From MS Dhoni To Sachin Pilot, Territorial Army Attracts Big Names: What Is It, What Does It Do?
The Territorial Army (TA) in India is the second line of defence, supporting the regular Indian Army.
The Government of India has empowered the Chief of the Army Staff to exercise his powers to call every officer and every enrolled person of the Territorial Army (TA) to provide for essential guard amid the war-like situation between India and Pakistan. The Territorial Army can be called upon to support or supplement the Indian Army in times of war.
Before this, the last time Territorial Army was activated in India was during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) to assist with logistics, quarantine support, and public health efforts across the country.
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What Is Territorial Army?
The Territorial Army (TA) in India is the second line of defence, supporting the regular Indian Army. It is designed to relieve the Regular Army of static duties, assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities, and provide units to the Regular Army when needed. It primarily consists of part-time volunteers.
The TA consists of civilians who dedicate a portion of their time for military training and service and step up when the need arises.
How Much Is Territorial Army Paid?
While serving in the Territorial Army is not a full-time job, these personnel are paid. TA personnel get the same pay and allowances as regular Indian Army personnel of equivalent rank, but only when it is mobilised or undergoes annual training.
Meanwhile, those who complete a minimum qualifying service in embodied duty (typically 20 years for officers, 15 for PBOR) are eligible for a pension. Benefits like canteen, medical and leave travel allowance are also limited to the duration of active service of TA personnel.
MS Dhoni, Sachin Pilot: Famous People Who Serve in Territorial Army
MS Dhoni was bestowed the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) in 2011 as part of the 106 TA Battalion (Para), part of the Parachute Regiment.
Kapil Dev was bestowed the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) in 2008 into the 150 TA (Infantry) battalion of the Punjab Regiment.
Sachin Pilot was given the rank of Lieutenant (Commissioned Officer) and was inducted in 2008, becoming the first sitting Member of Parliament to be commissioned as a regular officer in the Territorial Army.
Anurag Thakur was inducted into the Territorial Army as a Lieutenant in July 2016 and was later promoted to Captain.
Abhinav Bindra joined a TA battalion of Sikh regiment in 2011 as Lieutenant Colonel.
Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair is the only actor to have received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. He received this rank in 2009 and also underwent initial training.
Does TA Fight On The Battlefield?
While the Territorial Army serves as a support unit of the regular Indian Army, the personnel can fight on the battlefield when the need arises. For example, TA battalions were deployed during the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars.
How Do They Undergo Training?
Territorial Army (TA) units in India undergo structured annual training to ensure they remain ready for deployment. In the first year of being inducted, they undergo 30 days basic training. Thereafter, they undergo 30 to 60 days of annual training each year. These trainings are held at designated military training establishments or within the TA unit’s jurisdiction.
TA officers and personnel may be discharged if they fail to meet training obligations over a period of years.
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