The Territorial Army is the second line of defense after the Regular Indian Army. Its current role is to support the Regular Army by undertaking static duties, assisting in regional disaster management, and maintaining essential services as required.
Presently, the Indian Territorial Army has approximately 40,000 active personnel. Aspirants can join the it as Officers and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO).
The Territorial Army Officers (Non-Departmental) category is open to both Ex-Servicemen and Civilians. Civilians can apply specifically through the recruitment process for Territorial Army Officers (Non-Departmental).
✅ What Is Indian Territorial Army?
The Territorial Army is the reserve force of the Indian Army, composed primarily of civilians who volunteer to serve. These volunteers balance their civilian careers with their commitment to it, as they are not full-time regular Army personnel. The Territorial Army was established under the Territorial Army Act of 1948.
The TA includes battalions from every regiment of the Indian Army, including the elite Para Battalion. Also TA has actively participated in every major operations and battles since India’s independence.
✅ What are the roles and duties of the Territorial Army?
The Indian Territorial Army (TA) serves as the country’s second line of defense, following the Regular Army. It is not a profession, occupation, or a primary source of employment.
The TA is specifically designed for individuals who are already gainfully employed or self-employed in civilian professions. In fact, maintaining active employment or self-employment in a civilian capacity is a mandatory requirement for joining the Territorial Army.
As a branch of the Indian Army, the Territorial Army’s current role includes relieving the Regular Army of static duties, supporting civil administration during natural disasters, and ensuring the maintenance of essential services during times when community welfare or national security is at risk.
Additionally, the TA provides trained units to the Regular Army as and when needed.
Source/Credit: IndiaTVNews
The Territorial Army comprises approximately 40,000 first-line troops and around 160,000 second-line troops. Its structure includes both departmental units—such as those from the Railways, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Telecommunications, and General Hospitals—and non-departmental units like infantry and ecological battalions affiliated with various infantry regiments.
✅ Does a Territorial Army Officer get a salary annually?
Every year, Territorial Army (TA) officers in India are embodied for a training period lasting two to three months. Following this, they are disembodied and return to their respective civilian professions, which include roles such as bankers, lawyers, agriculturists, and others.
The purpose of this annual embodiment is to provide regular reorientation and readiness training, ensuring that TA officers can be efficiently mobilized when required. During this period, officers receive full salary and allowances, while no financial obligations are incurred by the government when they are not embodied—making the system both efficient and cost-effective.
Encouragingly, due to a significant shortage of officers, many volunteers who continue to serve beyond the scheduled embodiment period are retained. Promotions within the TA are granted based on service performance and the cumulative duration of active duty.
As a result, Territorial Army officers often serve and progress in rank similarly to their counterparts in the Regular Army. The typical embodiment periods are as follows:
- One month basic training in the first year of commission.
- Two months annual training camp every year, including the first year.
- Three months Post Commissioning training within the first two years at IMA Dehradun.
The Government of India offers a unique opportunity for young men who are well-established in their professional careers to join the Territorial Army as officers and realize their dream of wearing the Army uniform.
What makes this initiative especially appealing is that individuals can serve the nation in both civilian and military capacities—without having to leave their primary profession, whether it be in a multinational corporation, a government role, or their own entrepreneurial venture.
✅ Who is eligible for Indian Territorial Army?
To be eligible for the Territorial Army, candidates must be well-settled and actively employed in a recognized profession. The Territorial Army is not designed for recent graduates or individuals with minimal work experience. To enhance your chances of qualifying, it is advisable to first build a stable and credible track record in your existing career before applying.
| Eligibility | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18-42 Years |
| Qualification | Graduation from Recognised University |
| Martial Status | Unmarried/Married |
| Likely Dates of SSB | May-June and August-September |
| Training Academy | One Month Training |
| Duration of Training | At Conduct Territorial Army(TA) |
| Vacancies Per Course | Notified by Line Directorate (Twice in A Year) |
| Tentative Month of Notification | Notified by TA Directorate |
Additionally, if you have missed out on regular Army entries due to age limits, it does not automatically make you eligible for the Territorial Army. You must still meet all prescribed eligibility criteria. Being gainfully employed is a key requirement and significantly increases your chances of being shortlisted for the next stage of the selection process.
*(Note: Serving Employees of Police/Paramilitary Forces are not eligible.)*
👉 Terms and Conditions of Territorial Army
- Like regular entries, TA grants you a commissioned rank of Lieutenant.
