Nepal Army and Nepal Police Ranks: Complete List, Top to Bottom
Every Nepal Army rank from General (Chief of Army Staff) down to Sipahi, and all 14 Nepal Police ranks from IGP down to Constable — in order, with the official Nepali names.
Updated September 2026: the rank lists on this page were corrected and checked against published references. An earlier version used some Indian Army rank names, listed a police rank that does not exist, and missed several current ranks.
Nepal, famous for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes, also has a well-structured system for maintaining law and order through the Nepali Army and the Nepal Police. Each force has a clearly defined rank system, listed below from the highest rank to the lowest, with the official Nepali name for each.
Nepal Army ranks
Commissioned officers (highest to lowest)
| # | Rank | Nepali | Romanised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General (Chief of Army Staff) | महारथी (प्रधानसेनापति) | Maharathi (Pradhan Senapati) |
| 2 | Lieutenant General | रथी | Rathi |
| 3 | Major General | उपरथी | Uparathi |
| 4 | Brigadier General | सहायक रथी | Sahayak Rathi |
| 5 | Colonel | महासेनानी | Mahasenani |
| 6 | Lieutenant Colonel | प्रमुख सेनानी | Pramukh Senani |
| 7 | Major | सेनानी | Senani |
| 8 | Captain | सहसेनानी | Sahasenani |
| 9 | Lieutenant | उपसेनानी | Upasenani |
| 10 | Second Lieutenant | सहायक सेनानी | Sahayak Senani |
The Chief of Army Staff holds the rank of General and commands the whole army. General officers (Brigadier General and above) lead formations such as brigades and divisions; Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels hold senior command and staff posts; Majors, Captains and Lieutenants lead companies and platoons; Second Lieutenant is the entry-level officer rank.
Warrant officers and other ranks (highest to lowest)
| # | Official English rank | Nepali | Romanised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Warrant Officer | प्रमुख सुवेदार | Pramukh Subedar |
| 2 | Warrant Officer First Class | सुवेदार | Subedar |
| 3 | Warrant Officer Second Class | जमदार | Jamadar |
| 4 | Sergeant | हुद्दा | Hudda |
| 5 | Corporal | अमल्दार | Amaldar |
| 6 | Lance Corporal | प्यूठ | Pyuth |
| 7 | Private (soldier) | सिपाही | Sipahi |
Pramukh Subedar, Subedar and Jamadar are the senior ranks among soldiers and act as the link between officers and the troops. Hudda, Amaldar and Pyuth lead small teams and sections, and Sipahi is the soldier rank every recruit starts at.
Nepal Police ranks
Nepal Police has fourteen ranks, listed from highest to lowest:
| # | Rank | Nepali | Insignia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inspector General of Police (IGP) | प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक | Two-star pips, crossed khukuri and baton in a lotus wreath |
| 2 | Additional Inspector General (AIGP) | प्रहरी अतिरिक्त महानिरीक्षक | One-star pip, crossed khukuri and baton in a lotus wreath |
| 3 | Deputy Inspector General (DIGP) | प्रहरी नायव महानिरीक्षक | Crossed khukuri and baton in a lotus wreath |
| 4 | Senior Superintendent (SSP) | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ उपरीक्षक | |
| 5 | Superintendent (SP) | प्रहरी उपरीक्षक | |
| 6 | Deputy Superintendent (DSP) | प्रहरी नायव उपरीक्षक | |
| 7 | Inspector | प्रहरी निरीक्षक | |
| 8 | Senior Sub Inspector (SSI) | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ नायव निरीक्षक | Three star pips |
| 9 | Sub Inspector (SI) | प्रहरी नायव निरीक्षक | Two star pips |
| 10 | Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) | प्रहरी सहायक निरीक्षक | One star pip |
| 11 | Senior Head Constable (SHC) | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ हवल्दार | Three chevrons with a yellow shoulder strap |
| 12 | Head Constable (HC) | प्रहरी हवल्दार | Three chevrons |
| 13 | Assistant Head Constable (AHC) | प्रहरी सहायक हवल्दार | Two chevrons |
| 14 | Constable (PC) | प्रहरी जवान | Red and yellow shoulder strap |
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) heads the force and reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Officers from Deputy Superintendent (DSP) up command police offices and units; Inspectors and Sub Inspectors lead police posts and investigations; Head Constables and Constables carry out patrolling and day-to-day policing.
FAQs
1. What is the highest rank in the Nepal Army?
General, held by the Chief of Army Staff (महारथी / Pradhan Senapati), who commands the Nepali Army.
2. What are the Nepal Army ranks in order?
Officers, from the top: General (Chief of Army Staff), Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant. Below them: Chief Warrant Officer (Pramukh Subedar), Warrant Officer First Class (Subedar), Warrant Officer Second Class (Jamadar), Sergeant (Hudda), Corporal (Amaldar), Lance Corporal (Pyuth) and Private (Sipahi).
3. What is Sahayak Senani in the Nepal Army?
Sahayak Senani (सहायक सेनानी) is the Nepali name for Second Lieutenant, the entry-level commissioned officer rank.
4. How many ranks does Nepal Police have?
Fourteen, from Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the top down to Constable. Senior Sub Inspector, Senior Head Constable and Assistant Head Constable are the most recently added ranks.
5. What is the highest rank in Nepal Police?
Inspector General of Police (IGP), प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक, who heads the Nepal Police and reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
6. Is there a Chief Inspector rank in Nepal Police?
No. Above Inspector, the next rank in Nepal Police is Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
Sources: Military ranks of Nepal and Nepal Police, which cite the Nepali Army and Nepal Police. For official details see nepalarmy.mil.np and nepalpolice.gov.np.
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