Havildar (Hindi: हविलदार حوِلدار ) was the Military 'In Charge' of a Fort during the times of Maratha Empire. In the British Indian Army it was equivalent rank to Sergeant, next above Naik, and is still used in the modern Indian Army and Pakistan Army. The cavalry equivalent is Daffadar. Like a British sergeant, a Havildar wears three rank chevrons.
Havildars may also hold appointments, based on seniority and merit, for which they receive additional appointment pay.
- The first appointment is Company Quartermaster Havildar (CQMH) (equivalent to a Company Quartermaster Sergeant) who assists the Quartermaster in managing the company stores. The insignia is three chevrons with an Ashoka lion emblem on top of it.
- Above this is the Company Havildar Major (CHM) who is the most senior non-commissioned officer in a company (equivalent to a Company Sergeant Major). The insignia is an Ashoka Emblem worn in a leather strap on the right wrist.
- Above this appointment there were the appointments of Regimental Quartermaster Havildar (RQMH) (Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant) and Regimental Havildar Major (RHM) (Regimental Sergeant Major). The last two appointments are not now used in majority of units, the duties being taken up by the Naib Subedar Quartermaster and Subedar Adjutant (both Junior Commissioned Officers).
The appointments of Company Quartermaster Havildar and Company Havildar Major also existed in the British Indian Army.
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