Major general is a
two-star general officer
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...
rank 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- ...
. It is the third-highest active rank in the Indian Army. A major general ranks above the
one-star rank
An officer of one-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-6. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, one-star officers hold the rank o ...
of
brigadier
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...
and below the
three-star rank
An officer of three-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, three-star officers hold the ...
of
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
.
The equivalent rank 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 ...
is
rear admiral and 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 ...
is
air vice marshal.
Appointments
Officers in the rank of major general hold important appointments like general officer commanding a
division
Division or divider may refer to:
Mathematics
*Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication
*Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division
Military
*Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
. The Indian Army has 40 divisions in 14
corps
Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...
. The general officers commanding sub areas across the country are also of the rank of major general. At army headquarters, major generals hold the appointments of additional director general in different directorates and staff branches.
Insignia
The badges of rank have a crossed sword and baton and a five-pointed star above. A major general wears
gorget patches
Gorget patches (collar tabs, collar patches) are an insignia in the form of paired patches of cloth or metal on the collar of a uniform (gorget), used in the military and civil service in some countries. Collar tabs sign the military rank (group o ...
which are crimson patches with two golden stars.
Order of precedence
A major general who is a principal staff officer ranks at No. 25 in the
Indian order of precedence
The order of precedence of the Republic of India is a list in which the functionaries, dignitaries and officials are listed for ceremonial purposes and has no legal standing and does not reflect the Indian presidential line of succession or the c ...
. Other major generals are at No. 26 in the order of precedence.
Major generals are at pay level 14, with a monthly pay between ₹144,200 (US$1,950) and ₹218,200 (US$2,950).
Rank insignia and personal flag
File:Major_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg, Indian Army major general shoulder insignia
File:Flag_of_Indian_Major_Generals,_Army_Headquarters.png, Flag of a major general at army headquarters
File:Flag of Indian Major Generals, Staff.png, Flag of a major general on staff
See also
*
List of serving generals of the Indian Army
This is a list of serving generals of the Indian Army.
Chief of Defence Staff
Chief of the Army Staff
Vice Chief of the Army Staff
Army Commanders (Commander-in-Chief Grade)
**Rotational Command
Principal Staff Officers (PSO) ...
*
Army ranks and insignia of India
Indian Army Ranks can be broadly classified into three categories: Commissioned Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks.
These ranks generally correspond with those of the British Indian Army. Traditional names for ranks are sti ...
*
General officer commanding
References
{{Indian Army
India Army
Indian Army
Indian generals
Military ranks of the Indian Army
Two-star officers