Colonel
Rank insignia of a colonel of the Indian Army
Country India
Service branch Indian Army
AbbreviationCol
RankColonel
Next higher rankBrigadier
Next lower rankLieutenant colonel
Equivalent ranksCaptain (Indian Navy)
Group Captain (Indian Air Force)

Colonel is a rank in the Indian Army. Like other armies, this rank is higher than lieutenant colonel and lower than a brigadier. It is equivalent to captain in the Indian Navy and group captain in the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Army has followed the British Army rank system since India's independence from the British Empire in 1947. However, the St Edward's Crown in the rank insignia was replaced with the National Emblem of India, symbolising the sovereignty of the Government of India.

Appointments

Colonels in the Indian Army command battalion-sized units (infantry battalions, artillery regiments, armoured regiments).[1] Until the 1980s, battalions (and equivalents) were commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Colonels also serve as staff officers in divisions like Colonel General Staff (Col GS) and Colonel Administration (Col Adm). At Army headquarters, colonels hold the appointments of directors of directorates and branches.

Insignia

The badges of rank have two five-pointed stars and the National emblem above.[2] The gorget patches of a colonel consist of crimson patches with golden braids.

Pay scale

Colonels are at pay level 13, with a monthly pay between ₹130,600 and ₹215,900 with a monthly service pay of ₹15,500. This is the first selection-grade rank. The promotion to the rank can happen through selection or on time-scale basis. A minimum of 15 years of commissioned service is required for an officer to be considered in the selection grade. This is the highest rank which may be attained by officers on time-scale promotion if not promoted to colonel by selection after 26 years of commissioned service.[3][4][5]

Colonel of the regiment

The colonel of the regiment (COR) is a tradition and position that the Indian Army has inherited from the British Army, as have other armies of the commonwealth. The post of COR is an elected post. All officers including and above the rank of colonel vote as do all battalion commanding officers (CO). The vote of the COs represents the vote of their soldiers. The COR is a senior officer of the regiment, usually the senior-most, who is a father-figure to the regiment and looks after the interests of the regiment. Thus, they are usually general officers or brigadiers. On ceremonial occasions, the COR wears the rank badges of a colonel rather than their actual rank.

Famous colonels

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Organisation of Indian Army". indianarmy.nic.in. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in.
  3. ↑ (PDF). 20 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151120092637/http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ DelhiJune 29, India Today Web Desk New; June 29, India Today Web Desk New; Ist, India Today Web Desk New. "7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?". India Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Pay Scale of Officers - Join Indian Navy | Government of India". www.joinindiannavy.gov.in.
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