Field marshal is a five–star general officer rank and the highest attainable rank in the Indian Army. Field marshal is ranked immediately above general, but not exercised in the regular army structure. It is a largely ceremonial or wartime rank, having been awarded only twice. It was first awarded to Sam Manekshaw, chief of the Indian Army during 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, and later to Kodandera M. Cariappa, first Indian to be the chief.
