranks may not entitle the rank holder to pay, pension, or perks.

Retiring Soldiers

Since the time of the British raj, exemplary soldiers who are about to retire are given honorary ranks, usually a few days before their retirement, although these ranks can be granted at any time. Examples include the grant of the rank of Field Marshal, which is rarely granted. Most frequently, honorary ranks that are granted are those of junior commissioned officers, which are granted 1 or 2 weeks before retirement.

Prominent citizens as brand ambassadors

In order to inspire Indian youths to join Indian Army, and to acknowledges contribution towards the nation, honorary ranks are awarded to the accomplished and eminent personalities who act as brand ambassadors for the defence forces. The following were awarded honorary titles:


Trainees of foreign nations who are trained by the military academies of India, such as the National Defence Academy or the Indian Military Academy, are sometimes awarded honorary ranks in the Indian Army. The trainees are usually from friendly armies, such as the Singapore Army.

Reciprocal awarding of honorary ranks to other nations

Nepal

Since 1950, when former Indian army chief General K. M. Cariappa visited Nepal, awarding the highest reciprocal honorary ranks 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 Nepal Army Chief General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung was decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Indian army in New Delhi by the President of India who is also the Supreme Commander of Indian Army. Similarly, in 2010 the newly appointed Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh was awarded the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army at Shital Niwas by the President of Nepal who is also the Supreme Commander of Nepal Army.

British Colonial era: Indian Army ranks to British Army

Some members of the ruling families of Princely states were given ceremonial honorary ranks during the colonial era.
A 1832 journal reports that during the colonial British raj era, the Commander-in-Chief of British Army promulgated an order directing that the Lieutenant colonel of H.M. 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 Indian Army their hard-earned honors and ranks within their peculiar service. This was not a reciprocal system, i.e. Lieutenant Colonel of East India Company 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 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 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.

Retired officers: form of address

On 21 July 2014, the Indian Army issued a circular for retired personnel informing them that the correct form of addressing a retired officer is "Brigadier ABC and not Brigadier ABC", the correct example is "Brigadier Sant Singh ". The stated rationale of army was, "Rank never retires, it is an officer who retires." This form of address applies to both living and deceased officers.