India Army Ranks

• The one organization that stays in the forefront when it comes to serving the nation, both in wartime and in peace, is The Indian Army.
• The Indian Army, with its impressive performance, is the fourth largest standing army in the world with over 1,362,500 active troops and 2,100,000 reserve troops.
• Each year over a lakh candidate apply for GD (General Duty) and thousands for entry into commissioned ranks.

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.
• 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. A field marshal gets the full pay of a general equal to the Chief of the Army Staff.
• He wears full uniform on all official occasions and runs an office in army headquarters. He also has a dedicated secretariat of his own.

Rank descriptions:

Indian Army Ranks can be classified into three categories.

• Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to All India Services & Group “A” Service officers.
• Junior Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to Group B Gazetted officers.
• Other Ranks comprising non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

Commissioned officers:

Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command anywhere from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps & the Whole army.

Rank	Insignia	Description
Field Marshal	National emblem over a crossed baton and sabre in a lotus blossom wreath.	1. The Field Marshal rank is the highest rank in the Indian Army. 2. It is a ceremonial or wartime rank. 3. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal KM Cariappa have been the only two officers to be elevated to the rank of Field Marshal.
General	National emblem over a five-pointed star, all over a crossed baton and sabre.	1. Apart from the honorary rank of Field Marshal, this is the highest rank held by an Army officer. It is only the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who holds this rank. 2. Incumbent – General Bipin Rawat, COAS 3. Retirement – After 3 years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Lieutenant General	National emblem over crossed baton and sabre.	1. Lieutenant generals are appointed only by selection (after 36 years of commissioned service) and may hold the position of a Vice Chief of Army Staff or Army Commanders. 2. Retirement – At the age of 60.
Major General	Five-pointed star over crossed baton and sabre.	1. Major Generals are promoted by selection (after 32 years of commissioned service). 2. Retirement – At the age of 58
Brigadier	National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation.	1. Brigadiers are promoted by selection (after 25 years of commissioned service) 2. Retirement – At the age of 56
Colonel	National emblem over two five-pointed stars	1. Colonels may be promoted by selection (after 15 years of commissioned service) or may be promoted (time-scale) after 26 years of commissioned service. 2. Retirement – At the age of 54
Lieutenant Colonel	National emblem over five-pointed star.	1. Time bound promotion on completion of 13 years commissioned service.
Major	National emblem.	1. Time bound promotion on completion of 6 years commissioned service.
Captain	Three five-pointed stars.	1. Time bound promotion on completion of 2 years commissioned service.
Lieutenant	Two five-pointed stars.	1. Rank achieved on commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer.

Junior Commissioned Officers:

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

Rank	Insignia	Description
Subedar Major	Gold national emblem with stripe	1. Promotion by selection. 2. Retirement – After 34 years’ service or at the age of 54, whichever is earlier.
Subedar	Two gold stars with stripe	1. Promotion by selection. 2. Retirement – After 30 years’ service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier.
Naib Subedar	One gold star with stripe	1. Promotion by selection. 2. Retirement – After 28 years’ service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier.

Non-commissioned officers:

Non-Commissioned Officers (“NCOs”) are soldiers promoted to positions of responsibility, and are equivalent to junior non-commissioned officers (sergeants and corporals) in Western armies.

Rank	Insignia	Description
Havildar	Three rank chevrons	1. Promotion by selection. 2. Retirement – After 26 years’ service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier.
Naik	Two rank chevrons	1. Promotion by selection. 2. Retirement – After 24 years’ service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier.
Lance Naik	One rank chevron	1. Promotion by selection. 2. Retirement – After 22 years’ service or at the age of 48, whichever is earlier.

Soldiers:

Interesting Facts:

• India controls the highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen glacier, at 5000 metres above Mean Sea Level (MSL).
• India has the biggest “voluntary” army in the world.
• Indian soldiers are considered among the very best in high altitude and mountain warfare.
• India covertly tested its nuclear arsenal in the early 1970s and late 1990s without the CIA even knowing what was happening.
• Unlike other government organisations and institutions in India, there are no provisions for reservations based on caste or religion.
• Operation Rahat (2013) was one of the biggest civilian rescue operations ever carried out in the world.
• The Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kerala is the largest of its kind in Asia.