Centre Empowers Army Chief to call up Territorial Army amid India-Pak Tensions

Learn about the Territorial Army (TA) in India, a volunteer reserve force that supports the regular army during emergencies and conflicts. Discover its history, roles, eligibility, and active participation in wars and national crises.

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In light of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government has taken a significant step by empowering the Chief of the Army Staff to call upon the Territorial Army. The Territorial Army is a part of Regular Army and its current role is to free the Regular Army from static responsibilities and support Civil Administration in handling natural disasters and upkeep of vital services during times when life of the populace is endangered or security of the Country is threatened and to raise units for Regular Army as and when needed. Read this article to know all about the Territorial Army and their participation in wars.

Centre empowers Army Chief to call out officers, enrollees of Territorial Army

Central Government authorised the Chief of the Army Staff to call upon all officers and personnel of the Territorial Army to serve to provide for a necessary guard or to support and augment the regular army. The powers were entrusted to the Army Chief under the Territorial Army Rule 1948.

The Ministry of Defence incorporated in a gazette notification 14 Infantry Battalions out of the current 32 Infantry Battalions of the Territorial Army in the zones of Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Northern Command, South Western Command, Andaman and Nicobar Command and Army Training Command (ARTRAC). This order is to continue to apply over the next three years until the 9th of February 2028.

What is the Territorial Army (TA)?

The Territorial Army (TA) in India, being a volunteer reserve force, acts as an important second line of defence to the regular Indian Army. Currently, the Territorial Army is drawing strength from about fifty thousand personnel, with 65% Departmental and Non-Departmental units, with a footprint across the length and breadth of the nation.

Territorial Army in India: History and Introduction

The Indian Territorial Army came from colonial voluntary forces, later regularised post-independence in 1949 as a pool of gainfully employed civilians as a reserve force for national security and critical services. It had initially mixed composition units, then reorganised in the direction of Infantry Battalions and Departmental Units and took part actively in large wars.

With time, its duties were augmented by ecological activities and specialised engineering companies, with increasing modernisation and female involvement. The recent equipping of the Army Chief with the authority to mobilise the TA reaffirms its ongoing role as an instantly available backup force in times of heightened national security threats.

Evolution of Territorial Army (TA) in India

The Territorial Army (TA) of India has come a long way since its official opening on October 9, 1949, by the first Indian Governor-General, C. Rajagopalachari. Its origins, however, go back even earlier.

Period	Development/Change	Details
1857 (British Era)	Origin of Volunteer Forces	First raised as part of the British Volunteer Forces post-1857 Rebellion for internal security and support roles.
1920	Indian Territorial Force (ITF)	ITF was created under the Indian Territorial Force Act, comprising part-time soldiers supporting the regular army.
1949	Establishment of Indian TA	Territorial Army was officially established on 9 October 1949 by the Government of India.
1950s–1960s	Expansion	TA expanded to include various regiments—Infantry, Engineers, and Medical, among others.
1962, 1965, 1971	Active Combat Role	TA units were mobilised during the Sino-Indian War and Indo-Pak wars, supporting combat and logistics.
1980s–2000s	Modernization	TA began including specialised units like Railways, Oil Sector, and Ecological Task Forces (ETFs).
2010 onwards	Increased Integration	TA officers allowed to serve with regular army units; efforts made to raise awareness and participation among professionals.
2023	Policy Reforms	Emphasis on digitalization, fitness standards, and broader civilian participation in line with modern warfare needs.

Territorial Army Rule 1948

The Territorial Army Rule 1948, made under the Territorial Army Act of 1948, contains the provisions for the operation of the Territorial Army in India.
It prescribes regulations pertaining to the composition of TA units, conditions of enrolment, liability for military service (call-out for duties of necessity and embodiment for training or aid of the regular army), discharge, and training regulations.
Rule 33 is particularly empowering the Central Government (and by default, as newly empowered, the Chief of the Army Staff) to summon TA personnel for duty. The rules also specify pay, allowances, and other service conditions for members of the TA.

Also Read: List of Military Operations of India

Active Participation of Territorial Army in Wars

The Territorial Army (TA) boasts an illustrious record of active combat in India’s wars, exemplifying its significance as a reserve force.

India’s Territorial Army (TA), an army reserve composed of civilian volunteers, has seen active combat in all major Indian wars since it was officially created in 1949.
TA units and men played significant roles in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan Wars, and the Kargil War 1999.
Aside from these principal conflicts, the “Terriers” have also been engaged in counter-insurgency operations such as Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka) and Operation Rakshak (Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab), and Operations Rhino and Bajrang in Northeast India.
Their service has varied from offering logistical backup and protecting sensitive installations to engaging actively with mainstream army units in combat roles, proving their utility as a force multiplier and as an integral element of India’s defence readiness.