Use of Military Ranks After Retirement: Naib Subedar, Honorary Lieutenant & SSC Rules
Use of Military Ranks After Retirement: Naib Subedar, Honorary Lieutenant & SSC Rules
Government rules on the use of military ranks after retirement or release, including Honorary Naib Subedar, Honorary Lieutenant and the important 2021 change for eligible Short Service Commissioned Officers.
What Are the Ministry of Defence Rules on Military Ranks?
The Government of India, Ministry of Defence issued guidelines on 27 July 1983, under No. F. 28 (1)/82/D (Coord), concerning the use of military ranks by retired and released service personnel.
The instruction superseded earlier instructions dated 19 November 1976 and specified the categories of persons who could use military ranks with their names.
The Government also directed authorities to ensure that the correct ranks were used in official correspondence, communiqués and press releases. Where a person was not entitled to use a military rank after retirement or release, the person was to be referred to by an appropriate civilian form of address.
Can Retired Officers Use Their Military Rank?
The 1983 instructions allow Regular/Permanent Commissioned Officers who retired with pension and gratuity to use their military rank with their names.
Examples given in the Government instruction include:
The instructions also cover officers who are granted an honorary rank after retirement. The honorary rank may be shown in parentheses after the actual rank in the prescribed manner.
Can a Naib Subedar Use “(Retd)”?
Yes, where the person has been granted the applicable honorary rank on retirement.
The 27 July 1983 Ministry of Defence instruction specifically states that Non-Commissioned Officers granted the honorary rank of Naib Risaldar or Naib Subedar on retirement may use that rank with their name.
Honorary Naib Risaldar / Naib Subedar D (Retd)
The relevant honorary rank must have been officially granted. A person does not acquire this right merely because he previously served as an NCO.
This distinction is particularly relevant to searches for Naib Subedar rank, honorary Naib Subedar and Naib Subedar (Retd).
Honorary Lieutenant After Retirement
The 1983 instructions also cover specified personnel granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant at retirement.
The instruction also covers other honorary commissions involving JCOs and certain Navy and Air Force personnel.
An honorary rank should not be confused with an ordinary substantive or service rank. The honorary rank must have been officially granted under the applicable rules.
What About Junior Commissioned Officers?
The Ministry of Defence instruction specifically provides for JCOs who are granted honorary commissions.
The rules therefore distinguish between JCOs, NCOs and commissioned officers and specify different circumstances in which an honorary rank may be used.
Important 2021 Change for Short Service Commission Officers
The original 1983 instruction stated that non-regular officers, including those who had held Temporary, Short Service or Emergency Commissions, were not entitled to use military rank after release.
However, the Government subsequently changed the position concerning Short Service Commissioned Officers.
On 23 March 2021, the Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare issued a corrigendum concerning the use of military ranks by Short Service Commission Officers.
The corrigendum directed that the words “Short Service” be deleted from paragraph 2 of the 1983 instruction.
The provision applies where the officer is eligible to get Ex-Servicemen status.
Therefore, the older statement that Short Service Commissioned Officers are not entitled to use any military rank should not be published today without mentioning the 2021 amendment.
What About Emergency Commissioned Officers?
The 2021 corrigendum specifically changed the position for Short Service Commissioned Officers. It did not make the same amendment to the reference to Emergency Commissioned Officers in the 1983 instruction.
Therefore, the 2021 change should not automatically be treated as extending to every former Emergency Commissioned Officer.
Territorial Army and Other Categories
The 1983 instructions also contain provisions relating to:
- Territorial Army officers
- Auxiliary Air Force
- National Cadet Corps
- Reserve officers
- Emergency List officers of the Indian Navy
- Former Indian State Forces
- Certain persons granted honorary commissions
The instruction also provided that retired/released officers of the Territorial Army and Army Postal Services Corps could use their military ranks with specific permission of the Government.
Foreign Honorary Military Ranks
The 1983 Ministry of Defence instruction states that an honorary military rank conferred by a foreign Government on an Indian citizen would, except in very exceptional circumstances, not be recognised for official purposes.
A foreign honorary military title therefore does not automatically establish an entitlement to use that rank officially in India.
