Equivalent Ranks of the Indian Armed Forces – Army, Air Force and Navy

 

Officer Rank structure

Army	Air Force	Navy
*Field Marshal	*Marshal of the Air Force	*Admiral of the fleet
General	Air Chief Marshal	Admiral
Lt. General	Air Marshal	Vice Admiral
Major General	Air Vice Marshal	Rear Admiral
Brigadier	Air Commodore	Commodore
Colonel	Group Captain	Captain
Lt. Colonel	Wing Commander	Commander
Major	Squadron Leader	Lt. Commander
Captain	Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant
Lieutenant	Flying Officer	Sub Lieutenant

Commissioned Officers of the Indian Army

Rank – Field Marshal

Insignia – National emblem over a crossed baton and saber in a lotus blossom wreath

The Field Marshal rank is the highest rank in the Indian Army. It is a ceremonial or wartime rank and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal KM Cariappa have been the only two officers to be elevated to the rank of Field Marshal.

Rank – General

Insignia – National emblem over a five-pointed star, both over a crossed baton and saber

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.

Incumbent – General Dalbir Singh, COAS

Retirement – After 3 years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier

Rank – Lieutenant General

Insignia – National emblem over crossed baton and saber

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.

Retirement – At the age of 60

Rank – Major General

Insignia – Five-pointed star over crossed baton and saber

Major Generals are promoted by selection (after 32 years of commissioned service).

Retirement – At the age of 58

Rank – Brigadier

Insignia – National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation

Brigadiers are promoted by selection (after 25 years of commissioned service)

Retirement – At the age of 56

Rank – Colonel

Insignia – National emblem over two five-pointed stars

Colonels may be promoted by selection (after 15 years of commissioned service) or may be promoted (time-scale) after 26 years of commissioned service. Time-scale Colonels may, however, only hold the portfolio of a Lt. Colonel.

Retirement – At the age of 54

Rank – Lieutenant Colonel

Insignia – National emblem over five-pointed star

Timebound promotion on completion of 13 years commissioned service.

Rank – Major

Insignia – National emblem

Timebound promotion on completion of 6 years commissioned service.

Rank – Captain

Insignia – Three five-pointed stars

Timebound promotion on completion of 2 years commissioned service

Rank – Lieutenant

Insignia – Two five-pointed stars

Rank achieved on commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer

 

Junior Commissioned Officers of the Indian Army

Rank – Subedar Major (Infantry) or Risaldar Major (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Gold national emblem with stripe

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 34 years service or at the age of 54, whichever is earlier

Rank – Subedar (Infantry) or Risaldar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Two gold stars with stripe

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 30 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier

Rank – Naib Subedar (Infantry) or Naib Risaldar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – One gold star with stripe

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 28 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier

 

Non Commissioned Officers of the Indian Army

 

Rank – Havildar (Infantry) or Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Three rank chevrons

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier

Rank – Naik (Infantry) or Lance Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Two rank chevrons

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 24 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier

Rank – Lance Naik (Infantry) or Acting Lance Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – One rank chevron

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 22 years service or at the age of 48, whichever is earlier

Soldiers

Rank – Sepoy

Insignia – Plain shoulder badge

The Sepoys identify themselves according to the Corps that they serve in. For example, a sepoy from Signals will identify him as Signalman, from Infantry as RIfleman and from the Armoured Corps as Gunner.

Recruitment Process

General Duty

Educational Qualification: Pass in SSLC or Matric with 45 percent marks in aggregate and 33 percent in each subject.

Age – 17 1/2 to 21 years

Marital status – Unmarried Male

Physical Standards – Physical standards of eligibility vary according to the region of the candidate but in general

• the minimum height of the candidate must be 167 cm
• the weight of the candidate must not be less than 50 kg
• the minimum chest of the candidate must be 77 cm and expansion a minimum of 5 cm

Candidates must be free from all communicable diseases, infections and cardiovascular diseases, eye and ENT impairment.

After finding the advertisement on the internet or television or Employment News, candidates will need to apply by filling in a form. Select candidates will be asked to appear for a physical fitness test. Those who are shortlisted will be sent in for medical tests and again those deemed eligible will be administered a written test (GK, Math, and Computer awareness)

Officers Selection

Permanent Commission

National Defence Academy (Pune)

Candidates may appear for UPSC Exam after passing Class XII. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to appear for a 5 day Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview which includes physical tests. Medical tests will also be administered. Cadets passing out will be offered a choice of service (Army, Navy, Air Force). After about three of training here the cadets are sent to Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, for a period of 1 year before commissioning.

Combined Defence Service Examination (CDSE)

Candidates may appear for the CDS Entrance Exam conducted by UPSC in final year of their graduation or if they possess a graduate degree. After clearing the SSB and Medical tests they are inducted into the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, to train for 18 months before commissioning.

University Entry Scheme (UES)

Candidates in the pre-final year of Engineering may apply through the UES. Shortlisted candidates will then be detailed for training at IMA, Dehradun, for a period of one year. On completion of the course the officers will be granted one year ante-date for seniority, promotion, and increments.

Technical Graduate Course

This is similar to the UES but is applicable to candidates in final year of BE or B Tech or have completed BE or B Tech

AEC (Men)

Candidates who have passed Post Graduate Degree MA/M.Sc/M.Com/MCA/MBA (in subjects as per Notification) with first or second division marks are eligible to apply. After 12 months of training candidates are granted permanent commission.

Officers Training Academy, Gaya

Candidates having passed 10+2 exams with 70 percent marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics may apply depending on the cut-off announced in the notification. After SSB interview the eligible cadets are sent to OTA, Gaya, for basic military training and technical training.

Short Service Commission

The Army also offers Short Service Commission (SSC) for men and women for a period of 10 or 14 years.

The SSC entry may be for any of the categories – Technical, Non-Technical, JAG, or NCC entry.

Soldier ranks structure

Army	Air Force	Navy
Subedar/Risaldar Major	Master Warrant Officer	Master Chief Petty Officer ( First Class )
Subedar/Risaldar	Warrant Officer	Master Chief Petty Officer ( Second Class )
Naib Subedar/Risaldar	Junior Warrant Officer	Chief Petty Officer
Lance Havildar/Daffadar	Sergeant	Petty Officer
Naik	Corporal	Leading Seaman
Lance Naik	Leading Aircraftsman	Seaman I
Sepoy	Airman	Seaman II

 

 

i hope you understand properly, if have any double them contact me in comments