- Pay, allowances, and privileges are the same as regular Army Officers when embodied for training and military service.
- Promotions up to Lt Col are by time scale subject to fulfilling laid down criteria. Promotion to Colonel and Brigadier is by selection.
- Officers commissioned in TA Infantry may be called out for military service for longer durations depending on requirements.
👉 Training Details
- One month basic training in the first year of commission.
- Two months annual training camp every year including the first year.
- Three months Post Commissioning training within the first two years at IMA Dehradun.
✅ Awards and Recognitions of the Territorial Army (India) till 2025
👉 Gallantry and Service Awards
The Territorial Army (TA) of India has a proud history of courage and dedication. Its personnel have received numerous prestigious gallantry and service awards for their contributions in various military operations and national emergencies.
As of 2025, the major awards earned by Territorial Army personnel include:
- 1 Kirti Chakra
- 5 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSM)
- 5 Vir Chakras
- 5 Shaurya Chakras
- 1 Yudh Seva Medal
- 74 Sena Medals
- 28 Vishisht Seva Medals (VSM)
- 17 Mentions-in-Dispatches
- 266 Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Cards
These awards underline the TA's active involvement in safeguarding the nation alongside the Regular Indian Army.
👉 Honorary Commissions
The Territorial Army also confers honorary military ranks on distinguished individuals for exceptional service to the nation in various fields. Some notable awardees include:
- Neeraj Chopra – Olympic gold medalist (Athletics), Honorary Lieutenant Colonel (2025)
- M.S. Dhoni – Former Indian Cricket Captain, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel (2011)
- Kapil Dev – Former Indian Cricket Captain, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel
- Abhinav Bindra – Olympic gold medalist (Shooting), Honorary Lieutenant Colonel (2011)
These ranks are granted under the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, as a token of national appreciation.
👉 Other Recognitions
TA personnel have excelled in adventure sports, such as the Indo-British Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Tengchen Khang (1998).
In October 2024, the TA celebrated its Platinum Jubilee (75 years) of service to the nation.
| Award/Recognition | Number Awarded (as of 2025) |
|---|---|
| Kirti Chakra | 1 |
| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) | 5 |
| Vir Chakra | 5 |
| Shaurya Chakra | 5 |
| Yudh Seva Medal | 1 |
| Sena Medal | 74 |
| Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) | 28 |
| Mention-in-Dispatches | 17 |
| COAS Commendation Cards | 266 |
The Territorial Army continues to uphold its legacy as the "Citizen's Army" by combining professionalism with patriotism and contributing significantly to national defense and disaster response.
✅ Historical Background Of Territorial Army
The Indian Defence Force Act was introduced in 1917. It made compulsory military service (conscription) mandatory for all Europeans living permanently in British India, aged between 16 and 50.
The Indian Defence Force had two separate sections—one for British/Europeans and one for Indians. While Indians joined voluntarily, Europeans were conscripted. The main purpose of this force was to free up regular army troops from garrison duties during World War I.
In 1920, the British raised the Territorial Army. It had two wings:
- The Auxiliary Force – for Europeans and Anglo-Indians
- The Indian Territorial Force – for Indian volunteers
After independence, the Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948. The Indian Territorial Army (TA) was formally inaugurated on 9th October 1949 by C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General. This day is now celebrated as the Prime Minister’s Territorial Army Day Parade.
In its early years, the TA included a variety of units:
- Armoured regiments
- Infantry battalions
- Air defence and medical regiments
- Engineer companies and signal regiments
- EME workshops, coast batteries
- Army Service Corps (ASC) and Army Medical Corps (AMC) field ambulances
By 1972, most of these units were either disbanded or merged into the Regular Army. Only the infantry battalions remained under the Territorial Army.
✅ Selection Procedure of Territorial Army
Candidates with correctly filled application forms are called for a Preliminary Interview Board (PIB). This is conducted by the concerned Territorial Army Group Headquarters. It includes a written exam and interview for initial screening.
Those who clear the PIB are then sent to the Service Selection Board (SSB). The SSB process is the same as for other officer entries in the Indian Army.
Candidates recommended by the SSB must then appear before a Medical Board. Final selection is based on medical fitness and overall performance.
👉 Syllabus for Exam, No of Questions & Marks
| Serial No. | Paper | Subject | No of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Reasoning and elementary Mathematics | 50 + 50 | 100 |
| 2 | II | General Knowledge and English | 50 + 50 | 100 |
Written Exam Details – Territorial Army
👉 Exam Duration:
The exam is held in two sessions:
- Morning: 10:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs
- Afternoon: 14:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs
Each paper is of 2 hours duration.
