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]
History and officer ranks[]
The Indian Naval Ensign.
While the provision for the rank of Admiral of the Fleet exists, it is primarily intended for major wartime use and honour. No officer of the Indian Navy has yet been conferred this rank. Both the Army and Air Force have had officers who have been conferred with the equivalent rank – Field Marshals Sam Manekshaw and K. M. Cariappa of the Army and Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh.
The highest ranked naval officer is the Chief of Naval Staff, who holds the rank of full Admiral.
They are commissioned Sub-lieutenants upon finishing their course of study. The Medical Officers and Dental Officers use the prefix "Surgeon" with all the respective ranks, for example Surgeon Vice Admiral.[2]
| Equivalent NATO Code |
OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) & Student officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| India (Edit) |
 
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| Admiral of the Fleet1 |
Admiral2 | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander |
Lieutenant | Sublieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Honorary/ War time rank |
Held by the Chief of Defence Staff and/or the Chief of the Naval Staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other ranks[]
Chief Petty Officer was the highest non-commissioned rank until December 1968, when the ranks of Master Chief Petty Officer Class II and Master Chief Petty Officer Class I were introduced.[3]
| Rank group | Junior commissioned officers | Non commissioned officer | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| India (Edit) |
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No equivalent | 
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No equivalent |
No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Master Chief Petty Officer 1st Class | Master Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class | Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer | Leading Seaman | Ordinary Seaman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also[]
- Comparative military ranks
- Army ranks and insignia of India
- Air Force ranks and insignia of India
- 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 India
Notes[]
- 1 Honorary/Ceremonial/wartime rank. Has never been awarded.
- 2 Held by the Chief of the Naval Staff or the Chief of Defence Staff.
References[]
- ↑ "Military Digest: As Indian Navy looks to introduce new ranks, a look at foreign origins of Naval ranks". 16 October 2023. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/military-digest-indian-navy-new-ranks-8983840/.
- ↑ "Director General Medical Services (Navy)". https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/director-general-medical-services-navy.
- ↑ "New Cadre for Senior Sailors Formed". 15 December 1968. https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1968-MAY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1968-12-15_303.pdf.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Indian Navy ranks and insignia and the edit history here.