Territorial Army Entrance Exam Book

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  • NOTIFICATION FOR TERRITORIAL ARMY COMMISSION ONLINE ENTRANCE EXAM-2023 (CIVILIAN CANDIDATES)  Click Here
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History and introduction

The English raised the Territorial Army in 1920 through Indian Territorial Act of 1920 and comprised of two wings namely – ‘The Auxiliary Force’ for Europeans & Anglo-Indians, and ‘The Indian Territorial Force’ for Indian Volunteers. After Independence the Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948 and the first Indian Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari formally inaugurated the Territorial Army on 09 October 1949. This day is celebrated as the TA Day every year.

The Territorial Army initially had various types of units such as Armed Regt (TA), Infantry Battalion (TA), Air Defence (TA),Med Regt (TA), Engineers Field Park Coy (TA), Signal Regiment (TA), EME Workshop (TA), Coast Battery (TA), ASC GT Coy (TA), ASC Compo Platoon (TA), AMC Field Ambulance (TA). By 1972 these units have either been disbanded or converted to Regular Army except Inf Bn (TA).

The Territorial Army is a part of Regular Army and its present role is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties and assist Civil Administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the communities is affected or the security of the Country is threatened and to provide units for Regular Army as and when required.

Presently the Territorial Army has a strength of approx fifty thousand personnel comprising of Departmental TA units such as Railway, IOC, ONGC, and Non Departmental TA units of Infantry Battalion (TA) including Home & Hearth Battalions, Ecological Battalion (TA) affiliated to various Infantry Regiments and Engineer Regiment (TA) for maintenance of Line of Control Fencing. Now, one Composite Eco Task Force for National Mission for Clean Ganga is under raising at Allahabad.

 TheTA units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations. The“Terriers” have also taken part in OP PAWAN in Sri lanka, OP RAKSHAK in Punjaband J&K, OP RHINO and OP BAJRANG in the North East in a most active manner.Departmental units came to the aid of the Civil Authorities during Industrial unrest and natural calamities, most famous being the earthquake in Latur(Maharashtra), Uttarkashi in Garhwal Himalaya and the Supper Cyclone in Odisha.The Ecological units have arrested man made environmental degradation byplanting approx six crore and 65 lakh trees over 66,000 Hectares of land in Mussoorie Hills & Pithoragarh (UK), Shimla (HP), Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) Bhatti Mines (Delhi), Charduar, Kokrajhar (Assam) and Samba (J&K). 

 Men of the TA have taken part in various adventure activities, famous one being scaling of Mt Tengchen Khang (6010 mtr) in West Sikkim by Jt-Indo-British TA Mountaineering Expedition in May 1998.

The officers and men of the Territorial Army have been decorated for their gallantry and distinguished services. So far they have earned 01 Kirti Chakra, 05 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 05 Vir Chakra, 05 Shourya Chakra, 01 Yudh Seva Medal, 74 Sena Medal, 28 Vishist Seva Medal, 17 Mention-in-Dispatches and 266 Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Cards. 

Many Industrialists, politicians and eminent personalities have been members of the TA. The force also has had the honour of appointing 11 officers over the years as Hony ADC to the President of India.