Subedar

Subedar

Subedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...

-Major is the senior rank of Junior Commissioned Officer

Junior Commissioned Officer

Junior commissioned officer is a term describing a group of military ranks found in the Indian Army, Pakistan Army, Bangladesh Army and Nepal Army. Those soldiers holding JCO rank receive a commission from the President,...

 in the Indian

Indian Army

The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

 and Pakistani

Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...

 Armies, and formerly Viceroy's Commissioned Officer

Viceroy's Commissioned Officer

A viceroy's commissioned officer was a senior Indian member of the British Indian Army. VCOs were senior in rank to warrant officers in the British Army, and held a commission issued by the viceroy...

 in the British Indian Army

British Indian Army

The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...

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Although commissioned, they would be considered as senior enlisted personnel and fulfil a role similar to that of the most senior NCOs in other armies. A Battalion's single Subedar-Major assists the commander in much the same way as a Regimental Sergeant-Major would (to the extent that this rank, known as Regimental Havildar Major, is now almost obsolete in the Indian Army).

Under British rule a Subedar-Major wore the Crown

British Army officer rank insignia

-Origins:The first British Army rank insignia were introduced in 1760. According to the Royal Clothing Warrant, General Officers were distinguished by the pattern and arrangement of laces on the cuff.Badges for field officers were first introduced in 1810...

 of a full Major, a tradition which has continued with slight variation after independence. India now use Ashoka Lions

Army ranks and insignia of India

The following tables present the ranks of the Indian army. These ranks generally correspond with those of Western militaries, and in particular reflect those of the British and Commonwealth Armies. Traditional names for ranks are still used, as well as western names....

 with a gold and red stripe below, and Pakistan a Wreathed Star

Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...

 with green and red. These stripes separate Subedar-Majors from full commissioned Majors; in the Old Indian Army this distinction was made by race.

In the Cavalry, the equivalent rank is Risaldar-Major

Risaldar-Major

Risaldar-major was originally a cavalry officer of the British Indian Army, the rank was created in 1886 - a risaldar-major was the most senior risaldar of the regiment...

. Subedar Major or Risaldar-Major (Cavalry), equivalents to a British Major; Subedar or Risaldar (Cavalry) equivalents to Captain;