👉 Type of Exam:
- Objective-type questions.
- Answers to be marked on an OMR sheet.
👉 Qualifying Marks:
- Minimum 40% marks in each paper.
- Overall average must be at least 50% to qualify.
👉 Negative Marking (Penalty for Wrong Answers):
- Each question has four possible options.
- Wrong answer: ½ mark will be deducted.
- Multiple answers marked: Considered incorrect, and the same penalty applies.
- Unanswered questions: No penalty.
👉 Special Instructions – Ex-Service Officers Only
Ex-Servicemen from the Army, Navy, or Air Force must send their application along with required documents to:
Addl Directorate General TA, Integrated HQ of MoD (Army), ‘L’ Block, New Delhi-01
Screening Process:
- Conducted by the Army HQ Selection Board (ASB) at the above address.
- Candidates who clear the ASB will undergo a Medical Board for final selection.
✅ Pay, Allowances, and Benefits in the Territorial Army
👉 Pay and Allowances
When embodied for training or military service, Territorial Army officers receive the same pay, allowances, and privileges as Regular Army officers.
- Promotion up to Lieutenant Colonel is by time scale, based on meeting required criteria.
- Promotion to Colonel and Brigadier is through selection, similar to the Regular Army system.
👉 Incentives and Service Benefits
Territorial Army personnel are eligible for several benefits when embodied or on permanent staff:
- Promotion to higher ranks as per authorization.
- Free rations, CSD facilities, and medical benefits for self and dependents.
- Leave, leave encashment, accommodation, and Leave Travel Concession (LTC).
- Eligibility for medals and awards like those in the Regular Army.
- Rank pay and Dearness Allowance (DA) during active duty.
- Special increments after attending 3 to 5 Annual Training Camps.
- Pension eligibility:
- Officers: after 20 years of embodied service
- JCOs/Other Ranks: after 15 years
- Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) benefits after 10 years of physical service.
- Terminal gratuity upon retirement or discharge (for non-civil government employees).
- Ex-servicemen status and free medical facilities to pensioners.
👉State Government and Departmental Incentives
Some states and public sector units offer additional benefits to TA personnel:
- Cash awards ranging from ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 on receiving the TA Decoration or TA Medal.
- Additional allowances (multi-allowance and lump-sum daily allowance) from organizations like ONGC and IOC.
✅ Territorial Army Service Embodiment
All infantry and departmental Territorial Army (TA) personnel may be called out for service embodiment by the Central Government or authorized authorities. This can happen during a national emergency, for internal security duties, or training exercises.
Failing to report for service when called is punishable under the Territorial Army Act, 1948.
👉 Benefits During Embodiment
When embodied for training or service, TA personnel receive benefits similar to those of the Regular Army, including:
- Pay, allowances, and service benefits on par with the Regular Army.
- Camp allowance: ₹10 per day for officers attending camps or courses.
- Increment: Granted after completing 365 days of physical service.
👉 Bounty:
- Officers: ₹450
- JCOs: ₹300
- Other Ranks (infantry): ₹175
(Given on completing at least 80% of the annual training camp each year.)
TA Group Insurance: Provided to personnel in non-departmental TA units.
Terminal gratuity: Paid after 5 years of physical service or 10 years of total service (excluding civil government employees).
👉 Pension:
- Officers eligible after 20 years of physical service.
- JCOs/Other Ranks eligible after 15 years (excluding civil government employees).
👉 Leave: Entitled as per Regular Army rules during embodiment and while on permanent instructional staff. Leave can also be accumulated and encashed following prescribed rules.
👉 Ex-servicemen status granted to pensioners, disability pension holders, and gallantry award recipients.
👉 Free medical treatment for pension holders and their dependents.
👉 Outfit allowance:
- ₹6,000 at commissioning and every 7 years of physical service (or 10 years of commissioned service) for officers.
- ₹3,200 for Honorary Commissioned Officers.
- ₹500 for JCOs.
👉 Medals and awards: TA personnel receive medals applicable to the Regular Army.
- TA officers receive the TA Decoration after 20 years of service.
- JCOs and Other Ranks receive the TA Medal after 12 years of meritorious service.
✅ Frequently Asked Questions About Territorial Army (FAQ's)
You can serve as part-time or full time. You will be trained for 3-6 months at IMA Dehradun as a commissioned officer rank of Lieutenant and then assigned to units for orientation training.
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