Subedar-major is the senior-most rank of junior commissioned officer in the Indian and Pakistani Armies, formerly known as the Viceroy's commissioned officer in the British Indian Army. History During the British Raj, subedar-major was the highest rank natives could achieve. On 28 October 1817, the position was introduced by the East India Company (EIC) in the Native infantry of the Bengal Army, one of the three EIC's Presidency armies. The Madras Army adopted this rank on 2 February 1819. In 1825, the Bengal native cavalry established the equivalent rank of risaldar-major, which was soon adopted by the Presidency armies of Bombay and Madras. Both ranks would serve as a representative of their people to British officers, but could also command independent companies resp. troops of irregular regiments. Under British rule, in the British Indian Army a subedar-major wore the crown of a full major, a tradition which has continued with slight variation after independence. Subedar-major or risaldar-major equated to a British major and subedar or risaldar to captain, although junior to all British officers. Post independence After independence, which came in 1947 with the Partition of India, the former British Indian Army was divided between India and Pakistan. Indian Army In the Indian Army, subedar major(SM) is junior only to a lieutenant who is a commissioned officer and is accorded the highest respect by commissioned officers, JCOs, and NCOs, as they possess a high amount of experience and are referred to as SM Sahab by all. He can be the SM of a single unit or the SM of a headquarters that has troops under its command. Many times, they have been given honorary ranks such as Hon. Lieutenant and Hon. Captain, as a mark of respect for their exceptional service record. The subedar majors and other Junior Commissioned Officers of the Indian Army is equivalent to Group-B gazetted officers in India. The subedar major ranks now use Ashoka lions with a Gold National Emblem with a red-gold-red stripe below. These stripes separate subedar-majors from full commissioned majors. Subedar major within the Indian Army is considered as the chief advisor of the commanding officer, responsible for advising him in critical service matters. Any incident which is affecting the unit administration, security, or morale of troops is reported by him, to the Commanding Officer. He is responsible for the security of troops, civilians, soldiers of other corps and services, posted in