Territorial Army
Territorial Army (TA) is a second line of defense after the regular Indian Army. It is not a job, profession, or source of employment. It is only aimed at people already working in various civil professions. Employment or self-employment in a civilian profession is a prerequisite for entering the Territorial Army. Territorial Army volunteers normally serve in uniform for 2-3 months each year so that they can carry weapons for national defense in times of need or national emergencies.
This army was formed by a law called Territorial Army Act 1948. The Territorial Army officers have a commission granted by the President of INDIA with the designation of the rank corresponding to the officers of the Indian regular army.
History of the Territorial Army
On 9th October, 1949 the modern Territorial Army was officially inaugurated on by the first Governor General of India, Shri C. Rajagopalachari. 9th October is celebrated as The Prime Minister’s Territorial Army Day. The parade featured different types of units such as Infantry Battalion, Armored Regiment, Medical Regiment, Air Defense, Signal Regiment, Engineers Field Park Coy, Coast Battery, EME Workshop, ASC Ambulance field Compo Pl and AMC and ASC GT Coy.
In the year 1972, with the exception of the infantry battalions, these units were converted or disbanded into units of the regular army. Territorial units of the Army were actively involved in military operations in 1971, 1965, and 1962. Terriers have also participated in Operation Rakshak in Punjab & J&K, Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Bajrang and Operation Rhino in the northeast. Departmental units came to the aid of civil authorities in natural disasters and industrial disturbances, the most famous of which were the earthquake in Uttarkashi in the Garhwal Himalaya, Latoor (Maharashtra) and the Orissa super cyclone. Ecological Units have stopped man-made environmental degradation by planting 2.5 crore trees on 20,000 acres of land in Pithoragarh and Mussoori Hills, Jaisalmer and Bikaner and the Chambal Gorges in Madhya Pradesh.
Current Role of the Territorial Army
The current role of the Territorial Army is to relieve the regular army of static duties and assist the civil administration in the management of natural disasters and the maintenance of basic services in situations where the life of the communities is adversely affected or the security of the country is threatened and provide units for the regular army as needed.
Strength of the Territorial Army
Currently, the Territorial Army has a force of approximately 40,000 First Line Troops and 1,60,000 Second Line Troops. Units of the Ecological Battalion and the Infantry Battalion are made up of various infantry regiments. Lt.Gen DP Pandey is the present Director General of this army.
