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Equivalent Commissioned Rank Of Indian Armed Forces

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Introduction to List of Equivalent Commissioned Rank of Indian Armed Forces

The Indian Defence Forces, which include the Army, Navy, and Air Force, are dedicated to the country's defence against foreign and internal threats across the whole spectrum of combat. It is the best organised, structured, equipped, and disciplined organisation in the world to respond to any threat or natural or man-made calamity. The Indian Army is the Indian Armed Forces' land-based arm and the biggest component. The commissioned officer has a major role in the Indian armed forces. Before we get into the list of the equivalent commissioned rank of Indian armed forces, there two important ranks of the Indian army are categorised into-

  1. Commissioned Officers

  2. Personnel below Officer Rank


Commissioned Officers

These officers fall under the Grade A category of joining the Indian army after passing out the NDA, TES, TA and other such exams. The work of commissioned officers is to lead men into the battlefield and command the company to division, corps and the whole army.


Personnel below Officer Rank

They work as soldiers executing responsibilities assigned by the officer. They get recruited only after passing any of the exams like Indian Navy SSR, MR and AA.

 

Significance of 5-Star Ranks

  • Field Marshal (Army), Marshal of the Air Force (Air Force), and Admiral of the Fleet (Navy) are the highest ranks in the three Indian Defense forces. Receiving such a level is seen as a tremendous honour.

  • To date, Kodandera Madappa Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw have been given the title of Field Marshal.

  • The rank of Admiral of the Fleet has never been conferred.

  • Officers with a 5 star rank in the Indian military are regarded as serving officers till death and retain their status indefinitely.

  • The Supreme Commander of these three services is the President of India. The army's headquarters are in Delhi, and the Chief of the Army Staff is in charge. He is a four-star general with the support of eight Lieutenant Generals.


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Let us now check the List of equivalent commissioned ranks of Indian armed forces:

Indian Army Commands

The Indian Army is split into six operational commands and one training command. Each of these commands is commanded by the General-Officer-Commander-in-Chief (GOC-i-C), commonly known as the Army Commander. This rank is usually given to the army's most senior Lieutenant Generals.

  • Corps

In most cases, a command includes two or more corps. The Indian army is divided into thirteen corps, each of which is directed by a General Officer Commander (GOC), also known as the Corps Commander. He is a Lieutenant General in the military.


  • Division

Three to four divisions make up each corps. Each of these divisions is led by a Major General serving as the GOC (Division Commander). The Indian army is divided into 37 divisions.


  • Brigade

Three to four Brigades make up each corps. Typically, a Brigade will include 3,000 troops. A Brigadier is in charge of each Brigade.


  • Battalion

A battalion is made up of four to five rifle companies. Every battalion is headed by a Colonel-level battalion commander. A battalion is an infantry unit's primary fighting unit.


  • Rifle Company

Three platoons make up a rifle company. A Company Commander, usually a Major or Lieutenant Colonel, is in charge of a company.


  • Platoon

A platoon is divided into three parts. A platoon is led by a platoon commander who is also a JCO.


Indian Air Force Ranks

Just like equivalent commissioned rank of Indian armed forces, the Indian air force also has ranks:

  • Marshal of the Air Force

Marshal of the Air Force is a five-star position with the NATO designation OF-10, and it is the highest rank in the Indian Air Force. Marshal is a wartime honorary position.

The Air Force Marshal level is comparable to the Indian Army's "Field Marshal" position and the Indian Navy's "Admiral of the Fleet" rank. “Arjan Singh” was the sole Marshal of the Indian Air Force until today.


  • Air Chief Marshal

Air Chief Marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is the most senior Indian Air Force Rank during peacetime, with the NATO ranking designation OF-9.

The rank of Air Chief Marshal is comparable to the Indian Navy's "Admiral" and the Indian Army's "General." Only an Air Chief Marshal may occupy the office of Chief of the Air Staff in the Indian Air Force (CAS).


  • Air Marshal

The rank of Air Marshal (Air Mshl or AM) is a three-star officer with the NATO designation OF-8. The rank of Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force is comparable to Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and Vice-Admiral in the Indian Navy.

It's a position between Air Chief Marshal and Air Vice Marshal. Officers with the rank of Air Marshal have exceptionally high-ranking positions, such as Commander-in-Chief.


  • Air Vice-Marshal

The Indian Air Force's Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) is a two-star officer with the NATO ranking designation OF-7.

The rank of Air Vice-Marshal in the Indian Air force is comparable to Major General in the Indian Army.


