Overview
On 6 August 2026, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee (PCC) for the Ministry of Defence. The discussion centred on the Territorial Army (TA). Senior officials briefed members on the force’s mandate, achievements and future plans.
Key Developments
- The TA was praised as a "significant" contributor to the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
- Emphasis was placed on the TA’s role beyond security – including Ecological Task Forces and social work.
- TA’s surge capacity was highlighted as a ready reserve of trained soldiers for immediate deployment.
- Recognition of TA’s disaster‑relief actions in the Kerala floods, Odisha cyclone and recent Assam floods.
- Environmental impact: approx. 10 crore saplings planted with an 80‑85% survival rate, aligning with Mission LiFE and Panchamrit goals.
- Support for the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in J&K.
Important Facts
The TA comprises about 44,400 personnel organised into 59 units. It functions as a Citizen‑Soldier force: members retain civilian jobs while being ready to don the uniform for border security and internal duties.
Key officials present included Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior secretaries.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the TA helps aspirants answer questions on India’s defence architecture (GS2), disaster management (GS3), and environmental initiatives (GS3). The concept of Citizen‑Soldier illustrates civil‑military integration, a recurring theme in ethics and governance (GS4). The TA’s contribution to Mission LiFE links defence policy with climate action, a cross‑cutting issue for the UPSC.
Way Forward
- Strengthen training modules to improve rapid deployment capability.
- Expand Ecological Task Forces to more states, enhancing green cover.
- Increase public awareness of the Citizen‑Soldier model to attract youth talent.
- Integrate TA units more closely with disaster‑relief agencies for coordinated response.
These steps aim to make the TA a more versatile, responsive and socially relevant component of India’s defence and development agenda.