Indian Army, Navy & Air Force Ranks and Insignia Atlas (With Equivalent Ranks)

How to Identify Ranks in the Indian Armed Forces

Indian Army officers

Army officers wear rank badges on the shoulder. Junior officers use five-pointed stars: two for a Lieutenant and three for a Captain. A Major wears the National Emblem (the Lion Capital of Ashoka). From Lieutenant Colonel upwards, stars are added below the emblem — one for a Lieutenant Colonel, two for a Colonel and three in a triangle for a Brigadier. General officers wear a crossed sword and baton: a star above it for a Major General, the National Emblem for a Lieutenant General, and both the emblem and a star for a General, who is the Chief of the Army Staff.

Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs)

JCOs are a rank category unique to the Indian Army (and its equivalents in the other two services). A Naib Subedar wears one star, a Subedar two stars and a Subedar Major the National Emblem — each with a red-yellow-red stripe beneath, which separates them from commissioned officers.

Non-commissioned officers

Lance Naik, Naik and Havildar are identified by one, two and three chevrons on the sleeve. A Sepoy wears no rank badge.

Indian Navy and Indian Air Force officers

Naval and air force officers are identified by stripes. A Sub Lieutenant or Flying Officer wears one stripe, and each higher rank adds stripes up to four for a Captain (Navy) or Group Captain (IAF). A Lieutenant Commander or Squadron Leader wears a thin stripe between two normal ones. Flag and air officers wear one broad stripe, plus one to three narrower stripes above it. Navy stripes are gold with a "curl" on the top stripe, while IAF stripes are light blue.

Common uniform for senior officers

Since August 2023, Indian Army officers of the rank of Brigadier and above wear a common uniform (headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belt and shoes) irrespective of their cadre or regiment, to promote a shared identity among senior leadership.