  • Air Commodore

The NATO ranking code for Air Commodore (Air Cdre) is OF-6. It is a one-star officer rank and the most junior level among the Air Officer ranks. Air Commodore succeeds Group Captain as the senior officer and is subordinate to Air Vice Marshal.


  • Group Captain

The senior Commissioned rank of group captain (Gp Capt.) has the NATO ranking code OF-5. Wing Commander comes before Group Captain, while Air Commodore comes after Group Captain. This Indian Air Force rank is comparable to the Indian Navy's "Captain" and the Indian Army's "Colonel."


  • Wing Commander

Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) is a NATO ranking code OF-4 high commissioned position. Squadron Leader is immediately above Wing Commander, while Group Captain is immediately below.

This title is comparable to the Indian Navy's "Commander" and the Indian Army's "Lieutenant Colonel." A wing commander is in charge of an administrative subdivision.


  • Squadron Leader

Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) is the most junior of the senior officer ranks in the Indian Air Force, with a NATO ranking code of OF-3.

The Squadron Leader is the highest-ranking officer in the squadron, immediately above the Flight Lieutenant and below the Wing Commander. This rank is comparable to the Indian Navy's "Lieutenant Commander" and the Indian Army's "Major."


  • Flight Lieutenant

The rank of Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) is a junior commissioned level with the NATO code OF- 2. In the Indian Air Force, a Flight Lieutenant ranks above a Flying Officer and below a Squadron Leader. This rank is comparable to the Indian Navy's "Lieutenant" and the Indian Army's "Captain."


  • Flying Officer

The Junior Commissioned rank of Flying Officer has the NATO ranking code OF-1. The rank of "Flying Officer" in the Indian Air Force is comparable to "Sub-Lieutenant" in the Indian Navy and "Lieutenant" in the Indian Army.


Indian Air Force for Junior Commissioned Officers

  • Master Warrant Officer

With a NATO rating code of OR-9, Master Warrant officer (MWO) is the highest rank of Junior Commissioned officer. In the Indian Air force, a Master Warrant officer is a rank higher than a Warrant officer.

In the Indian Army, a Master Warrant Officer is comparable to a "Subedar Major" and, in the Indian Navy, a "Master Chief Petty Officer (First Class)."


  • Warrant Officer

The NATO rating code for a Warrant Officer (WO) is OR-8. A warrant officer is a rank that is higher than a Junior Warrant officer but lower than a Master Warrant officer.

In the Indian Army, a Warrant officer is comparable to a "Subedar" and, in the Indian Navy, a "Master Chief Petty Officer (Second Class)."


  • Junior Warrant Officer

Boatswain's mates, surgeon's mates, sailmakers, and clerks are all examples of junior Warrant officers. A Junior Warrant Officer ranks below a Warrant Officer and above a Sergeant.

This rank is equal to the Indian Navy's "Chief Petty Officer" and the Indian Army's "Naib Subedar."


Non-Commissioned Officers

  • Sergeant

In the Indian Air force, a Sergeant (Sgt) is a non-commissioned officer who ranks above corporal but below junior warrant officer. Sergeant is the equivalent of the Indian Navy's "Petty officer" and the Indian Army's "Havaldar."


  • Corporal

Corporal is a non-commissioned rank in the Indian Air Force that falls under the NATO ranking code OR-4. It is a rank awarded to an airman who is below sergeant and above Leading Aircraftsman. The rank of Corporal is comparable to that of "Able Seaman" in the Indian Navy and "Naik" in the Indian Army.


  • Leading Aircraftman

Leading Aircraftman (LAC) is a junior-commissioned position in the Indian Air Force, with the NATO code OR-2. It's between a Corporal and an Aircraftsman. The rank of Leading Aircraftsman is equal to the Indian Navy's "Leading Seaman'' and the Indian Army's "Lance Naik."

FAQs on Equivalent Commissioned Rank Of Indian Armed Forces

1. What is a commissioned officer in the Indian Air Force?

Through the Army Cadet College Course, airmen with a minimum 10+2 educational qualification and a minimum age of 27 years can become commissioned officers in the army. The candidate must pass an Army HQ written examination to be considered eligible. They undergo an interview session with SSB after completing the exam.

2. What is the first commissioned rank in the Indian Air Force?

The rank of pilot officer in the Indian Air Force is no longer in use; instead, all officers start as flying officers when they are commissioned.

3. How many commissioned ranks are there in the Indian army?

There are a total of 11 commissioned ranks in the Indian army.