View source for Subedar

{{Short description|A rank of junior commissioned officer}}
{{Not to be confused with|Subahdar|text=[[Subahdar]], a historical title for the head of a provincial administration}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = Subedar
| native_name    = 
| image          = [[File:Subedar - Risaldar of the Indian Army.svg|50px]] [[File:09.Nepalese Army-WO2.svg|50px]] [[File:09.Pakistan Army-MCWO.svg|50px]]
| image_size     = 
| alt            =
| caption        = Indian, Nepali and Pakistani insignia
| image2         = 
| image_size2    = 
| alt2           =
| caption2       = 
| image3         = 
| image_size3    = 
| alt3           =
| caption3       = 
| country        = {{ubl|{{flag|India}}|{{flag|Nepal}}|{{flag|Pakistan}}}}
| service branch = 
| abbreviation   = 
| rank group     = [[Junior commissioned officer]]
| rank           = 
| NATO rank      = 
| Non-NATO rank  = 
| pay grade      = 
| formation      = 
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = {{ubl|[[Subedar-major]] (Indian Army and Pakistan Army)|Pramukh Suvēdār (Nepal Army)}}
| lower rank     = {{ubl|[[Naib Subedar]] (Indian Army and Pakistan Army)|[[Jemadar]] (Nepal Army)}}
| equivalents    = [[Risaldar]]
| history        = 
}}

'''Subedar''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ʌ|b|ə|ˈ|d|ɑːr}} {{respell|sub|ə|DAHR}}) is a military rank in the militaries of South Asia roughly equivalent to that of a [[warrant officer]]. Historically classed in the [[British Indian Army]] as a [[Viceroy's commissioned officer]], the rank was retained in the [[Indian Army]] and [[Pakistan Army]] after independence. The rank of subedar is classed as a [[junior commissioned officer]] rank in India and Pakistan.

==History==
''Subedar'' or ''subadar'' was the second-highest rank of Indian officers in the military forces of [[British India]], ranking below "British Commissioned Officers" and above "Local Non-Commissioned Officers". Indian officers were promoted to this rank on the basis of both lengths of service and individual merit.

Under British rule, a [[Risaldar]] was the cavalry equivalent of a Subedar. Subedar and Risaldar were both ranked senior to a [[Jemadar]] and junior to a Subedar Major or a Risaldar Major in an infantry/cavalry regiment of the Indian Army. Both Subedars and Risaldars wore two stars as rank insignia.<ref>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Creese|page=xiii|title=Swords Trembling in Their Scabbards. The Changing Status of Indian Officers in the Indian Army 1757–1947|isbn=9-781909-982819}}</ref>

The rank was introduced in the [[East India Company]]'s [[presidency armies]] (the [[Bengal Army]], the [[Madras Army]] and the [[Bombay Army]]) to make it easier for British officers to communicate with Indian troops. It was thus important for subedars to have some competence in [[English language|English]]. In a November 1755 order, the structure of an infantry company in the HEIC's newly raised infantry regiments provided for one subedar, four jemadars, 16 [[non-commissioned officer|NCOs]] and 90 [[sepoy]]s (private soldiers). This was to remain the approximate proportion until the number of British junior officers in a regiment increased later in the 18th century.<ref>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Creese|page=26|title=Swords Trembling in Their Scabbards. The Changing Status of Indian Officers in the Indian Army 1757–1947|isbn=9-781909-982819}}</ref>

Until 1866, the rank was the highest an Indian soldier could achieve in the army of [[British India]]. A subedar's authority was confined to other Indian troops, and he could not command British troops. Promoted from the ranks and usually advanced through seniority based on long service; the typical subedar of this period was a relatively elderly veteran with limited English, whose extensive regimental experience and practical knowledge was not matched by formal education or training.<ref>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Creese|pages=28|title=Swords Trembling in Their Scabbards. The Changing Status of Indian Officers in the Indian Army 1757–1947|isbn=9-781909-982819}}</ref> 

Before the [[Partition of India]], subedars were known as [[Viceroy's commissioned officer]]s (VCOs). After 1947, this term was changed to [[junior commissioned officer]]s. It was not until the 1930s that significant numbers of Indian cadets began to be appointed as King's Commissioned Officers (KCOs) from either [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Sandhurst]] or the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun.<ref>{{cite book|first=Philip|last=Mason|pages=453–466|title=A Matter of Honour: An Account of the Indian Army, Its Officers and Men|isbn=0-333-41837-9}}</ref>

Until 1858, subedars wore two epaulettes with small bullion fringes on each shoulder. After 1858, they wore two crossed golden swords, or, in the [[Gurkha]] regiments, two crossed golden kukris, on each side of the collar of the tunic or on the right breast of the [[kurta]]. After 1900, subedars wore two pips on each shoulder. A red-yellow-red ribbon was introduced under each pip after [[World War I]]. After [[World War II]], this ribbon was moved to lie between the shoulder title and the rank insignia (two brass stars on both shoulders).

During the period of British rule, subedars and other VCOs wore distinctive uniforms that combined features of both British and Indian military dress.<ref>Coloured illustrations by A. C. Lovett contained in ''The Armies of India'', Lt. Get Sir George MacMunn, {{ISBN|0 947554 02 5}}.</ref>

==After independence==
After independence in 1947, with the [[Partition of India]], the former Indian Army was divided between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].
 
===Indian Army===
In the [[Indian Army]], the rank has been promoted to second senior-most JCO with a ribbon band on the shoulder strap of two gold stars with a gold-red-gold stripe below. The [[Junior Commissioned Officers]] of the Indian Army are equivalent to Group-B Gazetted Officers in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Insignia For Junior Commissioned Officers |url=https://www.embibe.com/exams/indian-army-ranks/ |website=Embibe}}</ref>

===Pakistan Army===
In the [[Pakistan Army]], the rank has been retained as a senior JCO, but the distinguishing ribbon band on the shoulder strap is now red-green-red.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080926061605/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Ranks.html www.Bharat-Rakshak.com/Army/Ranks.html] - Illustration of various military insignias including three subedar insignia designs.

[[Category:Hindi words and phrases]]
[[Category:Military ranks of British India]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]]