Use of Military Ranks: Quick Summary
| Category | Position |
|---|---|
| Regular/Permanent Commissioned Officers retired with pension and gratuity | May use military rank under the 1983 guidelines. |
| JCO granted honorary commission | May use the rank as prescribed. |
| NCO granted honorary Naib Subedar/Naib Risaldar on retirement | May use honorary rank with (Retd). |
| Specified personnel granted Honorary Lieutenant | May use Honorary Lieutenant (Retd). |
| Eligible Short Service Commissioned Officer | 2021 corrigendum permits use after release, subject to Ex-Servicemen eligibility. |
| Emergency Commissioned Officer | The 1983 restriction remains relevant; the 2021 SSC amendment should not automatically be applied. |
| Territorial Army / Army Postal Services Corps | Specific Government permission applies under the 1983 instruction. |
| Foreign honorary military rank | Generally not recognised for official purposes. |
Why Correct Use of Military Rank Matters
The Ministry of Defence specifically instructed Government authorities to ensure that correct ranks were used in official correspondence, communiqués and press releases.
The purpose was to prevent misuse of military ranks by persons who were not entitled to use them.
A former service member should therefore not simply add a military rank to their name without checking the applicable Government instructions and their actual service and retirement status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a retired Naib Subedar use “(Retd)”?
Where the person has been granted the applicable honorary rank of Naib Subedar on retirement, the 1983 Ministry of Defence instruction permits the honorary rank to be used with “(Retd)” in the prescribed manner.
Can an Honorary Lieutenant use “(Retd)”?
Yes. The 1983 instruction specifically gives an example of Honorary Lieutenant B (Retd) for the relevant category of personnel.
Can every retired Army person use their military rank?
No blanket entitlement should be assumed. The person's service category, commission, retirement or release status and applicable Government instructions must be considered.
Can a Short Service Commissioned Officer use a military rank after release?
The position changed in 2021. An eligible Short Service Commissioned Officer may use the military rank after release if the officer is eligible for Ex-Servicemen status.
Does the 2021 change automatically apply to Emergency Commissioned Officers?
No. The 23 March 2021 corrigendum specifically addressed Short Service Commissioned Officers. It should not automatically be extended to Emergency Commissioned Officers.
Does an honorary rank automatically mean higher pension?
No. Rank usage and pension entitlement are separate issues and may be governed by different Government orders and regulations.
Conclusion
The 27 July 1983 Ministry of Defence instruction provides important guidelines on the use of military ranks by retired and released Armed Forces personnel.
For NCOs, the instruction specifically recognises the use of the honorary rank of Naib Subedar or Naib Risaldar on retirement, with “(Retd)” in the prescribed manner.
It also covers specified categories of personnel granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant, as well as other honorary commissions.
The original 1983 rule concerning Short Service Commissioned Officers was subsequently changed. The 23 March 2021 Ministry of Defence corrigendum removed “Short Service” from the restriction and provided that Short Service Commissioned Officers after release are entitled to use military ranks where they are eligible for Ex-Servicemen status.
The 1983 instruction and the 2021 corrigendum should therefore be read together when considering the present position.
Official & Legal References
More Defence & Veterans Information
For more articles covering military ranks, Armed Forces Tribunal matters, veterans' issues, pension-related information and defence-related topics, visit:
This article is provided for general informational purposes. Government rules, instructions and their interpretation may change. For an important matter concerning military rank, retirement, release, Ex-Servicemen status or any legal issue, readers should verify the applicable Government order and relevant official documents.
As per this letter MOD letter No 28/1/82/D(Coord) dated 27/7/1983 the retirement rank is not cleared and doubtful. Please justify cleared it.as below:
In service After retirement
Ex-hav santosh kumar Hav santosh kumar (Retd) – which is correct.
Now on U-Tube and this letter basis Hav santosh kumar (Retd) is correct
Can a retired JCO from Regular Army, after 22 years of service use his rank Naib Subhedar (Retd) before his name.
Sir,
Thanks to elaborate in details the correct use if Army ranks by Armed Forces Officers and JCOs. Regarding non commissioned Officers , there are no guidelines. Please provide guidelines on use of rank by Other Ranks (NCOs) after retirement.
Sir, does a honorary naib sub consider a junior commisioned officer? Please reply. Thank you Sir.