Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📍 The Question

Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence Forces?

Army : Air Force : 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

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✅ Correct Answer: (d) 3 only

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🎯 Theme of the Question

Indian Polity | Defence Forces | Rank Equivalence | Services Structure

This is a pure structure-based matching question, frequently used by UPSC to test factual clarity and elimination skills.

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

To answer such questions, always recall the standard equivalence ladder across the three services:

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🔹 Correct Rank Equivalence (Simplified Core Ladder)

Indian Army	Indian Air Force	Indian Navy
Major	Squadron Leader	Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander	Commander
Colonel	Group Captain	Captain
Brigadier	Air Commodore	Commodore
Major General	Air Vice Marshal	Rear Admiral
Lieutenant General	Air Marshal	Vice Admiral
General	Air Chief Marshal	Admiral

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Now, let us evaluate each given pair.

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🔍 Pair-wise Analysis

❌ Pair 1

Brigadier : Air Commodore : Commander

• Brigadier ↔ Air Commodore ✔️
• Navy equivalent should be Commodore, not Commander

❌ Incorrect

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❌ Pair 2

Major General : Air Vice Marshal : Vice Admiral

• Major General ↔ Air Vice Marshal ✔️
• Navy equivalent is Rear Admiral, not Vice Admiral

❌ Incorrect

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✅ Pair 3

Major : Squadron Leader : Lieutenant Commander

• Major ↔ Squadron Leader ↔ Lieutenant Commander
  ✔️ Perfectly matched

✅ Correct

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❌ Pair 4

Lieutenant Colonel : Group Captain : Captain

• Lieutenant Colonel ↔ Wing Commander (not Group Captain)
• Group Captain ↔ Colonel
• Captain (Navy) ↔ Colonel

❌ Incorrect

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📊 Final Assessment Table

Pair	Status
1	❌ Incorrect
2	❌ Incorrect
3	✅ Correct
4	❌ Incorrect

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🧩 Prelims Trap Alert

👉 UPSC frequently shifts one level up or down in Navy ranks
👉 Commander vs Commodore and Rear Admiral vs Vice Admiral are classic traps

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🧠 Memory Hook

“Major marches with Squadron Leader and Lieutenant Commander.”

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🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

Uniforms differ, hierarchies align.