Group Captain is a rank in the

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

. Group Captain ranks above the rank of

Wing commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

and lower than an Air Commodore. It is equivalent to

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

in the

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

and

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates sig ...

Sachin_Tendulkar_-_Honorary_Group_Captain

History

On 06 March 1946,

Subroto Mukerjee Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee OBE (Bengali: সুব্রত মুখোপাধ্যায়) (5 March 1911 – 8 November 1960) was an Indian military officer who was the first Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Air Force. He wa ...

was promoted to the acting rank of Group Captain, the first Indian officer to be promoted to the rank. He was appointed Group Captain (Plans & Training) at Air headquarters.

Appointments

Group captains in the Indian Air Force command squadrons and helicopter units. Officers in the rank of Group Captain also serve as chief operations officers of air force stations. The

air attaché The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

s and air advisors at India's high commissions and embassies in most countries are officers of the rank of group captain. At Air headquarters, group captains hold the appointments of directors of directorates and branches.

Insignia

The pennant of a group captain is triangular in shape and is sky blue with the Indian Air Force roundel surmounted by the eagle from the Indian Air Force badge. The badges of rank consists of four sky blue bands, each on a slightly wider navy blue band. A group captain wears gorget patches which are blue patches with white braids. In addition to this, the blue grey terrywool tunic has four sleeve stripes consisting of a narrow bands.

Pay scale

Group Captains are at pay level 13, with a monthly pay between ₹130,600 and ₹215,900 with a monthly service pay of ₹15,500. This is the first selection-grade rank. The promotion to the rank can happen through selection or on time-scale basis. A minimum of 15 years of commissioned service is required for an officer to be considered in the selection grade. This is the highest rank which may be attained by officers on time-scale promotion if not promoted to group captain by selection after 26 years of commissioned service.

References

{{Indian Air Force India Air Force Indian Air Force Military ranks of the Indian Air Force

History

Appointments

Insignia

Pay scale

See also

References