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Indian Navy ranks and insignia

January 01, 1970

The Indian Navy (IN), the naval component of the Indian Armed Forces follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile Royal Indian Navy (RIN).[1]

Equivalent ranks of Indian military
Indian Navy Indian Army Indian Air Force
Commissioned ranks
Admiral of
the fleet		 Field marshal Marshal of
the Indian Air Force
Admiral General Air chief marshal
Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal
Rear admiral Major general Air vice marshal
Commodore Brigadier Air commodore
Captain Colonel Group captain
Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander
Lieutenant commander Major Squadron leader
Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
Sub lieutenant Lieutenant Flying officer
Junior commissioned ranks
Master chief
petty officer
1st class		 Subedar major[Alt 1] Master warrant officer
Master chief
petty officer
2nd class		 Subedar[Alt 2] Warrant officer
Chief
petty officer		 Naib subedar[Alt 3] Junior warrant officer
Non-commissioned ranks
Petty officer Havildar Sergeant
Leading seaman Naik Corporal
Seaman 1 Lance naik Leading aircraftsman
Seaman 2 Sepoy Aircraftsman
Footnotes
  1. ^ Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments
  2. ^ Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments
  3. ^ Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments.
    Called jemadar until 1965.

History edit

 
The Indian Naval Ensign.

1947-2023 edit

Upon the establishment of establishment of India's independence in 1947, the country became a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations; nevertheless, the armed forces, namely, the British Indian Army (BIA), the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) and the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) - under the helm of King George VI as the Commander-in-Chief, retained their respective pre-independence ranks and corresponding insignia.[2]

In May 1949, Lord Mountbatten, the inaugural Governor-General of India and himself a naval officer, dispatched a note to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, titled Names and Insignia of Indian Armed Forces, containing a list of suggestions regarding the nomenclature of the armed forces that were to be enforced upon the dominion's conversion to a republic.[2] In the note, Mountbatten proposed that the future IN should retain its predecessor's nomenclature as much as possible - advocating the retention of the RIN's ranks, insignia and uniforms; the only exemption to these retentions was the force's naval ensign, which was modified to feature the Indian tricolor as a substitute for the Union Jack.[2] In September 1949, Nehru forwarded the proposals to the country's minister of defence, Baldev Singh, recommending Mountbatten's suggestions, which were consequently enforced upon India's emergence as a republic on 26 January 1950.[2]

2023 modifications edit

In December 2022, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, the IN's Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), proposed several alterations to the force's rank structure, namely, a proposal to drop the rank of Petty Officer and to integrate IN ranks with that of the IA and the IAF, reasoning the present rank nomenclature reflected of what was termed by several as a colonial mindset.[3]

Following a review of the IN rank structure in October 2023, the IN announced that the rank nomenclature of the Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) cadre would be revised to reflect a gender-neutral perspective.[4] Multiple sources indicated that the seven ranks of the PBOR cadre, namely, Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class, Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class, Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Seaman, Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class, would be allotted Indian-origin names.[5]

Consequently, the revision plan was publicized during the IN's 2023 Navy Day celebrations, when prime minister Narendra Modi announced that the rank structure's designations would be rescripted with domestic names to reflect Indian-origin traditions, while the shoulder board epaulettes worn by flag officers would be altered to bear the octagonal-shaped naval crest, which had been adopted by the IN the previous year.[5] Accordingly, the alterations to the flag officer insignia were revealed later that month; notably, other observable emendations in the new insignia included the introduction of an Indian sword-cum-telescope design in lieu of the older sword-cum-baton design and a gold button embossed with a clear anchor in lieu of a fouled anchor.[6]

Structure edit

Presently, the IN's rank hierarchy is divided into three broad categories:

  • Commissioned Officers (CO)
  • Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO)
  • Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO)

Commissioned officers edit

(Note: Rank insignia to be altered according to IN specifications.)

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Indian Navy[7]
                       
Admiral
एडमिरल 		Vice admiral
वाइस एडमिरल 		Rear admiral
रियर एडमिरल 		Commodore
कमोडोर 		Captain
कैप्टन 		Commander
कमांडर 		Lieutenant commander
लेफ़्टिनेंट कमांडर 		Lieutenant
लेफ्टिनेंट 		Sub-lieutenant
सब लेफ्टिनेंट 		Midshipman
मिडशिपमैन

Command flags edit

       
Adm VAdm RAdm Cdre

The highest rank in the IN's CO cadre is Admiral, a four-star rank, which is held exclusively by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).[8] The rank was first awarded to then-Vice Admiral A. K. Chatterji in March 1968, following his appointment to the post of CNS; prior to him, CNS appointees belonged to the three-star rank of Vice Admiral.[9] However, unlike the IA and the IAF, which both bear the honorary five-star ranks of Field Marshal (FM) and Marshal of the Indian Air Force (MIAF) respectively, the IN does not have a correspondingly recognized equivalent, as no four-star admirals were deemed for promotion to five-star rank.[10]

