Rank Wise Collar Tabs Of Indian Army Officers Explained

What are the Collar Tabs of Indian Army?

The rank and seniority of Indian Army officers can be identified not only by the batch on the shoulders but also by the tabs on the collar of the uniform. The collar tabs of Indian Army officers are red in colour.

The first caller tab is available to an officer of the rank of Colonel. After which, with each promotion, the collar tabs keep changing along with the batch on the shoulders. Let us tell you how to find out their rank and seniority from the collar tab on the uniform of an Indian Army officer.

It is worth mentioning here that the officer rank in the Indian Army starts with the rank of lieutenant. Promotion to the rank of Captain takes place after two years of commutative commissioned service. After about 6 years of commissioned service, the officer of the rank of Captain is promoted to the rank of Major.

At the same time, after 13 years of commissioned service, officers of the rank of Major are promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Officers ranging in rank from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel do not get the red collar tab. In the Indian Army, the caller tabs start with the rank of Colonel.

Collar Tabs of Indian Army and Their Ranks

Colonel: After 15 years of commissioned service, the lieutenant colonel is promoted to the rank of colonel. With the promotion in this post, red colored collar tabs are added to the uniform. An officer in the rank of Colonel has four golden colored leaves in the collar tabs. Also, there is a golden colored button on the collar tabs with the Army insignia.

Brigadier: After 25 years of commissioned service, the officers who are in the rank of Colonel are promoted to the rank of Brigadier. The collar tabs of Brigadier rank officers have a golden star with a golden button bearing the insignia of the army.

Major General: After 32 years of commissioned service, promotion is done from the rank of Brigadier to the rank of Major General. In this post, the collar tabs of the officer’s uniform are joined by two golden stars with a golden button bearing the insignia of the army. Major General is the third highest rank of the Indian Army.

Lieutenant General: Promotion from the rank of Major General to the rank of Lieutenant General after 36 years of commissioned service in the Army. Lieutenant General is the second highest rank in the Indian Army. Only officers of this rank are posted as Vice Chief of Army Staff or Army Commander. The collar tabs of Lieutenant General rank officers have three golden stars with crimson patches.

General: The post of General is the highest rank in the Indian Army in the absence of Field Marshal. We also know the rank of General as Army Chief. The status of this post is equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary of India. The collar tabs of the general’s uniform have four golden stars with a crimson patch.

Field Marshal: The highest rank of the Indian Army is Field Marshal. Field Marshal is a ceremonial and wartime post. Since independence, only two officers have been awarded the rank of Field Marshal, which includes Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal KM Cariappa. The Field Marshal rank consists of five golden stars in the collar tabs.

FAQ’s :

Q1. Why do Indian Army Colonels/generals wear red collar tabs?

Indian Army collar tabs, especially the red ones are worn by Colonels and Generals, This signifies the senior officer status and command authority. The color and design of collar insignia of Indian Army help distinguish officer ranks in Indian Army in formal uniforms, making it easy to identify leadership at a glance.

Q2. At which rank do Indian Army officers start wearing collar tabs?

Army officers rank collar insignia are worn by army officers from the rank of Lieutenant. From this stage onward, the collar tabs, along with Indian Army shoulder ranks, reflect that officer’s rank and branch in the Indian Army.

Q3. Are collar tabs the same across all Indian Armed Forces?

No, collar tabs of Indian Army are different, the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force all have separate army collar insignia, or equivalent, which indicates branch origins and traditions, ranks and uniformity within the Indian Armed Forces.

Q4. How can I identify an officer’s rank by their collar tabs?

The Indian Army collar ranks can be distinguished by symbols such as stars, stripes, or color on the collar tabs. For instance, one star will distinguish a Lieutenant, while a couple of stars or the red backing will indicate other higher ranks, in Indian Army uniforms.

Q5. What do the golden stars on Indian Army collar tabs signify?

The golden stars on the collar tabs of the officer in the army badge represent rank and seniority. The number of stars denotes the various ranks of the Indian Army where individuals may hold the title of Lieutenant to General. The stars and colored collar tabs work together as a visual method of quickly recognizing the ranks of the members of the Indian Army.