Defence Minister Rajnath Singh authorized the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) to mobilize the Territorial Army (TA), India’s secondary defense force, to support the regular army amid escalating tensions with Pakistan.

This decision, made during a high-level meeting reviewing national security, empowers the COAS to call upon TA officers and enrolled members for essential guard duties and to augment regular forces.

The Territorial Army, established under the Territorial Army Act of 1948, comprises part-time volunteers who maintain civilian occupations while receiving military training for national emergencies.

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Its primary roles include relieving the regular army from static duties, assisting civil administration during natural calamities, and providing units for the regular army when required. The TA, commanded by a Lieutenant General-ranking Director General, includes infantry battalions and specialized units like ecological task forces and railway engineer regiments.

On Friday, 14 of the TA’s 32 infantry battalions were activated for deployment across key military commands, with the authorization valid from February 2025 to February 2028.

This move, part of India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent cross-border hostilities, signals preparation for a prolonged military stance. 

The mobilization underscores the TA’s cost-effective role in enhancing national security during crises, aligning with ongoing defense reforms to integrate advanced technologies and joint operations.

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