Army Structure & Ranks

Defence GK · सेना संरचना और रैंक · 18 facts

Chief of Army Staff (COAS): Head of Indian Army; holds rank of General (4-star); reports to Defence Minister; current COAS General Upendra Dwivedi (2024)

7 Army Commands: Northern (Udhampur), Southern (Pune), Eastern (Kolkata), Western (Chandimandir), Central (Lucknow), South-Western (Jaipur), Training Command (Shimla)

Army strength: 1.4 million active duty + 1.15 million reserve = world's 2nd largest standing army; 3rd largest defence budget

Famous Regiments: Rajput Regiment (oldest), Sikh Regiment, Brigade of Guards, Parachute Regiment, Gorkha Rifles (7 battalions), Naga Regiment

NDA (National Defence Academy): Located at Khadakwasla, Pune; tri-service (Army+Navy+Air Force) joint training; affiliated to JNU; established 1954

IMA (Indian Military Academy): Dehradun; trains Gentleman Cadets for Army; established 1932; modelled on Sandhurst (UK)

OTA (Officer Training Academy): Chennai (Short Service Commission) and Gaya (Technical Entry Scheme); for women officers also since 1993

Army Officer Ranks (highest to lowest): Field Marshal > General > Lt General > Major General > Brigadier > Colonel > Lt Colonel > Major > Captain > Lieutenant

JCO Ranks: Subedar Major > Subedar > Naib Subedar (Junior Commissioned Officers, below officer cadre but above soldiers)

Soldier Ranks: Havildar > Naik > Lance Naik > Sepoy/Sipahi (OR — Other Ranks forming bulk of army)

Field Marshal rank: 5-star rank; only held by K.M. Cariappa (1986, posthumously) and Sam Manekshaw (1973); ceremonial role in peace

Corps structure: Army → Corps (2-3 divisions) → Division (3 brigades) → Brigade (3 battalions) → Battalion (900 soldiers) → Company (120) → Platoon (30)

Parachute Regiment (Para SF): India's premier special forces; 21 Para SF most decorated; trained for HALO/HAHO jumps, counter-terrorism, deep penetration missions

Agniveer scheme (2022): New short-term military enlistment for 4 years; 25% retained as regular soldiers; applies to all 3 services

Armoured Corps: Operates Arjun MBT (indigenous, 68 tonnes) and T-90 Bhishma (Russian origin, 600+ in service); 3 Armoured Divisions

Artillery Regiment: Uses Bofors gun (FH-77B), K9 Vajra-T, M-777 Ultra-light howitzer, Pinaka MLRS; largest arm of Army firepower

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Created in 2020 post Kargil recommendation; first CDS General Bipin Rawat (died December 2021); current CDS General Anil Chauhan

Army's role: External defence, internal security (Article 355), aid to civil authority, UN peacekeeping (India is one of largest troop contributors)