1/21/23, 1:36 AM Field marshal (India) - Wikipedia

Contents
move to sidebar hide

(Top)
1History

2Overview

2.1Insignia

3Rank holders

3.1Sam Manekshaw
3.1.1Controversies

3.2Kodandera Madappa Cariappa

4See also

5Notes
6References

7Further reading

8External links

Field marshal (India)

Field Marshal (or field marshal, abbreviated as FM) is a
Field Marshal
five–star general officer rank and the highest attainable rank
in the Indian Army. Field Marshal is ranked immediately
above general, but not exercised in the regular army structure.
It is a largely ceremonial or wartime rank, having been
awarded only twice. A Field Marshal’s insignia consists of the Flag of the Field Marshal
national emblem over a crossed baton and sabre in a lotus
blossom wreath.

Sam Manekshaw was the first Field Marshal of India, and was
conferred the rank on 1 January 1973. The second was
Kodandera M. Cariappa, who was conferred the rank on 15
January 1986.
Shoulder insignia

Star insignia of Field Marshal

Country  India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_marshal_(India) 1/6
1/21/23, 1:36 AM Field marshal (India) - Wikipedia

Field Marshal is equivalent to an admiral of the fleet in the Service  Indian Army
Indian Navy and a Marshal of the Indian Air Force in the branch
Indian Air Force. In the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet has never
Abbreviation FM
been awarded, but from the Air Force, Arjan Singh was
promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force. Rank Five star
Formation 26 January 1950
History Next higher None
rank
To date, only two Indian Army officers have been conferred the
Next lower General
rank. It was first conferred to Sam Manekshaw in 1973, in
recognition of his service and leadership in the 1971 Indo- rank
Pakistani War. In 1971, after the war, Prime Minister Indira Equivalent Admiral of the fleet
Gandhi decided to promote Manekshaw to Field Marshal and ranks (IN)
subsequently to appoint him as the Chief of the Defence Staff
Marshal of the
(CDS). This appointment was dropped after several objections
Indian Air Force
from the bureaucracy and the commanders of the Navy and
the Air Force. On 3 January 1973, after his term as the Chief of (IAF)
the Army Staff (COAS) Manekshaw
was conferred with the rank of Field Equivalent ranks of Indian military
Marshal at a ceremony held at
Indian Navy Indian Army Indian Air Force
Rashtrapati Bhavan.[1][2] As it was
the first appointment, several Commissioned ranks
entitlements of the rank, including Admiral of Field marshal Marshal of
the badges and ribbons, were yet to the fleet the Indian Air Force
be worked out. A few weeks before Admiral General Air chief marshal
Manekshaw's appointment, the Field
Marshal's badges of rank were made Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal
at the Army workshop in Delhi Rear admiral Major general Air vice marshal
Cantonment. They were inspired by Commodore Brigadier Air commodore
the British Field Marshal insignia.[3] Captain Colonel Group captain

The second individual to be Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander

conferred the rank was Kodandera Lieutenant commander Major Squadron leader
M. Cariappa, the first Indian to serve Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
as the Commander–in–Chief of the
Sub lieutenant Lieutenant Flying officer
Indian Army. Unlike Manekshaw,
Junior commissioned ranks
who was conferred the rank just
before his retirement,[a] Cariappa Master chief Subedar major[Alt 1] Master warrant officer
was already retired in 1953, and since petty officer
a field marshal never retires, 1st class
therefore retired officers cannot be Master chief Subedar[Alt 2] Warrant officer
given the rank. But as a token of petty officer
gratitude for the exemplary service 2nd class
rendered by him to the nation, the
Government of India overruled the Chief Naib subedar[Alt 3] Junior warrant officer
pre-established criteria, and petty officer
conferred the rank of field marshal Non-commissioned ranks
on him on 15 January 1986 at a
Petty officer Havildar Sergeant
special investiture ceremony held at
Leading seaman Naik Corporal
Rashtrapati Bhavan.[4][5][6]
Seaman 1 Lance naik Leading aircraftsman

Overview Seaman 2 Sepoy Aircraftsman

Footnotes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_marshal_(India) 2/6
1/21/23, 1:36 AM Field marshal (India) - Wikipedia

Field Marshal is the five-star rank

and highest attainable rank in the 1. Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments
Indian Army. Though the rank is 2. Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments
placed above general, it is not 3. Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments.
observed in the regular structure. It Called jemadar until 1965.
is a largely ceremonial or wartime
rank, having been awarded only
twice.[7]

A Field Marshal receives the full pay of a four–star General, and is considered a serving officer
until their death. They wear a full uniform on all ceremonial occasions. In addition to this, they
also run an office in the Army Headquarters with a secretariat.[7]

