Territorial Army Role in Viksit Bharat Highlighted

The Territorial Army (TA) is a reserve force of the Indian Army that combines civilian employment with military service. On 6 August 2026, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi to review the TA’s mandate, achievements, and future strengthening.

Territorial Army: Basic Structure

The Territorial Army functions as a part-time military force under the Ministry of Defence. It is designed for trained personnel who remain in civilian professions and can be called for service during national emergencies, internal security duties, and support operations.

• The Territorial Army is described as a “Citizen-Soldier” force because its members serve both civilian and military roles.
• The force currently has about 44,400 personnel across 59 units.
• The TA provides surge capacity through a reserve of trained soldiers for rapid mobilisation.

Ecological Task Forces and Environmental Work

The Ecological Task Forces of the Territorial Army carry out plantation and conservation work in ecologically sensitive areas. Rajnath Singh stated that these units have planted nearly 10 crore saplings, with a survival rate of 80% to 85%.

• Mission LiFE stands for Lifestyle for Environment and is a Government of India climate initiative.
• Panchamrit is India’s climate action framework announced in the context of global climate commitments.
• The TA’s ecological units are used for afforestation and environmental restoration tasks.

Disaster Relief and Internal Security Role

The Territorial Army has been used as a first responder during natural calamities in India. Its personnel have taken part in rescue, relief, and medical operations during the Kerala floods, the Odisha cyclone, and floods in Assam.

The TA also supports internal security duties and border-related tasks when required by the government. Its structure allows trained personnel to be available for emergencies without leaving civilian occupations permanently.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Territorial Army was established in India as a reserve force for trained civilian volunteers.
• The Citizen-Soldier concept allows a person to remain in civilian life and serve in uniform when called.
• Ecological Task Forces are linked with afforestation and environmental protection work.
• Reserve forces are used by countries to provide additional manpower during war, disaster, and security emergencies.

Committee Meeting and Defence Leadership

The Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence met in New Delhi on 6 August 2026. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff Gen N S Raja Subramani, Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

The Territorial Army remains a component of India’s defence preparedness and civil support framework. Its units are organised for both operational support and non-combat national service tasks.