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The Indian Defence Services are one of the best organisations in the world to deal with natural and man-made disasters. The Indian Armed Forces comprise the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. Given below are the equivalent ranks of the commissioned officers in the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy.
Indian Army | Indian Navy | Air Force |
*Field Marshal | Admiral of the Feet | Marshal of the Air Force |
General | Admiral | Air Chief Marshal |
Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Air Marshal |
Major General | Rear Admiral | Air Vice Marshal |
Brigadier | Commodore | Air Commodore |
Colonel | Captain | Group Captain |
Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander |
Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader |
Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant |
Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant | Flying Officer |
Equivalent ranks of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard
The ranks go in increasing order from bottom to top.
Indian Coast Guard Ranks | Navy Ranks |
Director General | Vice Admiral (FOC-in-C’s Scale) |
Additional Director General | Vice Admiral (HAG scale) |
Inspector General | Rear Admiral |
Deputy Inspector General (Senior) | Commodore |
Deputy Inspector General (Junior) | Captain |
Commandant | Captain (with seniority) or Commander |
Additional Information-
1) The top ranks of the three Indian Defence forces Field Marshal (in Army), Marshal of the Air Force (in Air Force), and Admiral of the Fleet (in Navy) are 5 star ranks. It is considered a huge prestige to receive such a rank.
2) The Field Marshal rank has been awarded to Kodandera Madappa Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw till date.
3) Arjan Singh has received the rank of the Marshal of the Indian Air Force and is the only living Indian military officer with a 5 star rank.
4) Indian military officers who hold a 5 star rank are considered to be serving officers till death and hold their rank for life.