Field Marshal is equivalent to an Admiral of the Fleet in the Indian Navy or a Marshal of the Air
Force in the Indian Air Force. While Arjan Singh is the only holder of the Marshal of the Air Force
to date, no officer has ever been promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.[7]

Insignia

A Field Marshal's insignia consists of the national emblem over a crossed baton and sabre in a
lotus blossom wreath. On appointment, Field Marshals are awarded a gold-tipped baton which
they may carry on formal occasions. The star insignia, which comprises five golden stars over a red
strip, is used on car pennants, rank flags and as gorget patches.[7]

Rank holders

Sam Manekshaw

Sam Manekshaw, MC (1914–2008),[8][2] also known as "Sam Bahadur" ("Sam the Brave"), was
the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of field marshal.[7] Commissioned into the
British Indian Army on 1 February 1935 with seniority antedated to 4 February 1934,[9]
Manekshaw's distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with
service in World War II. He was first attached to the 2nd Battalion of Royal Scots, and later posted
to the 4th Battalion of 12th Frontier Force Regiment, commonly known as the 54th Sikhs.
Following partition, he was reassigned to the 16th Punjab Regiment.[10][11][12]

Manekshaw rose to be the 8th COAS of the Indian Army in 1969,[13] and under his command
Indian forces conducted successful campaigns against Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
that led to the Liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971.The war lasted for 12 days from 3
December to 16 December, one among the Shortest wars of the History. On 16 December 1971, Lt.
Gen A. A. K. Niazi of the Pakistan Army signed the Instrument of Surrender at Dhaka in the
presence of Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora, Lt. Gen. J. F. R. Jacob and other Senior Officers of the
Indian Army. More than 93000 Pakistani Soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army, which was
recorded as one among the largest surrender in the History. The decisive results achieved by the
Indian Army during this war, under the able military leadership of Manekshaw, gave the nation a
new sense of confidence,[14] and in recognition of his services, in January 1973 the President of

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_marshal_(India) 3/6
1/21/23, 1:36 AM Field marshal (India) - Wikipedia

India conferred the rank of field marshal on him.[1] He was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan
and the Padma Bhushan, the second and third highest Indian civilian awards respectively, for his
services to the Indian nation.[11][15]

Controversies

Though Sam Manekshaw was conferred the rank of field marshal in 1973, it was reported that he
was never given the complete allowances he was entitled to as a field marshal. It was not until
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam took the initiative when he met Manekshaw in Wellington, and made
sure that the field marshal was presented with a cheque for ₹1.3 crores–his arrears of pay for over
30 years. Even more surprisingly, Manekshaw's funeral was not attended by the top brass from
civil, military, or political leadership, because non parsis are not allowed to enter parsi funeral
.[3][16]

Kodandera Madappa Cariappa

Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, OBE (1899–1993),[17] was the first Indian to be appointed as
commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. His distinguished military career spanned
almost three decades. Cariappa joined the British Indian Army on 1 December 1920, and was
commissioned as temporary second lieutenant in the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry.[17] He was later
transferred to 2/125 Napier Rifles, then to the 7th Prince of Wales Own Dogra Regiment in June
1922, and finally to the 1/7 Rajput, which became his parent regiment.[5][18][19]

He was the first Indian officer to attend the course at Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to
command a battalion[b] in the Indian Army,[21] and also was one of the first two Indians selected to
undergo a training course at the Imperial Defence College,[22] Camberly, UK. He served in various
staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the General HQ, New
Delhi.[5]

He led the Indian forces in Kashmir during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was a member of
the Army Sub Committee of the Forces Reconstitution Committee, which divided the British
Indian Army into the Indian and Pakistani Armies after the Partition of India in 1947.[23] After his
retirement from the Indian Army in 1953, he served as the high commissioner to Australia and
New Zealand until 1956.[24][25] As a token of gratitude for the exemplary service rendered by him
to the nation, the Government of India conferred the rank of field marshal on Cariappa in his 87th
year, on 14 January 1986.[5][4]

See also
Army ranks and insignia of India
Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh
Field marshal
Five-star rank

Notes
Footnotes

a. Manekshaw was conferred the rank of field marshal just a few days before his term as COAS
ended.[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_marshal_(India) 4/6
1/21/23, 1:36 AM Field marshal (India) - Wikipedia

b. A battalion comprises four rifle companies. A rifle company comprises four platoons. A platoon
consists of a section which has 10 men.[20]

