🇮🇳
India vs Japan Military Ranks
The Indian Army has 18 ranks — 11 officer and 7 enlisted — from Sepoy up to Field marshal. Below: all 53 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Japanese equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
53
Active personnel
1.5M
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 14 of 18 matched
| 🇮🇳 India · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Field marshal
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
General
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
|
Lieutenant general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
陸将 Rikushō
|
Major general
|
OF-7 Major General |
陸将補 Rikushō-ho
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
| Officer cadet | OF-D Student Officer | – |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Subedar Major
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
陸曹長 Rikusōchō
|
Subedar
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
|
Naib Subedar
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
|
Havildar
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
|
Naik
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
Lance Naik
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
陸士長 Rikushichō
|
| Sepoy | OR-1 Private |
2等陸士 Nitō rikushi
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 13 of 17 matched
| 🇮🇳 India · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral of the fleet
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō
|
Vice Admiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
海将 Kaishō
|
Rear Admiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
海将補 Kaishō-ho
|
Commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
Captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
|
Commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等海佐 Nitō kaisa
|
Lieutenant commander
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等海佐 Santō kaisa
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等海尉 Ittō kaii
|
Sub-lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
3等海尉 Santō kaii
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
Midshipman
|
OF-D Student Officer | – |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Master chief petty officer 1st class
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
海曹長 Kaisōchō
|
Master chief petty officer 2nd class
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等海曹 Ittō kaisō
|
Chief petty officer
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等海曹 Nitō kaisō
|
Petty officer
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
Leading seaman
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
海士長 Kaishichō
|
| Ordinary seaman | OR-2 Private |
1等海士 Ittō kaishi
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 14 of 18 matched
| 🇮🇳 India · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marshal of the Indian Air Force
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
Air chief marshal
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō
|
Air marshal
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
空将 Kūshō
|
Air vice marshal
|
OF-7 Major General |
空将補 Kūshō-ho
|
Air commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
Group captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
|
Wing commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等空佐 Nitō kūsa
|
Squadron leader
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等空佐 Santō kūsa
|
Flight lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等空尉 Ittō kūi
|
Flying officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
3等空尉 Santō kūi
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
Flight cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer | – |
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Master warrant officer
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
空曹長 Kūsōchō
|
Warrant officer
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等空曹 Ittō kūsō
|
Junior warrant officer
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等空曹 Nitō kūsō
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等空曹 Santō kūsō
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
Leading aircraftsman
|
OR-2 Private |
1等空士 Ittō kūshi
|
| Aircraftsman | OR-1 Private |
2等空士 Nitō kūshi
|
Overview
The Indian armed forces, known as the "Indian Armed Forces" or "Bharatiya Sashatra Sena," are one of the largest and most diverse military forces in the world, comprising several branches:
- Indian Army: The Indian Army is the land-based military branch responsible for ground operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. The Army plays a crucial role in defending India's borders and ensuring national security.
- Indian Navy: The Indian Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a wide range of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, surface ships, and patrol boats. It is responsible for safeguarding India's maritime interests.
- Indian Air Force: The Indian Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations. It operates fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, and has a growing space capability, ensuring air superiority and national defense.
- Indian Coast Guard: While primarily a law enforcement agency, the Indian Coast Guard also serves a military role during times of war or national security needs. It is responsible for maritime law enforcement and search and rescue.
India Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Havildar, Naik, Lance Naik, Admiral of the fleet, Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant commander, Lieutenant, Sub-lieutenant, Master chief petty officer 1st class, Master chief petty officer 2nd class, Chief petty officer, Sergeant, Corporal, Leading aircraftsman
- Swapnil1101 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Air chief marshal, Air marshal, Air vice marshal, Air commodore, Group captain, Wing commander, Squadron leader, Flight lieutenant, Flying officer, Flight cadet, Master warrant officer, Warrant officer, Junior warrant officer
- Prez001 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Field marshal, General, Lieutenant general, Major general, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Subedar Major, Subedar, Naib Subedar
- Punkhung — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral
- Marinaio56 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Petty officer, Leading seaman
- Sodacan — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Midshipman