Amid escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, the Indian military establishment has actively begun of additional forces to the border, including its reserve Territorial Army, to ensure full strength in the event of a contingency.
In a notification Friday, the Ministry of Defence announced the activation of 14 of 32 infantry battalions of the Territorial Army (TA) for deployment across the country until February 2028.
It is learnt that the move marks a key step towards additional reinforcement of troops all across to ensure heightened operational preparedness. In such situations, TA personnel step in for regular forces in performing various static duties and assist in the maintenance of essential services. They also perform internal security duties, help civil authorities and provide escorts for the transportation of stores and equipment.
The government’s notification invoked Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rule 1948 to empower the Army Chief to exercise powers to call up all officers and enrolled personnel of the TA to provide essential guard or support and supplement regular forces.
A regular TA battalion has about 750 personnel. It comprises part-time volunteers, who support the regular Army according to emerging requirements. In normal circumstances, only some personnel are on active duty, or “embodied”, at a time. The others, who are called “disembodied personnel”, are employed in other professions — following recent orders, the TA directorate will take action to embody them as well with available funds in the .
Sources told that additional reinforcement of troops in key border areas has already taken place over the past few weeks, and more battalions are set to be mobilised to various locations. Additional transport modes will be organised for these troops, they said.
According to sources, leaves of officers and personnel in the armed forces have also been curtailed although no recall notice has been issued yet for those on leave. Army personnel have been told to proceed on leave only under exceptional circumstances. Besides, all short-term courses in the military have been put on hold for now.
