Field Marshal is the highest rank in the Indian Army, a five-star rank above General. Only two officers have held it: Sam Manekshaw, promoted on 1 January 1973 after the 1971 war, and K. M. Cariappa, honoured in 1986. The equivalent five-star ranks are Marshal of the Indian Air Force, held only by Arjan Singh, and Admiral of the Fleet in the Navy, which has never been conferred. This page explains the rank, the three officers who have held five stars, and how it differs from a regular Chief of Staff.
Quick Answer
Field Marshal = five-star Army rank, above General (four-star). Holders: Sam Manekshaw (1 January 1973, first) and K. M. Cariappa (15 January 1986). Air Force equivalent: Marshal of the IAF, only Arjan Singh (26 January 2002). Navy equivalent: Admiral of the Fleet, never awarded. A Field Marshal never retires: the rank is held for life, with full pay. It is ceremonial and conferred by the President for exceptional service.
What Is the Rank of Field Marshal?
The Indian Army’s regular ranks stop at General, the four-star rank held by the Chief of the Army Staff. Field Marshal sits above it as an honorary and ceremonial rank. It does not create a separate command post; a Field Marshal does not command the Army. Its features:
- Five-star rank, the highest the Army can confer.
- Held for life: the officer is never retired and is treated as a serving officer.
- Full pay of a General is paid for life, as for a serving officer.
- Insignia: the National Emblem over a crossed baton and sabre within a lotus-blossom wreath.
- Conferred by the President of India, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on the Government’s advice.
- Wears uniform on ceremonial occasions.
India’s Two Field Marshals
| Sam Manekshaw | K. M. Cariappa | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw | Kodandera Madappa Cariappa |
| Promoted Field Marshal | 1 January 1973 (first) | 15 January 1986 (rank conferred; ceremony 28 April 1986) |
| Army Chief | 8th Chief of the Army Staff (1969–1973) | First Indian Commander-in-Chief (1949–1953) |
| Known for | Victory in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War | Leading the Army in the 1947–48 Kashmir operations; Indianisation of the Army |
| Nickname | "Sam Bahadur" | "Kipper" |
| Died | 27 June 2008, Wellington (Tamil Nadu) | 15 May 1993, Bengaluru |
Army Day is celebrated on 15 January because on that date in 1949 Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief from General Sir Francis Butcher.
Five-Star Ranks in All Three Services
| Service | Five-star rank | Holder |
|---|---|---|
| Army | Field Marshal | Sam Manekshaw (1973), K. M. Cariappa (1986) |
| Air Force | Marshal of the Indian Air Force | Arjan Singh (2002) |
| Navy | Admiral of the Fleet | Never conferred |
Arjan Singh led the IAF in the 1965 war as Chief of the Air Staff and was promoted Marshal of the IAF on 26 January 2002. He died on 16 September 2017.
Field Marshal vs Chief of Defence Staff vs Army Chief
| Post | Rank | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Field Marshal | Five-star | Honorary, for life; no command |
| Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) | Four-star General (or equivalent) | Functional post since 2020; heads the Department of Military Affairs |
| Chief of the Army Staff | Four-star General | Commands the Army; fixed tenure |
The CDS is not a five-star rank. The first CDS, General Bipin Rawat, took office on 1 January 2020.
Army Rank Structure for Reference
Field Marshal, General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant. Junior Commissioned Officers: Subedar Major, Subedar, Naib Subedar. For the police equivalents, see Indian police ranks and insignia.
