The Territorial Army (TA) is a part of the Indian Army that is composed of volunteers who receive military training for a few days in a year.
The primary role of the TA is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services.
It is controlled by the Indian Ministry of Defence and was established by an Act of Parliament in 1948.
Territorial Army Inducts Chinese Language Interpreters for Border Talks with China
The TA has recently inducted five Chinese language interpreters to assist during Border Personnel Meetings (BPM) with China.
This move comes as part of an overall force reorganization strategy. The recruitment process for these interpreters began in January and was completed by August.
Cyber Experts and Financial Efficiency
The Army is also in talks with the TA to recruit cyber experts and to convert some regular Army units, primarily logistics-related, into TA battalions. This is aimed at reducing financial outflows.
Current Role and Deployments
The TA currently has 60 units, with 14 deployed in counter-insurgency duties and two units stationed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
They have also been deployed in eastern Ladakh during the stand-off with China in 2020 and have played a role in crisis management in Manipur.
Ecological Battalions
Two new ecological battalions are set to be raised in Maharashtra later this month, aimed at environmental conservation.
Future Plans
Preliminary talks are underway to convert some regular Army units into TA battalions as a pilot project, pending sanction.
