Army Structure & Ranks
Defence GK · सेना संरचना और रैंक
📋Quick Overview
The Indian Army is the world's 2nd largest standing army with approximately 1.4 million active personnel. It is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), a General officer with 4-star rank. The Army has 7 Commands each led by a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Lt. General rank. Army Day is January 15 (first Indian Commander-in-Chief: Gen. K.M. Cariappa, 1949).
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Indian Army HQ: South Block, New Delhi. Army Day: January 15. First COAS: Gen. K.M. Cariappa (1949). The Army's motto: 'Service Before Self'.
📖7 Army Commands
| Command | Headquarters | Key Role |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Command | Udhampur (J&K) | J&K, Ladakh, China & Pakistan border |
| Eastern Command | Kolkata (Fort William) | Northeast India, Arunachal, China border |
| Southern Command | Pune | Maharashtra, Goa, South India |
| Western Command | Chandimandir | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal — Pakistan border |
| Central Command | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh |
| South-Western Command | Jaipur | Rajasthan — Pakistan Desert border (Thar) |
| ARTRAC (Army Training Command) | Shimla | Training of army personnel |
📖Officer Rank Hierarchy
| Rank | Stars | Equivalent (Navy/Air Force) |
|---|---|---|
| Field Marshal | 5 Stars | Admiral of Fleet / Marshal of IAF (honorary) |
| General (COAS) | 4 Stars | Admiral (CNS) / Air Chief Marshal (CAS) |
| Lieutenant General | 3 Stars | Vice Admiral / Air Marshal |
| Major General | 2 Stars | Rear Admiral / Air Vice Marshal |
| Brigadier | 1 Star + 3 pips | Commodore / Air Commodore |
| Colonel | 3 Pips + Ashoka | Captain (Navy) / Group Captain |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 2 Pips + Ashoka | Commander / Wing Commander |
| Major | 1 Pip + Ashoka + Star | Lt. Commander / Squadron Leader |
| Captain | 3 Pips | Lieutenant / Flight Lieutenant |
| Lieutenant | 2 Pips | Sub-Lieutenant / Flying Officer |
📖Key Army Corps & Locations
- •I Corps — Mathura (Strike Corps, against Pakistan Plains)
- •II Corps — Ambala (Strike Corps)
- •XIV Corps — Leh (Fire & Fury Corps, China border)
- •XV Corps — Srinagar (Chinar Corps, J&K valley)
- •XVII Mountain Strike Corps — Panagarh, West Bengal (against China)
- •XXI Strike Corps — Bhopal (Andolan Corps, Thar Desert)