Rank Structure In Indian Army

Indian Army- these two words are enough to make us sleep peacefully at night as we know, that our brave warriors are ready to take on every challenge that eyes the security and integrity of our country. It is the largest of the three components of the Indian Armed Forces comprising of around 1.4 million personnel. There is no doubt that the valorous Indian Army is also very well organised in its rank structure.

The term rank comes from an old French word ranc, meaning “row or line”. In military, the hierarchical structure of ranks helps form the chain of command which goes down from the chief to every sepoy. Higher the rank, higher is the responsibility and level of challenges to be dealt with.

The rank insignia are the symbols of the ranks which are worn on the uniform and serve to identify the ranks of the personnel.

Indian Army personnel are broadly divided into three categories which, in the decreasing order of hierarchy are as follows:

• 1.     Commissioned
  Officer (CO)

• 2.     Junior
  Commissioned Officer (JCO)

• 3.     Non-commissioned
  Officer/ Other Ranks (NCO/ORs)

                      CO RANKS

The ranks and rank insignia of Commissioned Officers
in the descending order are as follows:

Earlier, the first rank in Indian Army used to be of 2^nd Lieutenant (one star on the shoulder badge was the rank insignia) but it was abolished in the year 2006. Now, all commissioned officers directly hold Lieutenant
as their first rank.

A NOTE ABOUT OUR TWO FIELD MARSHALS

Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji
Jamshedji Manekshaw

The first field marshal of Indian Army was born in Amritsar, Punjab in 1914. He was commissioned in the Army as a 2^nd Lt. in 1934 and went on to become the 8^th army chief in 1969 and led the War of 1971 to victory. During his service, he has fought 5 wars namely- World War II, Indo-Pak War of 1947-48, India-China War of 1962, Indo-Pak War of 1965 and Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. In 1973, he became the first 5-star general of Indian Army. His way of treating his comrades- and the enemy troops- and his approach while dealing with political leaders was always admired. He died on 27 June 2008 at the age of 94. He was in the Gurkha Regiment and used to say:

“If a man says he is not afraid of dying,
he is either lying or is a Gurkha.”

Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa

Born in 1899 in present-day Karnataka, he became the
first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on 15 January, 1949 (and hence we celebrate this day as Indian Army Day). He got a temporary commission in 1919 and later on permanent commission in 1922 in the Army. He fought in the World War I and Indo-Pak War of 1947-48. He was instrumental in shaping the young and independent Army. He retired in 1953 and was conferred with the rank of Field Marshal in 1986. He died on 15 May 1993 at the age of 94. He was from the Rajput Regiment.

In the 1965 war, his son serving in the Indian Air Force- Sqn. Ldr. K.C. Cariappa was taken as a prisoner of war in Pakistan. Soon their Army found out that he is the son of retired Gen. Cariappa and their General offered his immediate release on which Gen. Cariappa said that all the captured Indian soldiers are his sons, and all of them should be looked after by Pakistan! All Indian soldiers thus later returned together.

JCO RANKS

The JCO ranks have a braid band of three strands (crimson, yellow and crimson) affixed below all badges of the rank and above shoulder titles.

Ranks and rank insignia of Junior Commissioned Officers in the descending order are as follows:

NCO RANKS

The NCOs wear Chevrons as per the regiment/corps pattern which are stitched 11-12cm below the shoulder strap.

Ranks and rank insignia of Non-Commissioned Officers in the descending order are as follows:

These days, Quarter Master and Havildar Major are just appointments and not considered as separate ranks. The Company Quartermaster Havildar (CQMH) assists the Quartermaster in managing the company stores and the rank insignia has an Ashok emblem above the 3 Chevrons. 

To understand the structure and function of the Indian Army, its necessary to know the hierarchy of ranks.

Our Army is highly professional and respects the contribution made by each and every soldier, from Jawan to the General. It has been proven time and again that the Indian Army.
“LEAVES NO MAN BEHIND”.

JAI HIND

 -VRINDA SHANKAR

REFERENCES

1. 
   https://www.indianarmy.nic.in/home
2. 
   https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/heraldry/23-rank-insignias.html
3. 
   https://www.rvcj.com/insignia-indian-army-not-forget-look/
4. 
   https://www.indianarmyveterans.gov.in/showfile.php?lang=1&level=1&&sublinkid=128&lid=130
5.             https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/government/indian-army-ranks-and-recruitment-process
6.  
   https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/field-marshal-km-cariappa-the-man-who-told-pakistan-not-to-release-his-captured-son/422342/
7. 
   https://ssbcrackexams.com/inspiring-facts-about-field-marshal-sam-manekshaw/
8. 
   https://theprint.in/defence/indian-army-now-worlds-largest-ground-force-as-china-halves-strength-on-modernisation-push/382287/
9. 
   https://www.dictionary.com/browse/rank
10. 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjrnNt8UrDY
11. 
    https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-army-ranks/articleshow/68420317.cms
12.       https://www.embibe.com/exams/indian-army-ranks