Indian Army Day 🇮🇳

The Indian Army is the land - based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. Army Day is celebrated on 15th January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Carriappa's (then a Lieutenant General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15th January 1949. 

Rank 

 The one organization that stays in the forefront when it comes to serving the nation, both in wartime and in peace, is the Indian Army. The Indian Army, with its impressive performance, is the fourth largest standing army in the world with over 1,362,500 active troops and 2,100,000 reserve troops. Each year over a lakh candidates apply for GD (General Duty) and thousands for entry into commissioned ranks... 

 

 • Rank -

Rank - Field Marshal

Insignia – National emblem over a crossed baton and saber in a lotus blossom wreath

The Field Marshal rank is the highest rank in the Indian Army. It is a ceremonial or wartime rank and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal KM Cariappa have been the only two officers to be elevated to the rank of Field Marshal.

Rank – General

Insignia – National emblem over a five-pointed star, both over a crossed baton and saber

Apart from the honorary rank of Field Marshal, this is the highest rank held by an Army officer. It is only the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who holds this rank.

Incumbent – General Bipin Rawat, COAS

Retirement – After 3 years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier

Rank - Lieutenant General

Insignia – National emblem over crossed baton and saber

Lieutenant generals are appointed only by selection (after 36 years of commissioned service) and may hold the position of a Vice Chief of Army Staff or Army Commanders.

Retirement – At the age of 60

Rank - Major General

Insignia – Five-pointed star over crossed baton and saber

Major Generals are promoted by selection (after 32 years of commissioned service).

Retirement – At the age of 58

Brigadier

Insignia – National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation

Brigadiers are promoted by selection (after 25 years of commissioned service)

Retirement – At the age of 56

Rank - Colonel

Insignia – National emblem over two five-pointed stars

Colonels may be promoted by selection (after 15 years of commissioned service) or may be promoted (time-scale) after 26 years of commissioned service. Time-scale Colonels may, however, only hold the portfolio of a Lt. Colonel.

Retirement – At the age of 54

Rank - Lieutenant Colonel

Insignia – National emblem over five-pointed star

Time bound promotion on completion of 13 years commissioned service.

Rank – Major

Insignia – National emblem

Time bound promotion on completion of 6 years commissioned service.

Rank – Captain

Insignia – Three five-pointed stars

Time bound promotion on completion of 2 years commissioned service

Rank – Lieutenant

Insignia – Two five-pointed stars

Rank achieved on commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer

Junior Commissioned Officers of the Indian Army

Rank – Subedar Major (Infantry) or Risaldar Major (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Gold national emblem with stripe

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 34 years service or at the age of 54, whichever is earlier

Rank – Subedar (Infantry) or Risaldar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Two gold stars with stripe

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 30 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier

Rank – Naib Subedar (Infantry) or Naib Risaldar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – One gold star with stripe

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 28 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier

Non Commissioned Officers of the Indian Army

Rank – Havildar (Infantry) or Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Three rank chevrons

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier

Rank – Naik (Infantry) or Lance Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Two rank chevrons

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 24 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier

Rank - Lance Naik (Infantry) or Acting Lance Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Insignia – Onerank chevron

Promotion by selection

Retirement – After 22 years service or at the age of 48, whichever is earlier

Rank - Sepoy

Insignia – Plain shoulder badge

The Sepoys identify themselves according to the Corps that they serve in. For example, a sepoy from Signals will identify him as Signalman, from Infantry as RIfleman and from the Armoured Corps as Gunner..

10 Amazing Facts About Indian Army 🇮🇳

• India controls the highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen glacier, at 5000 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL).

• Indian soldiers are considered among the Best in high altitude and mountain warfare: The Indian Army’s High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) is one of the most elite military training centers of the world and is frequented by Special Ops teams from the U.S, U.K, and Russia. U.S. Special Forces were trained at HAWS before their deployment during the invasion of Afghanistan.

•  India clandestinely tested its nuclear arsenal in the early 1970s and late 1990s without the CIA even knowing what was happening: So far it is considered to be one of the CIA’s biggest failures in espionage and detection.

• Indian Army has never been involved in a military coup nor initiated the first attack in any warfare.

• Operation Rahat (2013) was one of the biggest civilian rescue operations ever carried out in the world: Carried out by the Indian Air Force to evacuate civilians affected by the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013.

• Sam Manekshaw, an alumnus of the IMA, was the first in India to become a Field Marshal.

• At the age of 19, The Royal Indian Army’s Sepoy Kamal Ram received the Victoia Cross, the highest award of the United Kingdom, for valor after World War 2. He was the youngest Indian to receive the award. 

• The Oldest Para-Military Force of the Indian Armed Forces is the Assam Regiment that was formed in the year 1835.

• India has the biggest “voluntary” army in the world: All serving and reserve personnel have actually “opted” for service. There is a provision for conscription (forced recruitment) in the Constitution of India, but it has never been used.

• The 16th Light Cavalry, a regiment of the Armoured Corps, a primary combat arm of the Indian Army was formed in 1776 and is the oldest armored regiment created by the East India Company at Kolkata. Prior to India gaining Independence in 1947, it became a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. (Thus the current form of Indian Army finds its origins from the East India Company’s military department).

....... Yashila Barnwal

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, and happily SPONSORED BY RRE Studios and SHOWCASE Events.