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Ranks· 🇮🇳 India

Indian 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), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.

Branches

Ranks documented

Active personnel

1.5M

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 18 matched

🇮🇳 India · Army	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
Field marshal	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	General of the Army
General	OF-9 General	General
Lieutenant general	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Lieutenant general
Major general	OF-7 Major General	Major general
Brigadier	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadier general
Colonel	OF-5 Colonel	Colonel
Lieutenant colonel	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant colonel
Major	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
Captain	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Captain
Lieutenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Officer cadet	OF-D Student Officer	Cadet / Officer candidate
Enlisted ranks
Subedar Major	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command sergeant major Sergeant major
Subedar	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Master sergeant
Naib Subedar	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Sergeant first class
Havildar	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Staff sergeant
Naik	OR-4 Corporal	Specialist Corporal
Lance Naik	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Private first class
Sepoy	OR-1 Private	Private

Navy

Rank Ladder Highest first · 17 of 17 matched

🇮🇳 India · Navy	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
Admiral of the fleet	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	Fleet admiral
Admiral	OF-9 General	Admiral
Vice Admiral	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Vice admiral
Rear Admiral	OF-7 Major General	Rear admiral
Commodore	OF-6 Brigadier General	Rear admiral (lower half)
Captain	OF-5 Colonel	Captain
Commander	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Commander
Lieutenant commander	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Lieutenant commander
Lieutenant	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant	OF-1 Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign
Midshipman	OF-D Student Officer	Midshipman / officer candidate
Enlisted ranks
Master chief petty officer 1st class	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command master chief petty officer Master chief petty officer
Master chief petty officer 2nd class	OR-8 1st Sergeant	Command senior chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer
Chief petty officer	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Chief petty officer
Petty officer	OR-4 Corporal	Petty officer third class
Leading seaman	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Seaman
Ordinary seaman	OR-2 Private	Seaman apprentice

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 18 matched

🇮🇳 India · Air Force	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
Marshal of the Indian Air Force	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	General of the Air Force
Air chief marshal	OF-9 General	General
Air marshal	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Lieutenant general
Air vice marshal	OF-7 Major General	Major general
Air commodore	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadier general
Group captain	OF-5 Colonel	Colonel
Wing commander	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant colonel
Squadron leader	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
Flight lieutenant	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Captain
Flying officer	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Flight cadet	OF-D Student Officer	Cadet / Officer trainee
Enlisted ranks
Master warrant officer	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command chief master sergeant First sergeant Chief master sergeant
Warrant officer	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Senior master sergeant
Junior warrant officer	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	First sergeant Master sergeant
Sergeant	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Technical sergeant
Corporal	OR-4 Corporal	Senior airman
Leading aircraftsman	OR-2 Private	Airman
Aircraftsman	OR-1 Private	Airman basic

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

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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