Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces ? Army | Airforce | Navy 1. Brigadier | Air Commodore | Commander 2. Major General | Air Vice Marshal | Vice Admiral 3. Major | Squadron Leader | Lieutenant Commander 4. Lieutenant Colonel | Group Captain | Captain Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 and 4
- (b) 1 and 3
- (c) 2, 3 and 4
- (d) 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The three services have parallel rank structures; the correct equivalents are: Brigadier = Air Commodore = Commodore; Major General = Air Vice Marshal = Rear Admiral; Major = Squadron Leader = Lieutenant Commander; Lieutenant Colonel = Wing Commander = Commander.
• Row 3 is correct: Major, Squadron Leader and Lieutenant Commander are equivalents.
• Row 1 is wrong: a Brigadier's naval equivalent is Commodore, not Commander. Row 2 is wrong: a Major General's naval equivalent is Rear Admiral, not Vice Admiral (who equals a Lieutenant General).
• Row 4 is wrong: a Lieutenant Colonel equals a Wing Commander and a naval Commander; Group Captain and naval Captain correspond to a Colonel.
• Hence 3 only, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 4
- Rows 1 and 4 both have wrong naval or air force equivalents.
- (b) 1 and 3
- Row 1 is wrong: Brigadier equals Commodore, not Commander.
- (c) 2, 3 and 4
- Rows 2 and 4 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.