Citations

1. Singh 2005, p. 215.

2. Sharma 2007, pp. 59–61.
3. Lt Gen Sk Sinha. "The Making of a Field Marshal" (http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlig
hts/the-making-of-a-field-marshall/). Indian Defence Review. Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20161202121509/http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/the-making-of-a-field-ma
rshall/) from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
4. Singh 2005, p. 49.
5. Sharma 2007, pp. 43–45.
6. "Cariappa made Field Marshal" (http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENC
E/1986-JAN-JULY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1986-01-14_020.pdf) (PDF).
7. "Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed
Forces?" (https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Highest-ranks-in-Indian-Armed-Forces/#.53j2ve5ta).
Scoop Whoop. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170104090735/https://www.scoopwho
op.com/Highest-ranks-in-Indian-Armed-Forces#.53j2ve5ta) from the original on 4 January
2017. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
8. Singh 2005, p. 183.
9. Singh 2005, pp. 188–189.
10. Singh 2002, pp. 237–259.
11. Vinod Saighal (29 June 2008). "Obituary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw" (https://www.theguar
dian.com/world/2008/jun/30/india). The Guardian. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160
923150853/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/30/india) from the original on 23
September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
12. Tarun Vijay (30 June 2008). "Saluting Sam Bahadur" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tarun-v
ijay/the-right-view/Saluting-Sam-Bahadur/articleshow/3179920.cms?). Times of India. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20161220200623/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tarun-vijay/th
e-right-view/Saluting-Sam-Bahadur/articleshow/3179920.cms) from the original on 20
December 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
13. Singh 2005, p. 213.
14. Singh 2005, pp. 210–211.
15. "Play It Again, Sam" (http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/play-it-again-sam/218683).
Outlook India. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20161207032200/http://www.outlookindia.
com/magazine/story/play-it-again-sam/218683) from the original on 7 December 2016.
Retrieved 4 September 2016.
16. Nitin Gokhale (3 April 2014). "Remembering Sam Manekshaw, India's greatest general, on his
birth centenary" (http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/remembering-sam-manekshaw-indias-greate
st-general-on-his-birth-centenary-556023). NDTV. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160
914084348/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/remembering-sam-manekshaw-indias-greatest-ge
neral-on-his-birth-centenary-556023) from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved
4 September 2016.
17. Singh 2005, p. 21.
18. Singh 2005, p. 23.
19. "Viewing Page 7663 of Issue 32878" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32878/page/
7663). The London Gazette. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20161125055546/https://w
ww.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32878/page/7663) from the original on 25 November 2016.
Retrieved 4 September 2016.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_marshal_(India) 5/6
1/21/23, 1:36 AM Field marshal (India) - Wikipedia

20. "Structure" (http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=1KRe3PlA

UEofJY1khsmQiw==&ParentID=3MNO2EnY8feZhYb+f0sRuw==). Indian Army. Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20161224153537/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTemp
Simple.aspx?MnId=1KRe3PlAUEofJY1khsmQiw%3D%3D&ParentID=3MNO2EnY8feZhYb%2
Bf0sRuw%3D%3D) from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
21. Singh 2005, p. 29.
22. Singh 2005, p. 33.
23. Singh 2005, p. 34.
24. Singh 2005, p. 46.
25. "Previous High Commissioners" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160816173243/http://www.hcin
dia-au.org/previous-high-commissioners.htm). The High Commission of India in Australia.
Archived from the original (http://www.hcindia-au.org/previous-high-commissioners.htm) on 16
August 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.

References
Singh, Vijay Kumar (2005), Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers,
Sage, ISBN 978-0-7619-3322-9
Sharma, Satinder (2007), Services Chiefs of India, Northern Book Centre, ISBN 978-81-7211-
162-5

Further reading
Singh, Depinder (2002), Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, M.C.: Soldiering with Dignity, Natraj,
ISBN 978-81-85019-02-4
K. C. Cariappa (2007). Chaudhuri, Dipa (ed.). Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (2nd ed.). New
Delhi: Niyogi Books. ISBN 978-81-89738-26-6.
Edel Weis (2002). Field Marshal Cariappa: The Man who Touched the Sky. New Delhi: Roopa
& Co. ISBN 978-81-7167-944-7.

External links
Profile on Sam Manekshaw Indian Army official website (http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTem
plete/frmTemp1PTC2C.aspx?MnId=+pFZjV8mz9fc6cOfg7px1g==&ParentID=rLdGLIGh/NUCC
0Neg3IFSQ==)
Profile on K. M. Cariappa Indian Army official website (http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemple
te/frmTemp1PTC2C.aspx?MnId=Qofq8o630PNbNPgw+7GS3A==&ParentID=Cj9ARBsMxPEk
qMd1Q03cgw==)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Field_marshal_(India)&oldid=1127525506"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_marshal_(India) 6/6