The rank of Subedar was derived from subahdar: the title denoting a governor of a province in the Mughal Empire. The rank of "Subedar" was created when the Mughal administration divided their territories into separate Subahs. Each province was governed by a Subedar who had full martial authority. Not much is known about the role of the early Mughal Subedars but the rank was superseded in importance during the late 18th century by that of Nawab. The Hindvi Swaraj may have also developed the rank of "Subedar", thus explaining how they quickly replaced the authority of the Great Moghul in India. However Shivaji separated Military from Civil Administration and hence Subahders were only Military Chieftains. Example: Subedar Tanaji Malusare.
Subedar or subadar was the second highest rank of Indian officer in the military forces of British India, ranking below "British commissioned officers" and above "Local non-commissioned officers". Indian officers were promoted to this rank on the basis of both length of service and individual merit. A subedar was senior to a jemadar and junior to a subedar-major in the infantry regiments of the Indian Army under British rule. The cavalry equivalent was risaldar. Both jemadars and risaldars wore two stars as rank insignia. The rank was introduced in the East India Company'spresidency armies to make it easier for British officers to communicate with Indian troops. It was thus important for subedars to have some competence in English. In an order dated November 1755 the structure of an infantry company in the HEIC's newly raised infantry regiments provided for one subedar, four jemadars, 16 NCOs and 90 sepoys. This was to remain the approximate proportion until the number of British junior officers in a regiment increased later in the 18th century. Until 1866, the rank was the highest an Indian soldier could achieve in the army of British India. A subedar's authority was confined to other Indian troops, and he could not command British troops. Promoted from the ranks and usually advanced through seniority based on long service; the typical subedar of this period was a relatively elderly veteran with limited English, whose extensive regimental experience and practical knowledge was not matched by formal education or training. Before the Partition of India, subedars were known as Viceroy's commissioned officers. After 1947, this term was changed to junior commissioned officers. It was not until the 1930s that significant numbers of Indian cadets began to be appointed as King's Commissioned Officers from either Sandhurst or the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun.
Until 1858, subedars wore two epaulettes with small bullion fringes on each shoulder. After 1858, they wore two crossed golden swords, or, in the Gurkha regiments, two crossed golden kukris, on each side of the collar of the tunic or on the right breast of the kurta. After 1900, subedars wore two pips on each shoulder. A red-yellow-red ribbon was introduced under each pip after World War I. After World War II, this ribbon was moved to lie between the shoulder title and the rank insignia. During the period of British rule, subedars and other VCOs wore distinctive uniforms that combined features of both British and Indian military dress.
In the Maratha Empire Brahmins from all three subcastes: Deshastha, Chitpavan and Karhade, were appointed as subedars and commanders of hill forts. The Deshastha Brahmins were the dominant faction during the time of Shivaji and his two sons. Under the Maratha Confederacy subedars were answerable to Peshwa commanders.
Hyderabad and Swat state
In the Princely State of Hyderabad under the Nizam, the top rank of administrators and tax collectors were called subedars. Although they were responsible directly to the Nizam they also held a degree of responsibility to the Great Moghul in Delhi., In Yousafzai state of Swat, subedar was both military and tax collector. Subedars were responsible directly to Wali of swat.
