Godrejsplende at 22:19, 13 February 2026

2026-02-13T22:19:17Z

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{{short description|Rank in the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani armies}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{hatnote|For the Anglo-Indian pundit known as "The Havildar", see [[Hyder Shah]].}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name = Havildar
| native_name =
| image = {{nobreak|[[File:India-Army-OR-6.svg|80px]] [[File:03.Pakistan Army-SGT.svg|80px]]}}
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Indian and Pakistani rank insignia
| image2 =
| image_size2 =
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| image3 =
| image_size3 =
| alt3 =
| caption3 =
| country = {{flag|India}} {{flag|Pakistan}}
| service branch = Army
| abbreviation =
| rank group = [[Enlisted rank]]
| rank =
| NATO rank =
| Non-NATO rank =
| pay grade =
| formation =
| abolished =
| higher rank = [[Junior commissioned officer|Naib subedar]]
| lower rank = [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
| equivalents = [[Sergeant]] [[Daffadar]]
| history =
}}

'''Havildar''' or '''havaldar''' ([[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]: {{lang|hi|हविलदार}} or {{lang|hi|हवलदार}} ([[Devanagari]]), {{lang|ur|{{Nastaliq|حوالدار}}}} ([[Persian script|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 sergeant, a havildar wears three rank [[Chevron (insignia)|chevron]]s.<ref name=havildar>{{cite web |title=Indian army ranks |url=http://www.ranksofthearmy.com/indian-army-ranks/ |publisher=Ranks of the army |access-date=19 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202134124/http://www.ranksofthearmy.com/indian-army-ranks/|archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

==History==
"Havildar" is a [[Persian language|Persian]] word in origin and means "person in charge", or more loosely "chief", from the [[Arabic]] {{lang|ar|حواله}} ("charge", "responsibility") and the Persian {{lang|fa|دار}} (dâr, "holder"). Historically, a havildar was a senior commander, being in charge of a fort during the times of the [[Mughal Empire]]. It was used as the equivalent of a sergeant in the [[British Indian Army]], which has led to its current usage.

==Appointments==
===Indian Army===
Havildars could be further appointed to positions of higher authority. The appointments of company quartermaster havildar and company havildar major existed in the [[British Indian Army]].<ref name=ranks/> Historically, the two senior-most havildars of a company became the CQMH and the CHM. However, these were just appointments and the commanding officer could promote or demote any of these ranks at his discretion.<ref name=ranks/> These appointments still technically exist in the modern [[Indian Army]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/RTI/rti/DSR/DSR_VOLUME_1/CHAPTER_04/53.htm |title=JCOs, WOs, OR AND NON-COMBATANTS (ENROLLED) |access-date=2015-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109212304/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/RTI/rti/DSR/DSR_VOLUME_1/CHAPTER_04/53.htm |archive-date=2014-11-09 }}</ref> However, havildars are now promoted directly to [[junior commissioned officer]] rank, as the duties of these historical appointments are now carried out by JCOs.<ref name=havildar/><ref name=ranks/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aftkolkata.nic.in/upload/court/Court-54.pdf|title=Info|website=aftkolkata.nic.in|access-date=2020-07-18|archive-date=9 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209150232/http://aftkolkata.nic.in/upload/court/Court-54.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Rules of the Raj hindering havildars' promotion | publisher=The New Indian Express | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article283262.ece | author=M K Sunil Kumar | orig-year=21 November 2010 | date=16 May 2012 | access-date=4 December 2014 | archive-date=10 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810105154/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article283262.ece | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/writereaddata/documents/psdte311212.pdf |title=Data |website=www.indianarmy.gov.in |access-date=2020-07-18 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034548/http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/writereaddata/documents/psdte311212.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Company Quartermaster Havildar.gif|60px]]The company quartermaster havildar (CQMH), equivalent to a [[company quartermaster sergeant]], assisted the [[quartermaster]] in managing the company stores. The insignia was three chevrons with an [[Lion Capital of Asoka|Ashoka lion]] emblem above.<ref name=ranks>{{cite web|title=India Military Ranks|url=http://orbat.com/site/ranks/india.html|publisher=Ravi Rikhye|access-date=19 January 2014|date=28 April 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728185238/http://orbat.com/site/ranks/india.html|archive-date=28 July 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Company Havildar Major.gif|60px]]The company havildar major (CHM) was the most senior [[non-commissioned officer]] in a [[Company (military unit)|company]], equivalent to a [[company sergeant major]].<ref name=ranks/> The insignia was an Ashoka lion emblem.<ref name=ranks/>

[[File:Regimental Quartermaster Havildar.gif|60px]]The regimental quartermaster havildar (RQMH) was equivalent to a [[regimental quartermaster sergeant]].<ref name=ranks/>

[[File:Regimental Havildar Major.gif|60px]]The regimental havildar major (RHM) was equivalent to a [[regimental sergeant major]].<ref name=ranks/>

=== Pakistan Army ===
Senior havildars might also be appointed company quartermaster havildar, company havildar major, battalion quartermaster havildar or battalion havildar major in the [[Pakistan Army]]. All of these appointments have different insignia and may vary from unit to unit.

[[File:04.Pakistan_Army-SSG.svg|60px]]
Company quartermaster havildar

[[File:05.Pakistan_Army-SFC.svg|60px]]
Company havildar major

[[File:06.Pakistan_Army-MSG.svg|60px]]
Battalion quartermaster havildar

[[File:07.Pakistan_Army-SGM.svg|60px]]
Battalion havildar major

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Military of India}}
{{Pakistan Army template}}

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

Havildar - Revision history

Godrejsplende at 22:19, 13 February 2026