Risaldar-major was originally a cavalry officer rank of the

British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

. During the British Raj, it was the highest rank natives could achieve. The position was introduced by the HEIC in the Native cavalry of the

Presidency armies The presidency armies were the armies of the three Presidencies of British India, presidencies of the East India Company's Company rule in India, rule in India, later the forces of the the Crown, British Crown in British Raj, India, composed pr ...

, around the year 1825. In the Native infantry of the

Madras Army The Madras Army was the army of the Presidency of Madras, one of the three presidencies of British India within the British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations manda ...

, the equivalent rank of Subedar-Major was established (along with Colour-

havildar Havildar or havaldar ( Hindustani: or (Devanagari), (Perso-Arabic)) is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to sergeant. It is not used in cavalry and armoured units, where the equivalent is daffadar. Like a British sergea ...

) already on February 2, 1819. To that date, the

Bengal Army The Bengal Army was the army of the Bengal Presidency, one of the three presidencies of British India within the British Empire. The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company (EIC) until the Gover ...

had the position of Subedar-Major introduced already, on October 28, 1817. A risaldar-major was the most senior risaldar (army rank equivalent to a captain) of the

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

. The rank was a Viceroy's commissioned officer in the cavalry. Risaldar-majors and subedar-majors would serve as a representative of their people to British officers, but could also command independent companies resp. troops of irregular regiments. Today a risaldar-major is the senior junior commissioned officer in the

Indian Army The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...

and

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ), commonly known as the Pak Army (), is the Land warfare, land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The president of Pakistan is the Commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the army. The ...

armoured corps, and remount and veterinary corps. It carries the same responsibilities and insignia as the infantry subedar-major.

References

Pakistan Army ranks Military ranks of British India Military ranks of the Indian Army {{UK-mil-stub