Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
In the light of hostilities between India and Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, has been empowered to call every officer and enrolled person of the Territorial Army (TA), to increase the trained soldier strength for assisting the armed forces.
TA, which allows volunteer citizens to join the force, has a reserved strength of approximately 160,000 personal which is in addition to the first line troops of 40,000 personnel, attached with departmental and non-department units.
It has participated in 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars. The “Terriers” have also taken part in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang in the North East.
The Ministry of Defence notification on May 6 said: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule – 33 of the Territorial Army Rule 1948, the Central Government empowers Chief of the Army Staff to exercise the powers under that rule to call out every officer and every enrolled person of the Territorial Army to provide for essential guard or to be embodied for the purpose of supporting or supplementing the regular army to the extent specified.”
TA is a part of regular Army and its present role is to relieve the men in uniform from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities. It also assists in maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the communities is affected or the security of the country is threatened.
Many industrialists, politicians and eminent personalities, including former Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have been members of TA. Elven officers of TA over the years have also been appointed as Honorary ADC to the President of India.
As of now there are 60 TA battalions, with each having 100 personnel. Of them, 14 ‘departmental’ units, which means they are attached to Union ministries like that of environment and forest and petroleum and natural gas and Jal Shakti, and remaining three of engineers.
Veterans keen To Return
A number of military veterans have simultaneously offered their skills and services, willing to be deployed anywhere.
These veterans have already completed their stints with the Indian armed forces.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed receiving communications from a number of retired officials, willing to join back and be put on any assignment in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
Col Rajinder Sharma, a Grenadier veteran who superannuated in October 2022, wrote to express his “unwavering commitment” to serving the Indian Army.
“I am willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if necessary. I will follow orders without hesitation, prioritizing the nation’s interests, and eagerly await the opportunity to serve in any capacity deemed fitting. My goal is to be with Indian army to teach the adversary a befitting lesson and make India proud of its veteran soldiers as well,” he wrote in his letter reviewed by businessline.
Another retired Army officer, Major RC Upadhyaya, wrote: “I am 73 years young, physically it and mentally robust. I am eager to contribute my experience and skills to the Indian Army once again. I hereby volunteer myself for active duty and am ready to report to duty immediately.”
Further , Brig Balbir Singh Sambyal, SM (Retd), in his communication to the President of India, offered to volunteer services of Akhil Bhartiya Purva Sainik Seva Parishad to work with the relevant authorities and organisations for the benefit of our nation.
As responsible citizens, our hearts still beat for our nation hence we wish to contribute our skills and services, he wrote.
Another veteran Col Ramesh Khatri ( retired) offered his services for any kind of assignment and any where.
Published on May 9, 2025
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