Risaldar, meaning the commander of a risala or risalah (a body of horse,[1] regardless if troop or regiment[2]) in Persian, is a mid-level rank in cavalry and armoured units of the Third Indian Army.
[citation needed] The JCO evolved from the Viceroy's commissioned officers (VCO), established during the British Raj in 1885.
The VCOs themselves succeeded the so called native officers holding a commission of the Governor General.
[3] In the late 19th century, the spelling risaldar was uncommon, and the rank was usually listed as ressaldar or russuldar (e.g. in the Bombay Cavalry).
[5] A rissaldar was roughly equivalent to a native captain and ranked between risaldar-major and ressaidar (later jemadar).