Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces?
| Army | Airforce | Navy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brigadier | Air Commodore | Commander |
| 2. | Major General | Air Vice Marshal | Vice Admiral |
| 3. | Major | Squadron Leader | Lieutenant Commander |
| 4. | Lieutenant Colonel | Group Captain | Captain |
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) 3 only
Only row 3 is a true equivalence: an Army Major ranks with a Squadron Leader in the Air Force and a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. In the other rows the Navy rank is misplaced: Commander is not a Brigadier's counterpart, Vice Admiral is not a Major General's, and Captain is not a Lieutenant Colonel's.
- ✗ 1. Brigadier and Air Commodore are equivalent, but the Navy counterpart is Commodore. Commander sits two steps lower in the Navy ladder and corresponds to Lieutenant Colonel and Wing Commander.
- ✗ 2. Major General and Air Vice Marshal are equivalent to Rear Admiral. Vice Admiral is the next rank up, equal to Lieutenant General and Air Marshal.
- ✓ 3. Major, Squadron Leader and Lieutenant Commander are the equivalent mid-level officer ranks in the three services.
- ✗ 4. Lieutenant Colonel corresponds to Wing Commander and Commander. Group Captain and Captain (Navy) are equivalent to a Colonel, one rank higher.
Remember · Ladder of equivalents: Major = Squadron Leader = Lieutenant Commander; Lt Colonel = Wing Commander = Commander; Colonel = Group Captain = Captain; Brigadier = Air Commodore = Commodore.
Sources
- Supreme Audit Institution of India (CAG), Office Manual Vol. I Part C (Army): corresponding ranks of the Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force ↗ “Major General Rear Admiral Air Vice Marshal Brigadier Commodore Air Commodore Colonel Captain Group Captain Lt. Col. Commander Wing Commander Major Lt. Commander Squadron Leader Captain Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant”
- Join Indian Navy (Government of India), Ranks & Insignia ↗ “Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Midshipman”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·