A viceroy's commissioned officer (VCO) was a senior Indian member of the British Indian Army. VCOs were senior in rank to warrant officers in the British Army, and held a commission issued by the viceroy. Also known as "Indian officers" or "native officers", they had authority only over Indian troops and were subordinate to all British King's (resp. Queen's) commissioned officers (KCO resp. QCO), Indian Commissioned Officers (ICO) and King's commissioned Indian officers (KCIO).
Similar ranks, as listed below, are retained in the Indian Army and Pakistan Army. There, they are known as junior commissioned officers.
History
Under the British, there was a clear colonial context, with the VCOs being the highest ranks that an Indian could attain. The full commissioned officers were British, from the 18th century up to the beginning of the 20th century. However, that changed slowly under the principles of Indianisation. In 1905, a special (or one could say better a 'crippled' form) of King’s Commission in His Majesty’s Native Land Forces was instituted. Indians who had qualified through the Imperial Cadet Corps would earn a commission that was limited to have authority over Indian troops only and its holders could not rise above the rank of Major. From 1917, in the midst of World War I, Indians 'with good family background' became eligible to study at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and then earn a commission as King's Commissioned Indian Officer (KCIO). By the time of independence in 1947, there were many Indian (and Pakistani) officers who had graduated from Sandhurst or the Indian Military Academy.
Ranks and appointments
In 1914, ranks held by VCOs were:
Cavalry
Rissaldar-Major (native 'Major', adviser to the British officers and commander) Rissaldar (native 'Captain', troop commander) Ressaidar (native 'Lieutenant', junior troop commander) Jemadar (native 'Second Lieutenant', platoon commander) Infantry, Indian Garrison Artillery, Indian Mountain Artillery and other arms Subadar-Major (native 'Major', adviser to the British officers and commander) Subadar (native 'Lieutenant', company commander) Jemadar (native 'Second Lieutenant', platoon commander)
As a company commander a Subadar was roughly equivalent to a native Infantry 'Captain'. Nonetheless, in World War I, he was classified as native 'Lieutenant' but remained in the position of company commander. In result, there was no equivalent rank for a native 'Captain' in the Indian native Infantry etc. at that time.
There was only one Rissaldar-Major or Subadar-Major per regiment. The latter was established between 1817 and 1819 in the Bengal Army resp. the Madras Army. In 1825, the equivalent rank of Risaldar-Major was adopted by all Presidency armies. Both ranks would serve as a representative of their people to British officers, but could also command independent companies resp. troops of irregular regiments. While providing guidance to inexperienced British subalterns, they also discussed major issues concerning the Indian soldiers of all ranks with the Colonel (Infantry) or Commandant (Cavalry). Rissaldar-Majors or Subadar-Majors could be appointed Native A.-D.-C. to the Viceroy or the Governor of their British India Province.
Beginning from 1903, there were also six (four from 1904) King's Indian Orderly Officers (KIOO), chosen each year to serve as the King's honorary bodyguard in the United Kingdom. They were appointed regardless of their specific ranks.
In the Indian cavalry existed the appointment of Woordie-Major. He was the assistant to the British adjudant. Usually, a capable Ressaidar, Jemadar or Naib Risaldar (brevet Risaldar, in the Bombay cavalry only) was promoted to this position, then ranking above his substantive rank. The Naib Risaldar (also spelled Naib Ressaldar) ranked below Ressaidar and above Jemadar, but was roughly equivalent with the latter. The rank was abolished in 1865.
The VCO's status could be bolstered by honorary promotions, e.g. a Rissaldar-Major could held the honorary rank of Captain simultaneously, or a Jemadar was awarded by the honorary rank of Second Lieutenant. A custom often practised on retirement, but not exclusively. An honorary rank was not only a distinction but had the financial benefit of doubling the pension to be received by the retiring Indian officer.