Junior commissioned officer and non-commissioned ranks edit

Rank group Junior commissioned officers Non commissioned officer Enlisted
  Indian Navy[7][11]
           No insignia
Master chief petty officer I
मास्टर चीफ पेटी ऑफिसर फर्स्ट क्लास 		Master chief petty officer II
मास्टर चीफ पेटी ऑफिसर सेकेंड क्लास 		Chief petty officer
चीफ पेटी ऑफिसर 		Petty officer
पेटी ऑफिसर 		Leading Seaman
लीडिंग सीमैन 		Seaman Ist class
सीमैन फर्स्ट क्लास 		Seaman IInd class
सीमैन सेकंड क्लास

Since 1950, the designation of Chief Petty Officer was the highest non-commissioned rank in IN's rank hierarchy until December 1968, when the designations of Master Chief Petty Officer I and Master Chief Petty Officer II were introduced.[12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Military Digest: As Indian Navy looks to introduce new ranks, a look at foreign origins of Naval ranks". indianexpress.com. 16 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "How India adopted its military flags and badges based on Lord Mountbatten's suggestions". optimizeias.com.
  3. ^ "Do away with ranks like petty officer to shed colonial legacies: Navy chief at Agenda Aaj Tak". www.indiatoday.in. 10 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Indian Navy To Adopt Gender-Neutral Ranks After Opening Doors To Women". 9 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b "What Veterans Think About PM Modi Announcing Change of Navy Epaulettes". thewire.in. 5 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Navy unveils new epaulettes for Admirals: What are the changes, what do they signify?". indianexpress.com. 31 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Ranks In Indian Navy – Insignia And Hierarchy". alpharegiment.com. 23 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Remembering the Admiral who shed his vice and built the Navy". thedailyguardian.com. 15 August 2020.
  10. ^ "IA has Field Marshal, IAF has Marshal of Indian Air Force, Indian Navy's glory deserves the honour of 'Admiral of the Fleet' rank". www.indiandefencereview.com. 5 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Forwarding Nomenclature of Ranks in Navy" (PDF). 23 August 2011.
  12. ^ "New Cadre for Senior Sailors Formed" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 15 December 1968. Retrieved 17 January 2021.

External links edit

  • Uniforminsignia.org (Indian Navy)

