Indian Army Ranks Explained from Lieutenant to Field Marshal

Monukumar999

The Indian Army officer ranks from lowest to highest:

Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Brigadier
Major General
Lieutenant General
General
Field Marshal

Comparison of Indian Army Officer Ranks: From Lieutenant to Field Marshal:

1. Lieutenant

Role: Leads a platoon of about 30–40 soldiers.
Experience: Freshly commissioned officer.
Promotion Time: Becomes Captain after 2 years.
Insignia: One ⭐ star.
Salary Level: Pay Level 10 (Approx ₹56,100 per month).

2. Captain

Role: Commands a company of about 100–150 soldiers.
Experience: 2+ years in service.
Insignia: Two ⭐⭐ stars.
Promotion Time: Eligible for Major after 6 years.
Salary Level: Level 10B.

3. Major

Role: Performs administrative and operational planning.
Experience: 6+ years in service.
Insignia: National Emblem 🦚 (Ashoka Lion).
Promotion Time: Promoted to Lt Colonel after ₁₃ years.
Salary Level: Level 11.

4. Lieutenant Colonel

Role: Commands a battalion (₈₀₀ soldiers) or serves as 2IC (Second-in-command).
Insignia: National Emblem + ⭐ star 🦚⭐.
Promotion Type: Selection-based.
Salary Level: Level 12A.

5. Colonel

Role: Commanding Officer of a battalion or holds senior staff appointments.
Experience: 15+ years.
Insignia: National Emblem + ⭐⭐ stars 🦚⭐⭐.
Promotion Type: Based on merit.
Salary Level: Level 13.

6. Brigadier

Role: Leads a brigade (3,000–4,000 soldiers).
Insignia: National Emblem over a triangle of ⭐⭐⭐ stars 🦚🔺.
Command Level: Field command or key staff position.
Salary Level: Level 13A.

7. Major General

Role: Commands a division (₁₅,000 soldiers).
Insignia: National Emblem above a crossed sword & baton 🦚⚔️.
Authority: Strategic planning and large-scale operations.
Salary Level: Level 14.

8. Lieutenant General

Role: Leads a corps (up to 50,000 troops) or holds a top HQ role.
Insignia: National Emblem + crossed sword & baton + ⭐ star 🦚⚔️⭐.
Position: One of the topmost military leaders.
Salary Level: Level 15.

9. General (Chief of Army Staff)

Role: Highest-ranking officer in the Indian Army (COAS).
Insignia: National Emblem + crossed sword & baton + ⭐⭐ stars 🦚⚔️⭐⭐.
Power: Directs entire Indian Army operations.
Salary Level: Level 18 (₹2.5 lakh fixed/month).

10. Field Marshal

Role: Honorary rank given for extraordinary service in wartime. (Not Active Duty)
Insignia: National Emblem above crossed baton & sword in a wreath.
Only 2 in Indian history: (1) Sam Manekshaw (2) K. M. Cariappa

Summary Table

Rank	Command Level	Experience Needed	Insignia	Type of Role
Lieutenant	Platoon (~40 soldiers)	Entry Level	⭐	Field leadership
Captain	Company (~150 soldiers)	2 years	⭐⭐	Tactical leadership
Major	Staff/Admin roles	6 years	🦚	Operational planning
Lt Colonel	Battalion (~800 soldiers)	13 years	🦚⭐	Command & Second-in-Command
Colonel	Battalion / Staff HQ	15–17 years	🦚⭐⭐	Senior command
Brigadier	Brigade (~3,000 troops)	25+ years	🦚🔺	Large unit leadership
Major General	Division (~15,000)	28+ years	🦚⚔️	Strategic command
Lt General	Corps (~50,000 troops)	30+ years	🦚⚔️⭐	High command
General (COAS)	Entire Indian Army	Top 1–2 officers	🦚⚔️⭐⭐	Chief of the Army Staff
Field Marshal	Honorary Role	Lifetime Honor	🦚⚔️ + Wreath	Ceremonial Only

kajal_123

What is the significance of the different insignias (stars, crossed swords, etc.) for each rank?

Ravindra

kajal_123 The insignias (stars, stripes, crossed swords, etc.) on uniforms show the rank, authority, and responsibilities of officers. They help identify a person’s position in the hierarchy and maintain discipline in the forces.

Ravindra

Lieutenant aur Captain ke beech asli farq sirf insignia ka hai ya unki duties aur authority bhi alag hoti hain?

Tarun

Lieutenant और Captain (चाहे Army हो, Navy या Air Force) में सिर्फ insignia (बैज/निशान) का फर्क नहीं होता, बल्कि रैंक, ज़िम्मेदारियों और authority में भी बड़ा अंतर होता है।

रैंक और सीनियरिटी
Lieutenant → Junior Officer माने जाते हैं।
Captain → Lieutenant से ऊपर का commissioned rank है।
Duties & Responsibilities :
Lieutenant
(i) Training phase से निकलकर पहली बार troops को command करना शुरू करता है।
(ii) अक्सर एक platoon (30–40 सैनिक) का ज़िम्मेदार होता है।
(iii) ज़्यादा focus execution पर होता है (जो orders मिले, उसे लागू करना)।
Captain :
(i) ज़्यादा experienced officer होता है।
(ii) अक्सर एक company (100–150 सैनिक) का command करता है।
(iii) Planning, coordination, और junior officers (जैसे Lieutenants) को guide करना इनकी जिम्मेदारी होती है।
Authority & Decision Making
Lieutenant → सीमित authority होती है, ऊपर के officers की guidance में काम करता है।
Captain → Independent decision लेने की ज़िम्मेदारी और authority ज़्यादा होती है।
Insignia
हाँ, दोनों का insignia अलग होता है, जिससे तुरंत पता चल जाता है कि कौन senior है।
लेकिन असली फर्क सिर्फ निशान का नहीं, बल्कि ज़िम्मेदारी और command level का है।

NehaM

Difference in job responsibilities of each rank.. lower to higher..

DEVIL

@NehaM Here is the summary of Responsibilities by Level

Soldiers (Sepoy–Havildar): Execute tasks, frontline combat, small-unit leadership.
JCOs (Naib Subedar–Subedar Major): Middle leadership, discipline, link between troops and officers.
Officers (Lt–General): Strategy, command, planning, large-scale leadership.