Indian Army Ranks
& Insignia of India, Officer Ranks in Indian Army
The Indian Army is
the land –based branch of the Indian Armed Forces and it is the largest
component of Indian Armed Forces. It is largest standing army in the world with
1,237,117 active troops and 960,000 reserve troops.
Insignia of Indian Army
The Indian Army is
operationally and geographically divided into seven commands, with basic field formation
being a division. Below the division level are permanent regiments that are
responsible for their own recruiting and training.
Command
structure
Headquarters, Indian Army |
New Delhi |
|
Central Command |
Lucknow |
|
Kolkata |
|
|
Northern Command |
Udhampur |
|
Southern Command |
Pune |
|
Jaipur |
|
|
Western Command |
Chandimandir |
|
Army Training Command |
Shimla |
Indian Army Ranks
& Insignia
The Indian
Army Ranks reflect the ranks of Western militaries, especially, the British and
Commonwealth Militaries. At present, Indian Army Ranks can be classified into three categories:
1. Commissioned Officers
2. Junior Commissioned Officers
3. Other Ranks (Non-Commissioned
Officers and Soldiers)
Indian Army Ranks For Commissioned Officers
Commissioned
Officers who are equivalent to All India Services & Group "A"
Service officers. Commissioned officers are the leaders of
the army and command anywhere from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps &
the Whole army. The different ranks for
Commissioned Officers are as under:
1 |
Field Marshal |
2 |
General |
3 |
Lieutenant General |
4 |
Major General |
5 |
Brigadier |
6 |
Colonel |
7 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
8 |
Major |
9 |
Captain |
10 |
Lieutenant |
Insignia For Commissioned Officers
The insignia
for the Commissioned Officers are shown in the image below:
The descriptions
of each of these insignia as well as the collar patch for each of these ranks
are below:
Ranks |
Description |
Insignia |
Collar Patch |
National emblem over a crossed
baton and sabre in a lotus blossom wreath. |
Crimson patches with five golden
stars and golden laurel wreath |
||
General |
National emblem over a five-pointed
star, all over a crossed baton and sabre. |
|
Crimson patches with four golden
stars and golden laurel wreath |
Lieutenant General |
National emblem over crossed baton and sabre. |
|
Crimson patches with three golden stars and golden laurel
wreath (army and theatre commanders) |
Major General |
Five-pointed star over crossed baton and sabre. |
|
Crimson patches with two golden stars |
Brigadier |
National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular
formation. |
|
Crimson patches with one golden star |
Colonel |
National emblem over two five-pointed stars |
|
Crimson patches with golden braids |
Lieutenant Colonel |
National emblem over five-pointed star. |
|
None |
Major |
National emblem. |
|
None |
Three five-pointed stars. |
|
None |
|
Lieutenant |
Two five-pointed stars. |
|
None |
Note that the
rank of Field Marshal is mostly ceremonial in India. Till today, this rank has
been conferred on only two officers of the Indian Army – Field Marshal Sam
Manekshaw and Field Marshal KM Cariappa.
The usual
highest-rank of the Indian Army is the rank of General which is held by the
Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (COAS)..
Indian Army Ranks For Junior Commissioned Officers
1 |
Subedar Major |
2 |
Subedar |
3 |
Naib Subedar |
Insignia For Junior Commissioned Officers
The insignia
for the Junior Commissioned Officers are shown in the image below:
The description of each of these insignia for each of these ranks are below:
Junior Commissioned Officers |
Insignia
Description |
Subedar
Major |
Gold
national emblem with stripe |
Subedar |
Two gold
stars with stripe |
Naik
Subedar |
One gold
star with stripe |
Indian Army Ranks: Other Ranks
Other ranks
in Indian Army include Non-Commissioned Officers & Soldiers:
1 |
Havildar |
2 |
Naik |
3 |
Lance Naik |
4 |
Sepoy |
Insignia For Other Ranks
The insignia
for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the Indian Army are shown in the
image below:
The description of each of these insignia for each of these ranks are below:
Indian Army Ranks –
Non-Commissioned Officers & Soldiers |
Insignia Description |
Havildar |
Three rank chevrons |
Naik |
Two rank chevrons |
Lance Naik |
Single rank chevron |
Sepoy |
Plain shoulder badge only |
Thanks to the
men and women of the Indian Army, we are able to live our lives with freedom
and great peace of mind.
We thank them with all our heart
:)
Jai Hind!
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