January 01, 1970
indian, navy, ranks, insignia, indian, navy, naval, component, indian, armed, forces, follows, certain, hierarchy, rank, designations, insignia, derived, from, erstwhile, royal, indian, navy, equivalent, ranks, indian, military, indian, navy, indian, army, ind. The Indian Navy IN the naval component of the Indian Armed Forces follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile Royal Indian Navy RIN 1 Equivalent ranks of Indian military Indian Navy Indian Army Indian Air Force Commissioned ranks Admiral ofthe fleet Field marshal Marshal ofthe Indian Air Force Admiral General Air chief marshal Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal Rear admiral Major general Air vice marshal Commodore Brigadier Air commodore Captain Colonel Group captain Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander Lieutenant commander Major Squadron leader Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant Sub lieutenant Lieutenant Flying officer Junior commissioned ranks Master chiefpetty officer1st class Subedar major Alt 1 Master warrant officer Master chiefpetty officer2nd class Subedar Alt 2 Warrant officer Chiefpetty officer Naib subedar Alt 3 Junior warrant officer Non commissioned ranks Petty officer Havildar Sergeant Leading seaman Naik Corporal Seaman 1 Lance naik Leading aircraftsman Seaman 2 Sepoy Aircraftsman Footnotes Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments Called jemadar until 1965 Contents 1 History 1 1 1947 2023 1 2 2023 modifications 1 3 Structure 2 Commissioned officers 2 1 Command flags 3 Junior commissioned officer and non commissioned ranks 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp The Indian Naval Ensign 1947 2023 edit Upon the establishment of establishment of India s independence in 1947 the country became a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations nevertheless the armed forces namely the British Indian Army BIA the Royal Indian Navy RIN and the Royal Indian Air Force RIAF under the helm of King George VI as the Commander in Chief retained their respective pre independence ranks and corresponding insignia 2 In May 1949 Lord Mountbatten the inaugural Governor General of India and himself a naval officer dispatched a note to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru titled Names and Insignia of Indian Armed Forces containing a list of suggestions regarding the nomenclature of the armed forces that were to be enforced upon the dominion s conversion to a republic 2 In the note Mountbatten proposed that the future IN should retain its predecessor s nomenclature as much as possible advocating the retention of the RIN s ranks insignia and uniforms the only exemption to these retentions was the force s naval ensign which was modified to feature the Indian tricolor as a substitute for the Union Jack 2 In September 1949 Nehru forwarded the proposals to the country s minister of defence Baldev Singh recommending Mountbatten s suggestions which were consequently enforced upon India s emergence as a republic on 26 January 1950 2 2023 modifications edit In December 2022 Admiral R Hari Kumar the IN s Chief of the Naval Staff CNS proposed several alterations to the force s rank structure namely a proposal to drop the rank of Petty Officer and to integrate IN ranks with that of the IA and the IAF reasoning the present rank nomenclature reflected of what was termed by several as a colonial mindset 3 Following a review of the IN rank structure in October 2023 the IN announced that the rank nomenclature of the Personnel Below Officer Rank PBOR cadre would be revised to reflect a gender neutral perspective 4 Multiple sources indicated that the seven ranks of the PBOR cadre namely Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class would be allotted Indian origin names 5 Consequently the revision plan was publicized during the IN s 2023 Navy Day celebrations when prime minister Narendra Modi announced that the rank structure s designations would be rescripted with domestic names to reflect Indian origin traditions while the shoulder board epaulettes worn by flag officers would be altered to bear the octagonal shaped naval crest which had been adopted by the IN the previous year 5 Accordingly the alterations to the flag officer insignia were revealed later that month notably other observable emendations in the new insignia included the introduction of an Indian sword cum telescope design in lieu of the older sword cum baton design and a gold button embossed with a clear anchor in lieu of a fouled anchor 6 Structure edit Presently the IN s rank hierarchy is divided into three broad categories Commissioned Officers CO Junior Commissioned Officers JCO Non Commissioned Officers NCO Commissioned officers edit Note Rank insignia to be altered according to IN specifications Rank group General flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet nbsp Indian Navy 7 vte nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Admiralएडम रल Vice admiralव इस एडम रल Rear admiralर यर एडम रल Commodoreकम ड र Captainक प टन Commanderकम डर Lieutenant commanderल फ ट न ट कम डर Lieutenantल फ ट न ट Sub lieutenantसब ल फ ट न ट Midshipmanम डश पम न Command flags edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Adm VAdm RAdm Cdre The highest rank in the IN s CO cadre is Admiral a four star rank which is held exclusively by the Chief of the Naval Staff CNS 8 The rank was first awarded to then Vice Admiral A K Chatterji in March 1968 following his appointment to the post of CNS prior to him CNS appointees belonged to the three star rank of Vice Admiral 9 However unlike the IA and the IAF which both bear the honorary five star ranks of Field Marshal FM and Marshal of the Indian Air Force MIAF respectively the IN does not have a correspondingly recognized equivalent as no four star admirals were deemed for promotion to five star rank 10 Junior commissioned officer and non commissioned ranks editRank group Junior commissioned officers Non commissioned officer Enlisted nbsp Indian Navy 7 11 vte nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insignia Master chief petty officer Iम स टर च फ प ट ऑफ सर फर स ट क ल स Master chief petty officer IIम स टर च फ प ट ऑफ सर स क ड क ल स Chief petty officerच फ प ट ऑफ सर Petty officerप ट ऑफ सर Leading Seamanल ड ग स म न Seaman Ist classस म न फर स ट क ल स Seaman IInd classस म न स क ड क ल स Since 1950 the designation of Chief Petty Officer was the highest non commissioned rank in IN s rank hierarchy until December 1968 when the designations of Master Chief Petty Officer I and Master Chief Petty Officer II were introduced 12 See also editComparative military ranks Indian Army ranks and insignia Indian Air Force ranks and insignia Coast Guard ranks and insignia of India Border Roads Organisation ranks and insignia of India Paramilitary forces ranks and insignia of India Police ranks and insignia of IndiaReferences edit Military Digest As Indian Navy looks to introduce new ranks a look at foreign origins of Naval ranks indianexpress com 16 October 2023 a b c d How India adopted its military flags and badges based on Lord Mountbatten s suggestions optimizeias com Do away with ranks like petty officer to shed colonial legacies Navy chief at Agenda Aaj Tak www indiatoday in 10 December 2022 Indian Navy To Adopt Gender Neutral Ranks After Opening Doors To Women 9 October 2023 a b What Veterans Think About PM Modi Announcing Change of Navy Epaulettes thewire in 5 December 2023 Navy unveils new epaulettes for Admirals What are the changes what do they signify indianexpress com 31 December 2023 a b Ranks amp Insignia Join Indian Navy Retrieved 12 April 2021 Ranks In Indian Navy Insignia And Hierarchy alpharegiment com 23 May 2023 Remembering the Admiral who shed his vice and built the Navy thedailyguardian com 15 August 2020 IA has Field Marshal IAF has Marshal of Indian Air Force Indian Navy s glory deserves the honour of Admiral of the Fleet rank www indiandefencereview com 5 December 2023 Forwarding Nomenclature of Ranks in Navy PDF 23 August 2011 New Cadre for Senior Sailors Formed PDF Press Information Bureau of India Archive 15 December 1968 Retrieved 17 January 2021 External links editUniforminsignia org Indian Navy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Indian Navy ranks and insignia amp oldid 1214163979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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